From the Editor:
Jim Kimble
Published on: January 10, 2024
With the rising costs of traditional cable and satellite TV pushing viewers to seek alternatives, YouTube TV emerges as a leading choice among live TV streaming services.
Since its launch in 2017, YouTube TV has not only garnered over 6.5 million users as of the third quarter of 2023, according to Leichtman Research Group, Inc., but it has also positioned itself as a formidable competitor to services like Sling TV, FuboTV, and Hulu.
Offering a diverse range of features like unlimited cloud DVR, three simultaneous video streams, and the ability for up to six people to use one account, it stands out in the crowded market of cord-cutting options.
YouTube TV boasts an impressive lineup of over 100 available channels, not including more than 25 optional add-ons, catering to a wide array of interests and needs.
This comprehensive service is an attractive alternative for those looking to move away from expensive equipment rentals and annual contracts typical of traditional cable.A subscription to YouTube TV is $72.99 per month.
As you consider switching to a live streaming service, or if you’re already exploring what YouTube TV has to offer, this guide will provide a continually updated list of all available YouTube TV channels and important regional availability considerations.
I began subscribing to YouTube TV when it debuted in Boston in the summer of 2017. Since then, I have been an on and off subscriber, and I’m here to guide you through your decision process of picking an alternative to cable TV or satellite.
Dive into our detailed guide on streaming local channels to learn more about maximizing your viewing experience with YouTube TV.
What is YouTube TV?
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service that could be considered an online version of a cable TV package. These types of streaming services are also referred to as over-the-top (OTT) streaming services or a multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD).
As of January 2023, YouTube TV has 128 live TV channels in the Base plan along with an on-demand hub for YouTube Originals.
You’ll get local NBC, FOX, CBS and ABC anywhere in the U.S. YouTube TV debuted in April 2017 in five U.S. cities with a focus on delivering local broadcast channels alongside cable TV networks such as ESPN.
The service has Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) such as NBC Sports, but they no longer carry Bally Sports, NESN or SportsNet NY. Competitors such as DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo now carry a more robust lineup of RSNs, but come at a higher cost.
The Base plan isn’t your only option for a subscription. YouTube TV also has Spanish-language programming. The standalone Spanish Plan costs $34.99 per month, and has more than 28 live TV channels in Spanish.
One big perk customers like about live TV streaming services is that they often cost less than cable, and are easy to cancel online without having to call a customer service rep.
YouTube TV Plans and Pricing
| PLAN | PRICE | CHANNELS | FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Plan | $72.99/month | 128 | Unlimited Cloud DVR, 3 Streams, 6 Profiles |
| Spanish Plan | $34.99/month | 28+ | Dedicated Spanish Channels, Unlimited DVR |
Device Compatibility: Works on Android TV, Google TV, Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, VIZIO, Hisense, Sharp, Sony), Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Google Nest Hub, Android and iOS devices.
Note: Channel availability may vary based on location and plan. Prices subject to change.
How much does YouTube TV cost?
A subscription to the YouTube TV Base plan is $72.99 per month, and includes more than 100 live TV channels.
Subscribers can watch live TV on three screens at once. Each account gets unlimited Cloud DVR storage. YouTube TV’s main competitors cost a little bit more, but offers different channels and features.
Hulu Live TV costs $76.99 per month, and includes ad-supported versions of Disney+ and ESPN+.
Fubo (formerly fuboTV) starts at $79.99 per month, and includes a regional sports fee of $10.99 or $13.99 more per month. DIRECTV STREAM starts at $79.99 per month. Sling TV has two smaller channel bundles that start at $40 per month.
YouTube TV offers a number of add-on channels and features. A “4K Plus” bundle costs $19.99 per month. With the 4K bundle, subscribers gain 8 channels in 4K. You can watch live TV on an unlimited number of screens and watch DVR recordings offline with the “4K Plus” plan.
Google made a major change in 2022 by allowing customers to subscribe to individual networks without a live TV plan. The networks that do not require a Base plan subscription include:
- Hallmark Movies Now
- Showtime
- Starz
- NBA League Pass
- MGM+
- Shudder
- Sundance Now
- ALLBLK
- Acorn TV
- MLB.tv
- Max
- Cinemax
- IFC Films Unlimited
- Curiosity Stream
- Dove
- CONtv
- Docurama
- Law & Crime
- VSiN
- Outside TV Features
- Spanish Plan
YouTube TV Channel List
YouTube TV has 128 live TV channels in the Base plan. But your exact number of TV channels will vary based on where you live. For example, one area may have more coverage of local channels or regional sports channels than another.
- ABC
- ABC News
- ACC Network
- Adult Swim
- AMC
- Animal Planet
- BBC America
- BBC World News
- beIN Sports
- BET
- BET her
- Bravo
- Big Ten Network
- CBS
- CBS Sports Network
- CNBC
- CNBC World
- CNN
- Cartoon Network
- Cheddar
- Cheddar News
- CMT
- Comedy Central
- Comedy TV
- Comet
- Court TV
- Cozi TV
- Dabl
- Discovery Channel
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- Disney XD
- Docurama
- Dove Channel
- E!
- ESPN
- ESPN2
- ESPNU
- ESPNews
- FOX
- FOX Business
- FOX News
- FOX Soul
- FOX Weather
- FS1
- FS2
- FX
- FXM
- FXX
- Food Network
- Freeform
- Galavision
- Get TV
- Golf Channel
- Game Show Network
- Hallmark Channel
- Hallmark Drama
- Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
- HGTV
- HLN
- HSN
- IFC
- Investigation Discovery
- Justice Central TV
- LAFC
- Law & Crime
- Live Now FOX
- Local Now
- ABC Localish
- MLB Game of the Week
- MLB Network
- MSNBC
- Motortrend
- MTV
- MTV2
- MTV Classic
- MyNetworkTV
- NBA TV
- NBC
- NBC News Now
- NBC Universo
- NBCSN
- NBCLx
- Nat Geo Wild
- National Geographic
- News Nation
- NFL Network
- Nickelodeon
- Nick Jr.
- Nicktoons
- Orlando City
- OWN
- Oxygen
- Oxygen True Crime
- Paramount Network
- PBS
- PBS Kids
- PC Mag com
- Pop
- QVC
- Recipe.tv
- SEC Network
- SportsNet NY
- Smithsonian Channel
- Start TV
- Sundance TV
- SyFy
- TBS
- TCM
- TLC
- TNT
- TYT
- Tastemade
- Teennick
- Telehit
- Telemundo
- The CW
- Travel Channel
- TruTV
- TV Land
- USA Network
- Unimas
- Universal Kids
- Univision
- VH1
- WE TV
- The Weather Channel
- YouTube Originals
- The Great Courses
Note: Some channels are subject to availability in your area.
Sports Channels with YouTube TV
YouTube TV’s Base plan is a haven for sports enthusiasts, offering a wide variety of sports channels.
The lineup includes popular networks such as ESPN, ESPN2, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNU, ESPNews, FS1, FS2, MLB Network, NBA TV, and more. This diverse channel lineup caters to fans of major league sports, college sports, and general sports news and commentary.
For those seeking even more live sports, the “Sports Plus” package is available for an additional $10.99/mo.
This bundle expands your sports viewing options with channels like beIN SPORTS, FOX Soccer Plus, NFL RedZone, MAVTV Motorsports Network, Outside TV+, PlayersTV, PokerGO+, SportsGrid, Stadium, FanDuel TV, VSiN, Fight Network, Impact Wrestling, and more. Note: GolTV was dropped from the Sports Plus bundle in August 2022.
Additionally, YouTube TV is subject to the same blackout rules imposed by professional sports leagues as traditional cable.
This means that some games may be unavailable for streaming in certain geographic areas due to local broadcasting rules or league policies. In some cases, games may also be blacked out on mobile devices.
For NBA fans, YouTube TV offers NBA League Pass as an optional add-on. This service allows basketball aficionados to access all of the NBA’s out-of-market games.
Subscribers can choose the single team option for $60 for the year or the all-teams option for $100. A monthly payment plan is also available during the season at $30/mo. Be sure to check the site for current pricing and availability.
Are Local Channels Offered on YouTube TV?
YouTube TV provides extensive access to local broadcast networks, ensuring that you can stay connected with your local news, weather, and sports.
Subscribers have access to major networks like ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, which are the same local affiliates carried by cable TV companies and available for free as over-the-air channels in most areas of the country. In addition to these, depending on your specific location, you might also receive local stations such as PBS, The CW, MyNetworkTV, and Telemundo.
To find out exactly which local networks are available to you, YouTube TV offers a simple solution. By entering your zip code on the YouTube TV website, you can quickly see a tailored list of local channels accessible in your area.
This feature allows you to verify the availability of your preferred local stations before making a commitment to the service.
Staying informed and entertained through local programming is a key aspect of YouTube TV’s offering, aligning with the viewer’s need for comprehensive and convenient access to local content alongside national and international channels.
Entertainment Plus bundle
Most of YouTube TV’s channels are entertainment networks. But subscribers can also bundle Max, STARZ, and SHOWTIME for a discounted rate of $29.99 per month. Max costs $14.99 if you have a standalone subscription either within or outside of YouTube TV.
STARZ costs $8.99 per month on its own. SHOWTIME now requires a subscription to Paramount+ at $11.99 per month.
What channels are 4K on YouTube TV?
There are 8 channels that offer 4K resolution for “select live and on-demand” programming, according to Google. The 4K channels are:
- Discovery
- ESPN
- FOX Sports
- FX
- Nat Geo
- NBC Sports
- Tastemade
- MLB Network
Once you subscribe to the 4K Plus bundle, you can check whether a 4K version of a program is offered by hitting the down arrow under the title. The video information panel displays whether a 4K option is available to watch.
Under the Live tab, you can find channels that will have 4K programs over the next 10 days. 4K streaming is only available on compatible 4K streaming devices and Smart TVs.
Family accounts, simultaneous streams
When you sign up for a YouTube TV subscription, you can start streaming live on three screens simultaneously. You have the option to create a family group, so that up to five other members of your household can have their own personal library, viewing preferences and Cloud DVR recordings.
These preferences and watch history are not shared with other family members in your group.
YouTube app and device support
YouTube TV is viewed primarily through the YouTube TV app. The app is supported on most streaming devices, including Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xfinity Flex, and TiVo Stream 4K.
You can watch YouTube TV on Smart TVs running on Android TV or Google TV. Currently, Smart televisions from Sony, Hisense, TCL and Phillips all run on Google TV. There are mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Gamers can watch YouTube TV on recent Xbox game consoles going back to Xbox One. PlayStation 4 and 5 are supported.
How to watch YouTube TV on Smart TVs
A number of Smart TVs support the YouTube TV app. You can also cast YouTube TV to any Smart TV that supports Chromecast.
Any Smart TVs running Android TV or Google TV will work. Vizio SmartCast TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs (2016 models and newer), HiSense TVs are supported.
For “4K Plus” subscribers, you can use any of the above Smart TVs and streaming devices that support 4K resolution. Whether you use a streaming device or not, your TV needs to support 4K in order to use “4K Plus” for a higher resolution picture.
YouTube TV DVR
The DVR within YouTube TV is Cloud based, so you don’t need any hardware in your home to record TV shows or movies.
Instead, Google is storing that content for you.When you are watching live TV, click the down arrow on your remote and select the plus tab to record a show.The search icon is the easiest way to find a specific show to record.
It’s in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Once you type in the title of a TV show or movie, select “Add to Library” to record. All of your saved programs are under the Library tab, which organizes recent recordings, shows, movies and sports.
YouTube TV comparisons
Channel lineups and pricing are two key differences when comparing YouTube TV to competitors.
Fubo’s entry-level Pro plan costs $79.99 per month. The Pro plan has more than 189 live TV channels and 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR. It is missing the Turner networks, including TNT, TBS and CNN. But Fubo carries regional Bally Sports networks, which are key in-market networks for diehard MLB and NBA fans.
DIRECTV STREAM likewise starts at $79.99 per month. The Entertainment plan has more than 75 TV channels, and unlimited Cloud DVR. The Entertainment package has both local channels and cable TV networks covering sports, news and entertainment. Regional sports networks such as Bally Sports are on the Choice plan, which costs $108.99 per month.
Hulu + Live TV has more than 90 TV channels, unlimited DVR and ad-supported versions of Disney+ and ESPN+. Hulu Live also carries local channels such as NBC, CBS and FOX stations similar to YouTube TV. Regional NBC Sports channels are on Hulu Live. A subscription is $76.99 per month.
YouTube free trial
When you sign up for a YouTube TV subscription, you automatically get a 7-day free trial. You will need a Google account, which is free. If you are already using Gmail, then you have a Google account to start watching TV.
You only get one free trial per account.
How to Cancel YouTube TV
You can go to the YouTube TV website, log into your account. Select the settings tab, then membership. Click on the Manage button to cancel.
YouTube TV Channels FAQ
Here are questions readers search for when they are researching YouTube TV.
Are all YouTube TV channels in HD?
Most YouTube TV channels are in High Definition with some exceptions. By default, a YouTube TV subscription is set to “Auto” picture resolution, so it will display in either 720p or 1080p resolution. But there are lower, Standard Definition resolution settings for 480p, 360p, and 240p.
Are ESPN channels on YouTube TV?
Yes. The entire family of ESPN networks are on YouTube TV. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ACC Network, SEC Network and ESPN3 through the ESPN app.
Are recorded movies commercial free with YouTube TV?
No. When you use Cloud DVR to record a movie, you are still shown whatever commercials that were part of the broadcast.
Can you add movie channels to YouTube TV?
Yes. YouTube TV offers premium networks for movies such as HBO Max, Showtime, Acorn TV, STARZ, Hallmark Movies Now, Cinemax, EPIX, VIX+, ScreenPix, AMC+, Shudder, Sundance Now, IFC Films Unlimited, Docurama, Fandor, MovieSphere, Magnolia Selects, and Screambox.
What internet speed do I need for YouTube TV?
YouTube TV requires an internet connection of at least 3Mbps for the best viewing experience.
Methodology
I spend hundreds of hours throughout the year conducting hands-on testing of streaming services, including Peaco*ck, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV. I do the same rigorous testing for TV antennas and TV-related hardware. Check out the review policy to see how I compare products and services.The Cord Cutting Report is a reader-supported publication, and may earn affiliate commissions when you pick a streaming service through a recommendation. Read our affiliate policy for more information.
