Alphabet’s wildly popular YouTube video streaming service (ticker: GOOG, GOOGL) will soon offer a live TV service in certain U.S. markets, joining an increasingly competitive television environment as cable companies suffer from cord-cutting and the rise of streaming services like Amazon.com’s (AMZN) Amazon Prime and Netflix (NFLX).
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki announces YOUTUBE TV: $35, 6 accounts, launching in markets where local affiliates are available.
— Andrew Wallenstein (@awallenstein)
BREAKING: YouTube to launch $35/mo. TV streaming service in a few months, which will carry 40+ channels including major broadcast networks.
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow)
For $35 per month, people could buck cable companies such as Comcast Corp. (CMCSA), Charter Communications (CHTR) and Verizon Communications (VZ) for YouTube TV, available on mobile, tablet, computer or TV with a Google Chromecast or Chromecast built-in TV. It will feature networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and ESPN in addition to regional sports channels and other cable networks like USA, E! and Bravo.
Each YouTube TV membership will include unlimited DVR space and can hold up to six separate accounts. YouTube touted the $35-per-month as half the cost of a cable TV subscription. The BBC notes AT&T’s (T) DirecTV internet offering costs $70 per month and features more than 120 channels.
“YouTube is already an extremely well-established video brand, and its apps are virtually everywhere,” analyst Paul Verna of eMarketer told the BBC.
“YouTube has the technical know-how and infrastructure but it’s never a given that things will go right,” Verna added.
USA Today notes the service, though geared for a youthful audience, is without popular channels like AMC, HBO, TBS and the Food Network. One comment on YouTube’s blog post announcing the product says, “No TNT and no TBS is a deal breaker. 🙁 .”
YouTube TV will also feature ads. While the no-ad option is something streaming services like Hulu and CBS All Access make you pay several dollars extra to avoid, they’re not nearly as expensive as YouTube’s offering.
Twitter users were mixed on the news.
News from YouTube TV offering is they got all the broadcast networks except CBS (darn you, Moonves!). Notable con: no HGTV (my addiction).
— Gordon Chaffin (@FlashGordonASU)
I gotta look into this YouTube tv deal. The inclusion of ESPN might be what I need to finally drop cable for good.
— Reno Green Global (@EllRino)
I was just thinking today… Why isn’t Youtube cornering the market on Live Video and Cord cutting trend https://t.co/gSLiEAbjKV
— AggieUp (@AggieUp)
By the time everyone grabs their different cord-cutting services- some YouTube TV plus Netflix plus whatever, you’ll pay more than cable
— Carol Roth (@caroljsroth)
hello @youtube how about instead of YouTube TV and YouTube Red you just get YouTube The Website working properly
— BabyFawnLegs (@BabyFawnLegs)
So Youtube TV will let me get all the “benefits” of cable TV, at the low low price of a cable TV subscription.
Cool. Keep on disrupting.
— Ian Horner (@ihorner)
Youtube TV is a hard pass; it costs $10 more than Sling Blue for the same number of channels. What’s the point? pic.twitter.com/dAotqadfhe
— Brandon (@BrandonMatsalia)
YouTube TV is $35 a month. It’s like they don’t realize the only reason people go on YouTube is because it’s FREE
— Ryan Broems (@ryanbroems)
YouTube TV asks $35 a month from users who consider 30-second advertisements a heinous moral crime
— Casey Newton (@CaseyNewton)
8 Inaugural Trips Down Wall Street
More from U.S. News
8 Inaugural Trips Down Wall Street
7 of the Worst Product Flops Ever, Besides the Samsung Galaxy Note 7
YouTube TV Is Another Blow to Cable Companies originally appeared on usnews.com
