YouTube TV has emerged as a key player in the live TV streaming market. Its extensive lineup, user-friendly interface, and strong DVR capabilities make it an attractive option for cord-cutters. At an approximate monthly subscription of $82.99, is YouTube TV worthwhile for your family? Let’s explore YouTube TV features, comparisons with competitors, etc, to answer this question.
YouTube TV subscription offers more than 90 channels through streaming, including the four biggest networks, ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX. It also provides sports and news channels, including big ones like ESPN and CNN. This massive channel choice gives YouTube TV an edge over most of its competitors, as 78 of the total top 100 networks are available.
For sports enthusiasts, there is ample coverage, although regional sports networks (RSNs) are not available. YouTube TV can be streamed on many devices, including smart TVs, streaming media players, gaming consoles, and mobile devices. Thus, making it accessible to different types of viewers.
YouTube TV features an unlimited cloud DVR. The cloud DVR allows users to record whatever they want to watch, without running out of storage space. So, one can record all their favorite shows, live events, and more. A user can store recordings for nine months.
In addition, users can create up to six individual profiles, each with personalized recommendations and separate DVR storage. This makes YouTube TV perfect for families with diverse viewing preferences.
Simultaneous streaming is another excellent feature. A user can stream on up to three devices at a time with the base plan. For an additional $9.99 per month, the 4K Plus add-on allows unlimited simultaneous streams on the buyer’s home network. This is perfect for larger families or households with multiple viewers.
If one enjoys high-quality streaming, YouTube TV provides 1080p/60fps by default. There is a 4K add-on that streams selected content in 4K resolution. In addition, for users who possess compatible devices, there's Dolby 5.1 surround sound available.
Although in contrast to some other services like FuboTV, 4K content selection is not quite as numerous. The availability of 4K streaming is pretty limited compared to other similar services.
YouTube TV outshines its competitors, Hulu + Live TV and FuboTV, as well as Sling TV, in terms of its channel lineup and DVR. However, Hulu + Live TV has a similar number of channels but also offers Disney Plus and ESPN Plus as part of the package.
On the other hand, FuboTV focuses more on sports and offers 1,000 hours of cloud DVR storage but is more expensive. Sling TV remains much cheaper. Although YouTube TV has a more comprehensive offering, including features and channel lineups that Sling TV lacks.
YouTube TV is a very great choice for those interested in an impressive number of live channels with robust DVR support. The interface is super intuitive and allows for profiles that have multiple simultaneous streams available to families. It is perfect for cost-conscious consumers who want to avoid expensive choices like FuboTV, but want a better viewing experience than cheaper choices such as Sling TV.
For those who care more about content variety and DVR features than price, YouTube TV is one of the top options in the live TV streaming space. However, for a budget-conscious viewer or a 4K content lover, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV are worth considering.