YouTube TV
YouTube TV is an American over-the-top internet television service that offers live TV, on demand video and cloud-based DVR from more than 85[1] television networks. It is owned by YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, itself a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. YouTube TV's line-up includes major U.S. networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Fox, FX, AMC, CNN, Fox News, TBS, Discovery, Comedy Central and ESPN.
Industry | Pay television |
---|---|
Founded | February 28, 2017 |
Headquarters | |
Area served | United States |
Services | OTT Internet television |
Parent | Google (through YouTube) |
Website | tv |
YouTube TV launched on February 28, 2017.[2]
History
YouTube TV began streaming in April 2017 in five U.S. markets - New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco,[2][3] In addition to national U.S. networks, YouTube TV broadcasts channels owned by those networks, their corporate owners and other media companies. Other channels include CNBC, MSNBC, BBC World News, The Smithsonian Channel (a venture by ViacomCBS-owned Showtime Networks and the Smithsonian Institution), Sundance TV (owned by AMC Networks), numerous sports channels, Disney Channel (owned by The Walt Disney Company), and BBC America (jointly owned by AMC Networks and BBC Studios). YouTube TV members also have access to YouTube Premium original movies and shows (although a YouTube Premium subscription is not included with YouTube TV).[4]
Also in 2017, YouTube added MLB Network and regional deals with the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer.[5][6]
On February 14, 2018, YouTube TV began carrying the Time Warner-owned Turner Broadcasting System's cable networks (including, among others, TBS, TNT, CNN and Cartoon Network). In addition, YouTube TV also announced a deal to add NBA TV and MLB Network.[7]
The service expanded to cover 98 percent of U.S. households in January 2019.[8] In March 2019, YouTube TV launched in Glendive, Montana, thus becoming available in every TV market in the United States.[9]
On April 10, 2019, YouTube TV added nine networks owned by Discovery, Inc. (which include Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, HGTV and Food Network). This brought YouTube TV to more than 70 channels. Google also announced that they would be adding the Oprah Winfrey Network.[10] The monthly price for all customers increased by about 42% compared to the launch price, and 25% compared to the March 2018 price, with no grandfathering available.[11]
On July 29, 2019, at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour in Pasadena, California, YouTube TV announced it had signed a landmark multi-year deal with PBS to allow carriage of live streams of PBS member stations and PBS Kids Channel beginning as early as the fourth quarter of 2019 (just before or after the November pledge drives of select PBS stations). The deal – which is PBS’s first distribution agreement with a virtual multichannel video programming distributor (vMVPD) – would allow PBS stations the option of providing the direct over-the-air signals of local stations if they are able to clear the rights to at least 90% of their programming, a YouTube TV-exclusive dedicated feed in which shows that local PBS members are not able to clear for digital streaming would be replaced with separate programming or a PBS-provided national feed that would include programs fully cleared by the public broadcaster and localized station ID inserts (omitting local programs or pledge drives), and would allow YouTube TV to provide streams of up to three PBS member stations within a given market.
Stations that choose to offer their main signal must notify YouTube TV if they plan to air a show without rights clearances, in which the service will replace the program with a blackout notice screen.[12] On December 15, 2019, the first PBS affiliate stations were added to YouTube TV.[13]
On February 20, 2020, YouTube TV reached an agreement with WarnerMedia to carry HBO, Cinemax, and HBO Max streaming service as add-ons.[14]
On May 7, 2020, YouTube TV reached an expanded, multi-year deal with ViacomCBS, which will allow them to add 14 Viacom channels (BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, TV Land, VH1, BET Her, MTV2, Nick Jr., NickToons, TeenNick and MTV Classic) that were notably absent since the streamer's launch. The deal also entails a continued commitment to distribute ViacomCBS’ premium subscription services, including Showtime, on YouTube TV, and an extended partnership to distribute the media company’s content on the broader YouTube platforms.[15] Eight of the channels were added on June 30, bringing YouTube TV to over 85 channels. The addition was accompanied by a price increase.[1]
Features
YouTube TV offers a cloud-based DVR service with unlimited storage that saves recordings for nine months.[16] Each subscription can be shared among six accounts and allows up to three simultaneous streams.
Supported devices
Supported YouTube TV devices include:
Smart TVs
- Android TV
- Samsung Smart TV (2016 & higher models only)
- LG Smart TV (on webOS 3.0 or higher)
- Vizio Smartcast
- Roku Smart TV
- Hisense Smart TV
- Sharp Smart TV
- Sony Smart TV
- Walton Smart TV
Streaming Media Players
- Chromecast
- Nvidia Shield TV
- Roku Players
- Xbox One
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV (4th Generation & 4K)
- PlayStation 4
Carriage disputes
In February 2020, YouTube TV announced that Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned regional sports networks (including Fox Sports Networks and YES Network) would likely be pulled from the service on February 28, 2020, citing high carriage fees. On that day, YouTube TV announced that it had reached an interim agreement to continue offering the channels on the platform while negotiations are under way.[17] On March 5, 2020, YouTube TV and Sinclair reached a new deal to continue carrying all the Fox RSNs except three – the YES Network, Fox Sports Prime Ticket and Fox Sports West.[18]
See also
- AT&T TV
- FuboTV
- Hulu with Live TV
- LocalBTV
- Locast
- Philo
- PlayStation Vue
- Sling TV
- Spectrum TV Stream
- Xfinity Instant TV
References
- Spangler, Todd (June 30, 2020). "YouTube TV Hikes Price by 30% to $65 per Month With Launch of ViacomCBS Channels". Variety. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- "YouTube TV launches today. It has some cool features and some big drawbacks". Los Angeles Times. Tronc. Associated Press. April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- Christina Warren (April 5, 2017). "YouTube Is Officially in the Live TV Game Now". Gizmodo. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- Welch, Chris (April 5, 2017). "10 important things to know before signing up for YouTube TV". The Verge. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
- Spangler, Todd (February 28, 2018). "YouTube TV Nabs Exclusive Streaming Rights to Seattle Sounders Games, Its Second MLS Deal". Variety. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- Wallenstein, Andrew; Spangler, Todd (January 31, 2018). "YouTube TV Strikes Unprecedented Deal for Pro Sports TV Rights (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
- Hipes, Patrick (February 14, 2018). "YouTube TV Adds Turner Networks, Bumps Price To $40". Deadline. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- Graham, Jefferson (January 23, 2019). "Heads up, cord cutters: YouTube TV goes national". USA Today. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- Bouma, Luke (March 28, 2019). "YouTube TV Launches in Glendive, Montana & is Now Live Nationwide".
- Jarvey, Natalie (April 10, 2019). "YouTube TV Raises Price, Adds Discovery Channels". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- Pelegrin, Williams (April 10, 2019). "YouTube TV adds more channels, raises price for the second time". Android Authority. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- Jill Goldsmith (July 29, 2019). "PBS forges deal with YouTube TV for localized live streams". Current. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
- "PBS Member Stations Now Live on YouTube TV | PBS About".
- Alexander, Julia (February 20, 2020). "HBO and HBO Max are headed to YouTube TV". The Verge. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- Spangler, Todd (May 7, 2020). "YouTube TV Is Adding 14 Cable Networks From ViacomCBS Under Expanded Pact". Variety. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- YouTube TV help
- Welch, Chris (February 29, 2020). "YouTube TV will keep streaming Fox RSNs and YES Network during negotiations with Sinclair". The Verge. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
- Spangler, Todd (March 5, 2020). "YouTube TV Inks Deal for 19 Fox Regional Sports Nets With Sinclair, Drops YES and Two Others". Variety. Retrieved March 6, 2020.