- YouTube TV typically offers a free trial period of at least 7 days, with no promo code necessary.
- NEWS ALERT: BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, TV Land and VH1 are coming to YouTube TV this summer, ViacomCBS announced on May 7, 2020.
- For $50 per month, the service features 70+ channels, including local sports and news in most cities.
YouTube TV is money expert Clark Howard’s favorite live TV streaming service for those who want to save money by cutting the cord without giving up their must-have channels.
The streaming TV service is one of a handful of options, including Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and AT&T TV Now.
What Is YouTube TV? Team Clark Reviews the Live TV Streaming Service
For $50 per month, a YouTube TV membership provides access to more than 70 broadcast and cable networks — no contract or cable box required.
Clark has tried several streaming TV services and says this one is the best:
“My favorite of all the streaming products is YouTube TV. It has a pretty wide array of television programming, but what’s really neat is that multiple people could be watching different things at the same time and everybody has an unlimited DVR.”
Team Clark has repeatedly tested YouTube TV and the other major live TV streaming services. Read on to learn what you need to know before you sign up!
Table of Contents:
1. What Channels Do You Get With YouTube TV?
When you’re trying to choose a cable or satellite TV alternative, the list of channels is probably the most important factor.
YouTube TV’s channel lineup features more sports networks than most of its competitors. They include ESPN, Fox Sports 1 & 2, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, MLB Network, NBCSN, SEC Network and NBA TV.
In early March, the streaming provider reached an agreement to keep FOX Regional Sports Networks in some areas.
A deal with ViacomCBS will bring 14 additional networks to YouTube TV’s lineup. BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, TV Land and VH1 will be available to YouTube TV subscribers this summer.
Other ViacomCBS networks will launch at a later date. Watch this space for updates.
YouTube TV Channel List
| YouTube TV: $49.99/month |
|---|
| ABC |
| ACC Network (ACCN) |
| AMC |
| Animal Planet |
| BBC America |
| BBC World News |
| Big Ten Network (BTN) |
| Bravo |
| Cartoon Network |
| CBS |
| CBS Sports Network |
| Cheddar Business |
| Cheddar News |
| CNBC |
| CNBC World |
| CNN |
| Comet |
| Court TV |
| Cozi TV |
| CW |
| Discovery Channel |
| Disney Channel |
| Disney Junior |
| Disney XD |
| E! |
| ESPN |
| ESPN2 |
| ESPNews |
| ESPNU |
| Food Network |
| FOX |
| Fox Business Network |
| Fox News Channel |
| Fox Sports 1 (FS1) |
| Fox Sports 2 (FS2) |
| Freeform |
| FX |
| FXM |
| FXX |
| Golf Channel |
| HGTV |
| HLN |
| IFC |
| Investigation Discovery (ID) |
| Local Now |
| MLB Network |
| MotorTrend |
| MSNBC |
| National Geographic |
| Nat Geo Wild |
| NBA TV |
| NBC |
| NBCSN |
| Newsy |
| Olympic Channel |
| OWN |
| Oxygen |
| PBS |
| PBS Kids |
| Pop |
| SEC Network |
| Smithsonian Channel |
| Start TV |
| Sundance TV |
| SYFY |
| Tastemade |
| TBS |
| TCM (Turner Classic Movies) |
| Telemundo |
| Tennis Channel |
| TLC |
| TNT |
| Travel Channel |
| truTV |
| Universal Kids |
| Universo |
| USA |
| WE tv |
2. Does YouTube TV Include Unlimited DVR?
YouTube TV’s navigation makes it easy to find live TV shows, but it’s equally as simple to record content to watch at a later time with its cloud DVR function.
Subscribers can record as many shows as they want to — there’s no storage limit — and recordings are kept for up to nine months.
In the video below, we demonstrate how to navigate the service’s cloud DVR and some of the other features like its live TV guide, which looks a lot like what you get with cable.
3. How Do You Stream YouTube TV on Your TV?
You can always watch YouTube TV on your phone, tablet or computer, but what if you just want to stream your favorite shows on the big screen?
The streaming service’s list of supported devices includes Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and some Samsung and LG TVs.
If you don’t already have a streaming device, Clark recommends the $30 Roku Express because it’s cheap and easy to use. Click here to read our Quick Tips for First-Time Streamers.
4. Can a Family Share YouTube TV?
There are six accounts included with a YouTube TV membership for family members and roommates to receive their own unique recommendations and cloud DVR. Each household can watch up to three streams at a time.
If you want to use the service while traveling, you can access certain programs based on your location. Learn more here.
Pros and Cons of YouTube TV
Just like Clark, I’ve been impressed with YouTube TV. I didn’t experience error messages or buffering while streaming over an internet connection with roughly 60 Mbps download speed.
The service recommends a download speed of at least 13 Mbps to reliably stream HD video. (Learn how to check your speed here.)
YouTube TV has a great lineup of sports networks for $50 a month, but Sling TV offers a variety of sports, news and entertainment networks at a cheaper price. Hulu + Live TV is slightly more expensive.
Unlimited DVR is a bright spot for YouTube TV because some of its competitors place limits on storage or charge extra for it. Personalized DVR for family members is another benefit.
Most major streaming devices are compatible with the service, with Amazon Fire TV added in late 2019.
YouTube TV: Pros and Cons |
|
| Pros | Cons |
| One simple plan for $50/month | FOX Regional Sports Networks not available in all locations |
| Lots of sports: ESPN, FS1, FS2, MLB Network, NBA TV and more | |
| Unlimited DVR | |
If you’re thinking about switching from cable to YouTube TV, take advantage of the free trial first. If you don’t like it, just keep trying other services until you find one that’s a good fit. They all have free trials!
Learn more and compare your options in Clark’s guide to the best live TV streaming plans and deals!
