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YouTube TV to Roll Out New, Lower-Priced Channel Packages
Good news for your wallet, cord-cutters! YouTube TV is shaking things up by introducing a range of new, lower-priced channel packages, including a dedicated option for sports fanatics. This move comes as a direct response to growing consumer frustration over the ever-increasing cost of streaming services.
The Google-owned pay-TV service announced Monday that it will be launching more than 10 new plans over the coming weeks, all priced below its current full subscription offering of over 100 channels.
Since its debut in 2017 at just $35 a month, YouTube TV has steadily climbed to its current price of $82.99 monthly, a stark contrast to its initial promise as a more affordable alternative to traditional cable and satellite.
Among the new offerings is a “Sports + News” plan, designed to cater to two of the most-watched genres in the pay-TV landscape. For $71.99 a month (or an introductory rate of $56.99), subscribers will get access to a sports package alongside news networks like CNN, Fox News, MS NOW, Bloomberg, C-SPAN, and Fox Business.
These new plans are poised to compete with direct-to-consumer options, such as the ESPN and Fox One bundle, which combines Fox Corp’s news and sports channels for $39.99 a month.
The pressure to offer more flexible pricing isn’t new. Over the past two years, El Segundo-based DirecTV has also introduced smaller, genre-specific channel packages aimed at consumers tired of hefty monthly bills for channels they don’t watch. Their offerings include packages tailored for news junkies, sports fans, children, and Spanish-language speakers.
Pay-TV providers are actively seeking ways to retain subscribers and prevent further “cord-cutting.” This push for more pricing options comes at a time when negotiations with programmers are becoming increasingly contentious, often leading to temporary channel blackouts that disrupt service for customers.
In the past, YouTube TV subscribers have experienced service interruptions, including a nearly 15-day blackout of Disney’s channels (including ESPN) last fall, and a two-month loss of Univision’s Spanish-language channels, which even caught the attention of legislators.
Another upcoming option is the “News + Entertainment + Family Plan,” which bundles news, entertainment, and popular children’s channels like Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon. This plan will be available for $69.99 a month, with an introductory rate of $59.99.