YouTube TV: Here's what you need to know (2024)

If you mainly watch television on streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max, you might be missing the one great community aspect of cable — live TV.

YouTube TV brings you what you're missing without cable — kind of. You choose a plan that's right for you, and you've got entertainment, news, live sports, and more at your fingertips. It's similar to other live TV streaming services, like Hulu + Live TV. Now you don't have to mute dozens of words on Twitter before you can catch up on your favorite shows.

If you're thinking about subscribing to YouTube TV, here's what you need to know before signing up.

Youtube TV price

YouTube TV starts at $64.99 per month, and increases with each add on you choose. That includes sports networks like NFL, NBA, and MLB, and some 80 plus more channels, including PBS, BET, Comedy Central, MTV, and Nickelodeon. You have unlimited space to store recorded shows, allowing you to rewind, fast forward, and pause whenever you want. That price also includes three simultaneous streams — meaning one person can be watching a show on their phone while another is watching a show in the living room and a third person is watching a show on their laptop — and includes six accounts per household.

What can you watch on YouTube TV?

It depends on what add-ons and plans you choose, but YouTube TV lets you stream live & local sports, news, shows from more than 70 channels including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, HGTV, TNT, PBS, and more. Each area has a different list of local and regional programming, of course, but you can see which networks are provided in your area with YouTube TV by putting your zip code in on its site.

What is the downside of YouTube TV?

Add-ons aren't included, so if you want to upgrade your TV experience by adding networks, sports, Spanish language TV, and 4k, you'll have to shell out some extra money. And, when your starting point is already $65 every month, those add-ons can really add up. The premium add-on networks include HBO, STARZ, Fox Soccer Plus, SHOWTIME, and more.