YouTube, the worlds biggest video site, wants to sell you TV for $35 a month

[brooklynite]

Source: Recode

Google’s video site is taking the wraps off YouTube TV, its new $35-a-month TV service that will package a bundle of channels from the broadcast networks and some cable networks.

YouTube says the service, which will sit in a new, standalone app, will launch later this spring. It’s separate from YouTube Red, the ad-free subscription service the company launched last year, which hasn’t had much success.

YouTube TV is supposed to be “mobile first” — that is, YouTube expects that subscribers will spend most of their time watching on phones, though they’ll also be able to watch on devices like laptops and traditional TVs, via Google’s Chromecast devices.

Like other new digital TV services, YouTube TV won’t offer every network that cable TV services provide; instead it will feature a “skinny bundle,” composed of the four broadcast networks — Fox, ABC, CBS and NBC — along with some of the cable channels related to the broadcasters. Which means you’ll also get networks like Fox News, ESPN and Bravo; YouTube execs says the base package will include about three dozen channels.

Read more: https://www.recode.net/2017/2/28/14761348/youtube-pay-mobile-tv-35-dollars-launch

[msongs]

1. might be worth it one could choose ONLY one's preferred channels instead of a bundle

of channels from which Google is getting the biggest kickbacks

[hibbing]

2. I need to do something

My cable bill is ridiculously high.

Peace

[metalbot]

5. Depending on what you watch

Sling TV may get you sufficient "cable" for ~$20/month.

[ToxMarz]

6. Yes, but this is more comparable to Sling's $40 package

and it says it includes local channels (I don't know how comprehensive it is, maybe just major markets) which Sling does not offer at all

[Lochloosa]

9. I have Sling ($20),a good HD antenna and Netflix.

$32 a month. The antenna gets local and several other channels including three PBS I've never looked back at cable.

[displacedtexan]

10. Which antenna do you recommend?

I have a second tv, without cable connection, that gets netflix, amazon prime, and my cloud video files; but I'd like to watch local news in the morning on that tv.

Suggestions?

[Lochloosa]

11. This is the one I have. Works great. And it's on sale. ClearStream Eclipse.

https://www.antennasdirect.com/store/ClearStream-Eclipse-Digital-TV-Antenna.html?cjid=5513721

[displacedtexan]

14. Thanks!

This one looks great, and it looks easy to install. I'm between 3 towers, which gives me about 14 channel choices (64 if you count dupes) through the air.

[duhneece]

36. I'm not between any towers

I live in a valley in a canyon and sit lower than any neighbors. I can sometimes send a message; sometimes not

[JudyM]

26. Looks good. If only I didn't have to have cable for internet.

[sarcasmo]

24. Canceled my Sling this week, the stream was always cutting out.

HBO, Hulu and Netflix streaming is pretty flawless.

[Lochloosa]

12. Also...get a Roku box. It's well worth the one time investment.

[displacedtexan]

16. I already have roku and wd live plus (my cloud).

I'm just waiting for my xfinity contract to end. Then I'll be free of them, except for wifi. Sonic is here now, but they've had some massive outages during our Bay Area storms.

[yeoman6987]

8. Mines insane. The problem is if I go down a tier you miss things that other devices don't offer

I like OWN. The have and the have nots for example. They are not even on DVD for goodness sakes. I like hallmark but if I ditch the channel then many movies I won't get. I'm thinking about it though. I have Hulu plus and Amazon prime. I did get rid of Netflix though. Lol. Slowly ditching things. My cable and Internet is 205 a month. Outrageous!!!

[pstokely]

17. you might pay higher in data caps though

you could probably get by if you don't watch much tv or use antenna for local channels

[ozone82]

22. There Are Sites...

Online that have dozens of channels to live stream for free, quality varies, and you do need to have the latest pop-up blocker running. The BBC channels I stream are all streamed in HD, no buffering at all.

[EarthFirst]

35. FireStick Kodi

Haven't looked back since we made the switch.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Schmundle Bundles

Haven't watched TV in 5 years! Don't miss the commercials at all. Catch
a show here or there on the internet. Would have spent more than $4,500.00
to watch 75 hours of TV a year. Not worth it. My non-participation, for the
media companies? SAD!

[Thor_MN]

4. YouTube insists on trying to stuff videos down the wire at rates my connection can't suuport.

They can't keep track of this from one video to the next, why would I trust them to remember that I paid?

[Initech]

7. I've got Netflix and Hulu ad-free. I think I'll be good without it.

[Kolesar]

13. Science Channel and National Geographic?

I find good shows on those. Does HULU have them?

[ozone82]

21. Not Much..

Current as far as Nat Geo, just did a quick look, and the Nat Geo shows are a year old. Sling TV streams Nat Geo with commercials, don't think Science Channel is there (Sling TV).

[Kolesar]

37. [x] Like for your post

[INdemo]

15. Whichever one you choose what we have

learned at least in our area..Satellite is on the way out and they have priced themselves out of the market

[DeminPennswoods]

18. Comcast could get so much business if

they just unencrypted their feed and got rid of the set top box. They'd get a ton of subscribers who don't need or use all the extra features and those who do can still get all the bells and whistles services that come with a box. It makes so much sense, Comcast could get rid of all the old boxes, remotes and cables, and viewers' electric bill would go down making things better for the environment.

[WinkyDink]

20. Comcast isn't run by financial fools.

[WinkyDink]

19. Cable, Amazon, antennae---There is no "BEST." What is BEST is what offers all you want to watch.

I like my cable. I prefer everything in real time.

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Not A Bargain From A Volume Standpoint

I get 8 times the channels, 150Mb internet and VOIP for 5.5 times that
Add the 35 to the cost of high speed data in I'm getting 10 times the services for 3 times the money
Now I get some people don't have the discretionary money to do it our way, but my value point is 333% better
Seems this is little for YouTube to crow over

[Honeycombe8]

28. OR...people don't watch all those stations in your cable package.

I dropped cable and never looked back. (I have a Roku and subscribe to Netflix & Amazon Prime video.) When I had satellite, I watched only 5 stations regularly. NOW I have thousands of programs to watch, and much more interesting.

I have a free station on my Roku for just about everything...old tv shows like My Favorite Martian to horror movies to retro flicks to Christmas movies to exercise stations to gardening....everything. I also have digital antennas, so I get about 10 stations for free (all in clear direct signal HDTV).

I would have internet, anyway, so that's not an increased cost for me. Just the one time cost of the Roku, and my $100/yr Amazon Prime subscription (which has perks for shopping), and my $10/mo. Netflix subscription.

I would consider a cheapo streaming service that offers some cable stations (Sling TV has one for $20 a month), but so far, I'm not tempted.

[ProfessorGAC]

32. Not Sure How That Pertains to My Post

But, whatever. You choose what you will. Not my business but your choice still isn't this YouTube offering which I don't think is much of a deal

[dawn frenzy adams]

25. No thanks.

Nothing new to see here. If they are going to offer the same products as the 6 conglomerates that own all that we see, hear, and read now, no thank you. Why the hell would you pay for that? If they were offering some independent news channels, maybe, I'd considered it.

[Honeycombe8]

27. Wow. Streaming is morphing and growing so rapidly.

This seems like cable-lite to me (a bundle of stations you don't get to pick, for a total price - I like a la carte streaming). But it still is good to have a choice. These are exciting times for digital.

I'm a cord cutter, and am SO glad to have that monkey off my back. I have digital tv antennas, a Roku, and subscribe to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

SlingTV is a streaming service that sells a package of cable stations for $20/month. This seems to be the up and coming thing. Still is a little too much like cable to me, though cheaper.

[OxQQme]

30. re: SlingTV

My curiosity got me.
Just checked out SlingTV to see if I could get FS1, so my buddies and I could watch the NASCAR series without finding a local tavern to watch our favorite drivers.
Checked out the faq on their website and still had questions.
There's a 'chat with a rep' menu and I got an instant response in an affirmative to my locale.
I had all I needed with a basic internet connection and my Win10 computer HDMI'd to the TV.

Second tier (blue) @ $24.99/mo, no contract, is way cheaper than a comcast premium subscription that went up in $ every couple of months while I was a subscriber.
(and the weekly tavern expense - lol now we can watch from our bucket seats, fridge just a few steps away)

I currently watch the local channels 2-12 and a bunch of higher channels "in HD", on a 32" flat panel using an old fashioned regular TV antenna sticking up in the air on top of the carport.

[Honeycombe8]

31. So...they have the Nascar thing?

Sling has ESPN and such, but I don't watch sports.

I can't verify how well it works. Streaming is not like watching regular tv. My streaming will stall sometimes when I have a glitch in my internet feed (I'm wireless).

I'm thinking about SlingTV. Haven't felt the need to do it yet, though. Because I have so much stuff to watch already.

Great that worked out for you!

[MountainFool]

29. No way!

Not one dollar of mine is going to Fox. I have access to more news that I can read, subscribe to NYTimes online and haven't watched a TV commercial in years.

Until it's fully unbundled ... just say no!

[Bengus81]

33. You have COX for your streaming? In many of their States you'll get NAILED..

Those guys are crooks I can't STAND but like most cities you have ONE choice for true cable and fast internet. NOW in their plan to never let anything go without being increased in price they have limit on data. Here in Kansas you get 1TB per month unless you pay for the expensive gigabit service then you get 2TB.

1 TB sound like a lot for 30 days?? Not if your streaming video,you'd be surprised how quickly you can burn 40-50Gigs in a day. Go over that 1TB level in 30 days and they nail you for an additional $10 bucks per 50 GB. If your working and not home most all day then you'll probably be ok. If your home/retired etc and you watch alot during the day you WILL go over--or toward the end of the billing cycle you'll just have to leave the TV off for a day or two.

Just normal surfing of the web,using DU etc uses little data. But if you stream Netflix,Amazon or have a TV package that is brought to you by streaming they'll kill you on the penalty. Funny thing though,this isn't for ALL of COX customers in all States,just those of us they decided to SCREW right now. Here's the list.................

Usage Over Your Data Plan

For Cox customers located in the following service areas, if you exceed your data plan, we automatically provide additional 50 GB blocks of data for $10 each. Blocks are provided only when needed and do not affect your Internet package. There is no change to the speed or quality of your Internet service if you exceed your data plan.

Arkansas
Cleveland, OH
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Iowa
Kansas
Omaha, NE
Sun Valley, ID

[hunter]

34. I have zero tolerance for television commercials anymore.

I think once you quit advertising supported television you don't go back. People who watch television are completely desensitized to its obnoxiousness.

All our television does is play movies. No cable, no satellite, no broadcast.

We have a medium speed internet connection to a local ISP that can play a single DVD quality Netflix Channel flawlessly and covers all our communication needs. It's $39 a month for the twisted wire pair, and $8 a month for Netflix.

Our DVD library, just as our book library, is large because I often find DVDs of movies I'd like to see in thrift stores. Sometimes my wife buys movies she likes on DVDs. Redbox is usually has something interesting too.

This new google service doesn't interest me, but it's good to see them competing with the traditional cable and satellite providers.

Years ago, before Comcast even offered internet service, I had a hell of a time getting rid of them. They kept a small credit on my account and wouldn't stop calling, etc., etc.. At one point I told them I was going to remove their underground cable from my property. Their customer reps faced so much pressure not to lose customers that the one who finally disconnected us marked us as "moved." So of course their sales crews were soon appearing at our door "welcoming" us to the neighborhood and trying to get us to sign up as new customers...