Google teases us once again with details about its proposed over-the-top TV product for YouTube. In the latest news, Google says the skinny TV bundle will be called YouTube TV and will offer 40 channels for $35 a month. When Google first spoke about the OTT service in May 2016, the product was going to be called Unplugged, but few details were released.
In a blog post Tuesday, YouTube finally offered up tangible details about the new service, saying it would offer the best of live TV including “must-see broadcast shows” and live sports. Here are some of the highlights:
- Live TV streaming from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, regional sports networks and “dozens of popular cable networks” including MSNBC, USA, FX, Disney Channel, Sprout, E! and Bravo
- Add-ons including Showtime and FOX Soccer Plus for an extra fee
- A cloud DVR with no storage limits with the ability to record unlimited shows simultaneously, accessible from anywhere, anytime
- Quality experience on all devices including mobile, tablet or computer
- Access to YouTube Red Originals
- Six accounts for one price, each can be personalized for the user and each contains a personal DVR with no storage limits. Subscribers can watch up to three concurrent streams at the same time.
- No commitments
Source: YouTube
“Meet YouTube TV. It’s live TV designed for the YouTube generation – those who want to watch what they want, when they want, how they want, without commitments,” says YouTube. “With so much great content available on TV, we’re thrilled to build an experience that lets you enjoy it as easily as you watch YouTube. We can’t wait for you to tune in.”
YouTube does not offer a launch date, but says YouTube TV will be available soon in the largest U.S. markets and will expand to additional cities across the country. Interested users can visit tv.youtube.com to get more information when YouTube TV launches in their area.
Source: YouTube
Insider Take:
Let’s get on with it already. Yes, we’re a tad impatient. Google and YouTube have been teasing us for months, offering the scantest of details. Now they’ve made their big announcement, finally revealing the product’s new name, the package and the price, but they’re still being vague about when the product will be available. They are already late to the party, as other OTT services like Sling TV, PlayStation Vue and Hulu have already launched or announced competing products.
With so much saturation in the OTT market, YouTube TV needs to offer something really unique to entice subscribers to part with $35 a month. Sure, that’s cheaper than a cable subscription, but it is more expensive than other services like Sling TV which starts at $20 a month and Netflix which offers a different product but at just $12 a month. The two advantages that YouTube TV will have over everyone else will be Google’s deep pockets, the ability to market directly to YouTube’s one billion plus users, particularly the users between the ages of 18 and 34.
