YouTube TV’s latest price hike puts it closer to ‘old cable’ cost

By MixDex Article may include affiliate links

YouTube TV is raising its prices — again.

Originally priced at $35 a month, the service will increase $15 to $64.99 a month for new members starting June 30, 2020.

Existing subscribers will have their price applied to the next bill.

The price hike, which probably shouldn’t be a surprise, coincides with the previously announced addition of new ViacomCBS content — including MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, CMT, BET and TV Land.

The deal also calls for MTV2, MTV Classic, Nick Jr., NickToons and TeenNick, to be added later.

That brings the total number of channels to over 70, with the exact number varying slightly depending on where a subscriber lives.

YouTube TV’s pricing now sits on the higher end of streaming subscription services, though its channel count tends to be higher in most markets.

FuboTV is the notable exception, with many markets offering upwards of 100 channels, but the standard plan, at $54.99, comes with only 30 hours of DVR space and two streams.

Hulu’s live TV offering also has a 200 hour DVR limit for an additional fee, otherwise you can record up to 50 hours but are forced to watch ads on recorded shows.

YouTube TV offers “unlimited” DVR space and up to three streams across six accounts.

Nonetheless, $65 a month is starting to stretch into the “traditional TV” price.

For example, AT&T is currently offering a 90+ channels for $64.99 a month (the same as YouTube TV) but that price only applies to the first 12 months of the required 24 month contract.

The offer also includes a year of HBO Max free, plus a $200 “reward card” when purchased online.

That said, YouTube TV eliminates common hidden fees though it does charge required sales and local taxes and utility fees where required.

YouTube TV offers HBO Max along with other premium channels for an additional fee.