YouTube TV Review: The Best Channel Selection Bar None
YouTube TV delivers a top-notch live TV streaming service experience with an extensive list of channels, but it isn't quite the value it used to be.
In the years since YouTube TV first launched, Google's live TV streaming service has consistently proved to be one of the best, with a superior channel selection and an unbeatable user experience. But with a recent increase to $73 a month, the service has more than doubled in price. The overall value isn't as straightforward as it once was, especially against competitor Hulu Plus Live TV.
YouTube TV's main strength for cord-cutters is its sheer number of channels. It now offers 77 of the top 100 networks, the most of any streaming service, a count that includes numerous cable staples plus all four local networks -- ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC -- and local PBS stations nationwide.
Beyond channels, YouTube TV is easy to use: it's slick and speedy on a variety of TVs and mobile devices. Its cloud DVR is also one of the best, with unlimited storage and pretty much all the capabilities of a hardware DVR. The service also offers a 4K streaming upgrade -- for an additional $20 monthly -- which, importantly, includes unlimited simultaneous streams and downloadable DVR recordings.
The big snag is the price, and if you're a cord-cutter, the cut-down Sling TV Blue at $40 a month is the best way to save money. At the other end of the spectrum, the $70 Hulu Plus Live TV is a slightly better value with a similar mix of channels and the addition of the modified Disney Bundle. That said, if you're used to the myriad channels and easy DVR experience of a cable service, YouTube TV's base $73 package is worth the money. It's slick, easy to use and is still a good deal for what you're getting.
What do you get?
YouTube TV is different from YouTube, the free video service with more than 2 billion users a month. YouTube TV offers an experience similar to cable TV, with live channels and on-demand content available on a variety of devices. It works with Apple TV, Roku , Android TV, Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV along with numerous smart TVs, phones , tablets, game consoles and web browsers.
The service operates in much the same way as its competitors: There's a program guide, a DVR and dozens of channels. But what is it that really separates YouTube TV from competing premium ($60-plus a month) services such as DirecTV Stream, Hulu Plus Live TV and FuboTV? Let's take a look.
YouTube TV's channel selection is excellent, with more from CNET's list of 100 top channels than any other competitor (though Hulu isn't too far behind). However, more channels don't necessarily mean more of what you want. Some services, such as FuboTV, lean heavily on sports, while others are increasingly expansive. It's best to check the list at the end of this article, which compares individual channels across services, to ensure you're getting the channels you want. While competitors include a number of channel upgrade packages, YouTube includes everything for one price, though with one exception explained below.
The service also includes 5.1 surround sound, where available, for all subscribers (most competitors are only in stereo) and an expansion of the DVR search, which can now pick out specific sports (most useful for events such as the Olympics).
2023-05-15 20:54:21
