YouTube TV Review: Is YouTube TV Good?

youtube tv review

YouTube TV is considered one of the best live streaming service, as a matter of fact, YouTube TV is named as the best overall TV streaming service for 2020. The YouTube TV channel list is wide and long for the price it comes in. In this YouTube TV review, we will talk about everything that makes YouTube TV a really great live streaming service. For just $64.99 per month, you get access to 85+ cable and local channels including an unlimited cloud DVR.

YouTube TV has recently bumped up its price from $49.99 to $64.99 a month. However the price hike isn’t in vain, YouTube TV also added a ton of entertainment channels. This makes YouTube TV Channels list incredible. While the service is a bit more expensive, we believe YouTube TV is worth its features and performance. Read this YouTube TV review till the end and decide it for yourself and the pros and cons of YouTube TV.

What Is YouTube TV?

This YouTube TV Guide will tell you everything you need to know about the streaming platform. YouTube TV is possibly the original live streaming platform. YouTube TV is the video giant’s first step into the cable TV market, it offers live streaming channels in addition to its original video platform. While most users complain that it is odd to get CNN from the same place where your kids watch their cartoons. 

YouTube TV’s biggest advantage over other live TV streaming platforms is the familiarity of the platform. It is one of the main pros in the list of YouTube TV pros and cons. Users have been using YouTube for years ad that’s why YouTube TV is comfortable for most customers.

YouTube TV Free Trials, Promotion & Deals

New YouTube TV subscribers can get the new Chromecast with a Google TV device. The device comes at $49.99 upon making the monthly payment of $64.99. Users should keep in mind that the offer is good for a limited time period till the stock lasts. 

YouTube TV free trial length is quite attractive. Users get to try the service for one month. After completing the YouTube TV free trials, users can choose whether they want to subscribe to the service or not. 

YouTube TV Plans And Pricing

Unlike other Live TV streaming platforms, YouTube TV has just one plan. It offers all types of preferable cable and local channels. One thing you may not know about the YouTube TV channels list. Based on your location, you may get somewhere between 85 to 90 channels. Read this YouTube live TV review till the end decide whether or not you want to choose the services. 

PlanPriceLive ChannelsCloud DVRSimultaneous Streams
YouTube TV$64.99/mo85+Unlimited for 9 months3

YouTube TV Channels List & Shows

YouTube TV’s mix of live streaming entertainment, sports coverage, and news channel makes up for an exciting lineup. While it isn’t much different than your average cable package. YouTube channels TV shows don’t include the filler and bloat up channel count. Instead, you get a tight channel lineup of all the fan-favorite entertainment, news, and sports channels. You get selected channels like Comedy Central, MTV, Paramount Network, Cartoon Network & Disney.

This YouTube TV Guide will help you understand why YouTube TV is better than cable networks in several ways. YouTube TV also features local channels carrying ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. That’s not all, YouTube TV is the only live TV streaming service that offers PBS and PBS kids network. 

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If you are looking to cut the cord then you need to know that the YouTube TV channels list does miss out on some favorite channels. Networks like Lifetime, A&E, Hallmark & Viceland aren’t available on YouTube TV. However, they are available on other top Live TV streaming platforms. Here’s a partial list of YouTube TV channels. If you are still wondering “Is YouTube TV good?” then read the list of channels you get.

  • Local channels (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS)
  • AMC
  • Animal Planet
  • Cartoon Network/ Adult Swim
  • CNN
  • Cheddar News
  • Comedy Central
  • Disney
  • Disney XD
  • E!
  • Food Network
  • Fox News
  • Freeform
  • FX
  • FXX
  • Investigation Discovery
  • IFC
  • MSNBC
  • NatGeo
  • MTV
  • Paramount Network
  • Sundance
  • Syfy
  • TBS
  • TNT
  • TruTV
  • TLC
  • Turner Classic Movies
  • USA
  • VH1

If you want the complete YouTube TV channels list then you can visit the official YouTube TV website. Still, the comprehensive channel list of YouTube TV is one of the primary pros of YouTube TV pros and cons.

YouTube TV Originals & Movies

Let’s be honest here for a moment, YouTube TV originals aren’t exactly breaking the viewers’ records. In terms of competition, YouTube TV doesn’t hold much competition for Netflix and Hulu when it comes to original shows. The biggest success YouTube TV had in their original programming was Cobra Kai that Netflix has picked up for season 3. That doesn’t necessarily mean that YouTube TV doesn’t have any good original shows. There are sci-fi thrillers like Impulse and music doc Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert. 

However, YouTube TV recently announced that there won’t be any more originals shows in the future. YouTube has taken a step back from the original show’s game. Their main focus will now remain only on live streaming domination. Here’s a list of YouTube TV originals and Movies.

  • Cobra Kai
  • Escape the Night
  • Liza on Demand
  • Impulse
  • Foursome
  • Sugar
  • Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert
  • Viper Club
  • Burn the Stage
  • Stalking Vampire
  • The Thinning
  • Museum

Live Sports Coverage YouTube TV

YouTube TV does have live broadcast and cable football coverage, still, YouTube TV may disappoint a lot of fans with its lack of NFL Network and NFL RedZone. The same goes for all the hockey fans who won’t get access to the NHL network. 

This YouTube TV Review is here to let you know that the sports situation on YouTube TV isn’t all bad. You’ll get tons of basketball including the NBA TV. Baseball including the MLB Network, some soccer, and college baseball games. YouTube TV’s live sports coverage rivals most of the cable network’s packages. It contains all the channels that any of your upper-tier cable TV packages and when you think deeply about it, you aren’t missing out on a lot of sports coverage. Here’s a complete list of Live Sports Coverage Channels:

  • ESPN
  • ESPN2
  • ESPNU
  • ESPNews
  • FS1
  • FS2
  • NBC Sports Network
  • NBA TV
  • MLB Network
  • Big Ten Network
  • CBS Sports Network
  • Golf Channel
  • Olympic Channel
  • Tennis Channel

Local Channel Coverage YouTube TV Live

YouTube TV features as many local channels per region as Hulu + Live TV. That’s not all, the coverage is far better than other services like Sling TV or Fubo TV. The channel coverage greatly differs based on where you live. 

You’ll either receive local stations carrying ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, The CW, and Telemundo. If not all these channels then you are sure to get a combo of at least 4 channels. If you are aware of the most networks then you must already know that The CW is the least available broadcast channel on YouTube TV and all the live streaming platforms. But the truth is you’re not missing out on much by losing The CW. Almost all the programming available on the network can be seen through an on-demand feature if you don’t want that then you can get the CW application where it offers all the content for free. Based on how good you are with technology, you can go with either option. The YouTube live TV review makes sure that you understand everything before you buy the services. 

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YouTube TV Live TV Channels Add-Ons

If you and your family think there aren’t enough channels forte YouTube TV plans and pricing. The good news you can add on the channels and plans can be made better with the help of add-on packages. With the add-on packages, you can get the premium networks like HBO Max, SHOWTIME & FOX Soccer Plus. 

It goes without saying that all the channels that you add-on to your plan come with an additional charge. Here is a small list of YouTube TV Live TV Channels Add-ons:

  • HBO ($14.99/mo)
  • HBO Max ($14.99/mo)
  • SHOWTIME ($7/mo)
  • STARZ ($9/mo)
  • AMC Premiere ($5/mo)
  • Sundance Now ($7/mo)
  • Shudder ($5/mo)
  • EPIX ($6/mo)
  • Curiosity Stream ($5/mo)
  • FOX Soccer Plus ($15/mo)
  • NBA League Pass ($40/mo)
  • Urban Movie Channel ($5/mo)
  • Acorn TV ($6/mo)

Like most of the live TV streaming service platforms, YouTube TV offers you a 7-day YouTube TV free trial length. You can use this free trial to try the services before buying the services fully. You can increase the timing of this free trial by purchasing a select Verizon internet package. Do make sure to mark the free trial’s end date if you don’t wish to buy the subscription.

Combining YouTube TV With Additional Streaming Services

If you have enough money and you aren’t getting a good enough channel count then you can pair your YouTube TV streaming service with other streaming platforms. There are tons of streaming platforms out there that you can add with your YouTube TV to make it perfect. We did our research to make sure that we can help you find the best Live TV streaming platform to fill in the blanks. Overall you’ll still save money in comparison to any high-end cable or satellite TV subscription.

  • Philo TV: Philo TV starts at just $20 per month and all the plans are perfect to fill in the blanks that YouTube TV has left in your entertainment section. Philo TV includes channels like A&E, Lifetime, Hallmark, and Vice which fills the gap of YouTube TV perfectly.
  • FuboTV: FuboTV is well known to have the best sports coverage. Where YouTube TV lacks, fuboTV fulfills your sports appetite. The starting plan is a bit expensive but it’s all worth it, you can get fuboTV @ $54.99/mo. You also get a lot of entertainment channels.
  • Netflix: Netflix is not just another live TV streaming service. Netflix is the biggest video streaming service right now and it offers amazing original shows and movies. The cost is incredibly cheap and you can get access to brilliant original content if you love watching unique shows and movies.

YouTube TV Specs

What actually makes YouTube TV one of the best Live TV streaming service is the features it offers. You’ve made it till here in this YouTube live TV review, stay a bit more and learn how YouTube TV is different from all its counterparts.

1. YouTube TV Cloud DVR

All the live TV streaming platforms have a DVR service and almost all of them are cloud-based. One thing no streaming service can beat YouTube in is the cloud DVR service. YouTube gives you unlimited cloud DVR service, yes you heard it right, unlimited cloud service. YouTube will delete all your saved data after 9 months. Still, it’s a generous space when you consider what other services are offering. You can record as many TV shows and movies as you want without the worry of running out of space. 

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With this, you can stream your recorded programming from anywhere on your mobile device. The best part is that you can fast forward through all the advertisements, although some of YouTube’s on-demand programs don’t allow ad-skipping. 

2. Multiple Streams on YouTube TV

YouTube TV offers you three simultaneous streams across all the streaming TV devices, computers, tablets, and smartphones. The best part is that this counts within the same home network or any network you can find. Even if you are traveling outside of the USA. Unfortunately for you, YouTube TV can’t be accessed internationally. 

Not just simultaneous streams, you can also build individual family sharing profiles. Family sharing allows you to share your account with at least 5 people. You need the help of your Google account to set up your individual accounts. All the individual accounts can be set up according to user preference. 

3. YouTube Live TV Compatible Streaming Devices

Unlike YouTube, YouTube TV isn’t universally compatible with all the devices. YouTube TV isn’t available on a few devices mainly named PlayStation and Nintendo. Here’s a list of all the devices that are compatible with YouTube TV.

  • Roku, Roku Stick, Roku TV
  • Amazon Fire TV Cube & Amazon Fire TV Stick
  • Apple TV, iPhone & iPad
  • Android TV, Android phones & Tablets
  • Google Chromecast
  • Xbox One
  • NVIDIA SHIELD
  • Select Samsung, LG, Vizio, Sharp & Hisense smart TVs
  • PC, Mac web browsers

4. YouTube TV Video & Audio Quality

YouTube TV streams in 720P at 60 FPS, it is the same level of quality as cable TV providers or Satellite TV providers. It is also the same quality level as other streaming services that you love. Unlike other services, there are no YouTube TV plans for 4k, HD, or HDR. According to some unofficial reports, YouTube TV plans for 4K may soon launch. 

YouTube TV content streams with a standard 2.0 stereo quality audio, this isn’t epic, but it isn’t bad either. We would love it more if it could stream content in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound but it isn’t yet available. Hopefully, it will be available in the near future.

5. Channel Customization

There is one cool YouTube TV customization feature that isn’t easily available on any other streaming platform. You can customize your account by arranging channels however you prefer. YouTube TV doesn’t traditionally assign numbers to its channel list but it allows the users to do so. Based on the channels you love most and the channels you watch the least, you can assign the channels numbers. 

YouTube TV also comes included with incredible search capabilities, as it is owned by the largest search engine named Google. Chances are, you know about Google’s capabilities.

Final Take: Is YouTube TV Good?

Overall on YouTube TV review, YouTube TV has only a few shortcomings, but YouTube has certainly set a benchmark for all the Live TV Streaming platforms. Although YouTube TV has bumped up the price a bit it still is worth the price. We hope you enjoyed this YouTube TV guide and why you should choose YouTube TV. 

Regardless of how great YouTube TV is if you still prefer a good old cable TV package then look no further. Club HDTV Specializes in finding plans that can fulfill your appetite for entertainment be it Fiber optical internet connection or Cable TV service providers. Regardless of where you live, we can help you find the best cable TV packages in your area.

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