YouTube TV is promising subscribers “extra alternative and suppleness” of their video plans subsequent yr.
Will it imply decrease costs? That continues to be to be seen.
However it seems YouTube is following the strategy of different pay-TV suppliers in providing smaller, style particular packages — together with one for sports activities — that include a smaller invoice.
The Google-owned platform stated Wednesday in a weblog put up that it’ll provide 10 packages beginning subsequent yr.
“Our objective is to allow you to tailor your subscription with extra choices. Whether or not you follow our important YouTube TV plan with 100+ channels, give attention to sports activities, mix sports activities and information, or choose a plan centered on household and leisure content material, subscribers will have the ability to simply select the plan that works greatest for them,” the corporate stated.
No particulars got on pricing.
The corporate stated it can have a sports activities plan that gives the most important broadcast networks, sports activities cable channels FS1, NBC Sports activities Community and ESPN. The plan would compete with the mix of the Fox One and ESPN streaming companies, that are being supplied collectively for $39.99 a month.
Over the previous yr, El Segundo-based DirecTV rolled out smaller packages of channels aimed toward shoppers who not need a massive month-to-month invoice for networks they don’t watch. The satellite tv for pc TV service now gives smaller style packages of channels and streaming apps that cater to a selected curiosity out there at a cheaper price — designed for information junkies, sports activities followers, children and Spanish-language audio system.
YouTube TV is probably going that mannequin as it’s clearly feeling the squeeze from rising programming prices. The platform has had a number of contentious negotiations with Comcast, TelevisaUnivision, Fox Company and the Walt Disney Co.
Disney’s channels, together with ESPN, had been off of YouTube TV for almost 15 days final month. YouTube TV prospects misplaced entry to Univision’s Spanish language channels for 2 months, which drew the eye of legislators on either side of the political spectrum.
YouTube TV was launched in 2017 as a substitute for the rising costs of cable and satellite tv for pc companies. The preliminary value was $35 a month. It’s now $82.99.
However the service is going through the identical strain as conventional pay-TV distributors. Program suppliers are searching for larger charges as the general variety of prospects declines because of cord-cutting.
