YouTube TV teases slimmed-down streaming bundles for 2026
YouTube TV is about to go lean, meaning it’s expected to add small bundles of live streaming TV channels next year, including a sports bundle with every ESPN network.
More than 10 of these “genre-specific” packages will be coming to YouTube TV next year, but for now, YouTube is only revealing a few details about the sports package, and nothing about other upcoming channel packages or pricing information.
In addition to ESPN, ESPN Unlimited and other ESPN channels, the YouTube TV Sports plan will offer networks such as FS1 and NBC Sports Network.
Subscribers will be able to choose add-ons like NFL Sunday Ticket and RedZone, just like they can with the YouTube TV base plan, and YouTube TV features like unlimited DVR usage, multiview, key plays and fantasy view will also be available.
“TV should be simple, giving viewers greater control over what they want to watch. Our goal is to let you personalize your subscription with more options,” Christian Oestlien, head of YouTube TV subscriptions, said in a statement. “Whether you stick to our core YouTube TV package with over 100 channels, focus on sports, combine sports and news, or select a package focused on family and entertainment content, subscribers will easily be able to choose the plan that suits them best.
More details on YouTube TV’s lite plans are coming “soon,” Oestlien promised, adding that “we have a lot in store for YouTube TV members next year.”
But even though YouTube TV hasn’t given any pricing details for its upcoming skinny plans, they’ll definitely be cheaper than the price of the basic YouTube TV plan, which costs $82.99 per month.
YouTube TV’s entry into the skinny plan business comes as cheaper, skinny streaming plans gain popularity. DirecTV, Fubo and Sling all offer their own stripped-down packages with various combinations of local TV channels, sports networks, news and entertainment channels, allowing users to choose which channel packages they want to pay for.
Last summer’s launch of ESPN Unlimited, which bundles all of ESPN’s sports networks into packages starting at $30 a month, caused even more of a stir, while Fox unveiled its Fox One bundle of sports, news and entertainment channels around the same time.
Another lean sports group that never took off was Venu Sports, a Disney, Fox and Warner Brothers venture that reportedly brought together ESPN, FS1, BTN, TNT, TBS and other top sports networks.
Venu faced serious legal hurdles, including a lawsuit from Fubo and a federal injunction, leading the bundle’s supporters to ultimately kill the fledgling sports bundle before it aired.
This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best live TV streaming services.
