YouTube TV introduces lower-priced sports and news packages
YouTube TV will begin offering lower-priced channel packages to its customers, including one aimed at sports fans.
The Google-owned pay TV service announced Monday that it will roll out more than 10 packages that will be priced lower than a full YouTube TV subscription offering more than 100 channels.
The introduction, which will begin in the coming weeks, is in response to growing consumer resentment over the rising cost of the service, currently available for $82.99 per month. YouTube TV was introduced in 2017 as an alternative to increasingly expensive cable and satellite services, with an initial price of $35 per month.
Consumer interest will likely be highest for the Sports plan, available this fall. For $64.99 per month, consumers will get all four broadcast networks, all of which carry the NFL, as well as Fox Sports 1, the NBC Sports Network and all ESPN channels. New subscribers will be offered a one-year introductory rate of $54.99 per month.
YouTube will also offer a Sports + News package, combining the two most-watched genres into the pay TV package. For $71.99 per month, consumers get the sports package and news networks CNN, Fox News, MS NOW, Bloomberg, C-SPAN and Fox Business. The introductory price is $56.99.
The new plans will aim to compete with ESPN’s direct-to-consumer offering, available in tandem with Fox One, a service combining Fox Corp.’s news and sports channels. The two are offered together for $39.99 per month.
Over the past two years, El Segundo-based DirecTV has rolled out smaller channel packages aimed at consumers who no longer want to pay a big monthly bill for networks they don’t watch. The satellite TV service now offers smaller genre channel packages and streaming apps catering to a particular interest, available at a lower price – designed for news junkies, sports fans, children and Spanish speakers.
Pay TV providers are under pressure to offer more pricing options to consumers to prevent them from cutting the cord.
At the same time, distribution negotiations with programmers are more tense, often leading to impasses where channels are removed, disrupting service to customers.
Disney channels, including ESPN, were shut down on YouTube TV for nearly 15 days last fall. Separately, YouTube TV customers lost access to Univision’s Spanish-language channels for two months, drawing attention from lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum.
YouTube, which has approximately 10 million subscribers, also offers an entertainment plan including major broadcast networks and a range of cable channels, including FX, Hallmark, Comedy Central, Bravo, Paramount, Food Network and HGTV, at $54.99 per month and an introductory rate of $44.99.
A News + Entertainment + Family package – which combines news, entertainment and kids channels including Disney Channel, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, will be available for $69.99 per month and an introductory price of $59.99.
