At VidCon 2017 today, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki announced a slew of updates for both consumers and creators of the platform. The mobile apps will soon dynamically adapt their video player window, while YouTube’s built-in share feature and YouTube TV are seeing a wider rollout in the coming weeks.
YouTube TV launched earlier last month in five major markets around the U.S. Today, the cord-cutting solution from Google is adding seven new cable networks to its basic $35 package.
I haven’t watched live television at home in years. At the very least, my typical show viewing is delayed to the day-after online premiere, but more frequently until the full season is added to a service like Netflix. Meanwhile, news has been augmented by Twitter and other illicit livestreams for major events.
As such, something like YouTube TV is especially geared towards habits like mine and to that of a generation who does not watch in real time. After a few days of using the service, I think YouTube TV is fantastic — due not only to a combination of content and technical prowess, but more importantly a familiar interface and experience.
Currently, if you’re interested in an ad-free experience on YouTube without using an adblocker, you can sign up for YouTube Red. For $10 a month, you aren’t served any ads while still giving creators money for their work and given access to Google Play Music. But with YouTube TV, you don’t get any additional services. If YouTube Red and Play Music were bundled with YouTube TV, would you be more inclined to try out the service?
Over the past two years, YouTube has been working on building its own online TV service, and today the company officially unveiled it. YouTube TV is a $35 per month service that incorporates Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC alongside the standard YouTube experience. Is this enough to get you to cancel your cable?
YouTube has finally announced its long-rumored online television service that doesn’t require a cable subscription. Known simply as YouTube TV, it features local networks like ABC and CBS, as well as channels like ESPN for $35 a month.
