YouTube TV raises price again citing content costs, now it's $83 a month

[Shawn Knight]

In a nutshell: Don't look now, but YouTube TV is preparing for yet another price hike scheduled to hit soon after the holidays. YouTube last increased the cost of its streaming television service in March 2023, raising the monthly price from $64.99 to $72.99. If that $8 increase rubbed you the wrong way, odds are you are not going to feel great about what is coming next.

Google said that starting December 12, 2024, for new users and January 13, 2025, for existing users, YouTube TV's base plan will go up to $82.99 – a jump of $10 per month (or more than 13.7 percent). The tech titan cited the rising cost of content as the reason for the hike.

YouTube TV affords 100+ channels – basically everything you would get with a standard cable or satellite package – as well as a cloud-based DVR with unlimited storage. Users can take advantage of up to six accounts per household and stream three programs concurrently, and there are no cancellation fees, contracts, or physical DVR hardware to contend with.

Add on channels and additional features are also available, albeit for an additional fee. 4K viewing of select content, for example, will set you back another $9.99 per month.

YouTube's decision to increase the cost of its streaming TV service comes at a time when many are more conscious about subscriptions and spending in general. Whether or not an $82.99 streaming TV service fits into your discretionary spending category is up for you to decide, but do know that there are alternatives out there.

Traditional cable and satellite providers still exist, and you are likely to get a promotional rate – especially if you combine TV service with Internet or mobile phone service. Optionally, providers like Sling have streaming TV packages that start at $40 a month although expect fewer channels and perks.

For those keeping score, YouTube TV has more than doubled in cost since it first debuted in 2017.

Image credit: Getty Images

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YouTube TV raises price again citing content costs, now it's $83 a month

 

[veLa]

At that price, you might as well call up the cable company and bundle your cable internet and TV services together.

 

[brucek]

Where's somebody like a Walmart or a Costco with the clout to create decent offerings at say $30 and $60, and cap at those price levels. Let the channels know that if they raise prices, someone is getting dropped, and mean it. All these channels are ad supported and need viewers.

We already have our local cable company to accept any price and pass it along, we don't need Google for that.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Where's somebody like a Walmart or a Costco with the clout to create decent offerings at say $30 and $60, and cap at those price levels. Let the channels know that if they raise prices, someone is getting dropped, and mean it. All these channels are ad supported and need viewers.

We already have our local cable company to accept any price and pass it along, we don't need Google for that.

There's already too much competition, and frankly walmart and costco know nothing about streaming. it would be a major investment with no guarantee.

If you lose content your subscribers start leaving. Just ask netflix.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

Eh, all these price hikes have just led me to read more, game more, and go outside. I realized I don't care much about TV.

 

[Starfals]

Haha, you gotta be crazy to pay that much. Its insane.

 

[Subset6]

Ppl still watch TV?

 

[Jarenien]

At that price, you might as well call up the cable company and bundle your cable internet and TV services together.

YTTV is really the only thing other than Netflix that is worth the price you have to pay. Anyone that thinks otherwise is a m0r0n.

 

[Mr Majestyk]

I don't even pay that for monthly car insurance or health insurance. I owner what sort of imbeciles would pay this

 

[RudyBob]

I don't buy it so it is of no consequence. The free stuff is interactive and more interseting

 

[RudyBob]

I don't even pay that for monthly car insurance or health insurance. I owner what sort of imbeciles would pay this

Now if you had called me an imbecile or I had called you one the post would be taken down. How do you get away with calling millions upon millions imbeciles without being panned by the mods? I guess it's not a personal attack. I concur with your postulate

 

[p51d007]

I remember when people said "cut the cord! Stream, it's cheaper". Now, it's to the point that you need several streaming subscriptions to watch the content you want to watch, and they keep jacking up the price that it's almost just easier to let your cable company charge you for internet & tv...at least it is ONE bill.

 

[rhdevries]

Maybe read a book? Americans really are mindless drones sometimes...

 

[BadThad]

HAHAHAHA....they are feeling the pinch the cable companies have dealt with for decades. Their offering used to be compelling because of price, not so much any more. The periodic contracts with the "content providers" is like dealing with the mafia.

 

[scoffer]

"The tech titan cited the rising cost of yachts as the reason for the hike."

There...fixed it....

 

[noel24]

"The tech titan cited the rising cost of yachts as the reason for the hike."

There...fixed it....

Naah, here You have it:
"The tech titan cited the rising cost of personal security for Its board of directors as the reason for the hike."

 

[JohnRambo4]

$83 a month and there's no commercials, right?

 

[ZackL04]

$83 a month and there's no commercials, right?

There is an F ton on commericals, ON DVR CONTENT. Same with DirecTV Stream.

Im a baseball and football guy. They have me by the balls, but I’ll be calling my cable company here soon

 

[WhiteLeaff]

There are better options, you know...

 

[scoffer]

Naah, here You have it:
"The tech titan cited the rising cost of personal security for Its board of directors as the reason for the hike."

Apparently, they heard that United Healthcare nemesis, Luigi Mangione was out on bail........LOL.

 

[netman]

"Google said that starting December 12, 2024, for new users and January 13, 2025, for existing users, YouTube TV's base plan will go up to $82.99 – a jump of $10 per month (or more than 13.7 percent)."

I never pay for TV channel streaming service until they offer $1 per channel per month plan. I could live with minimum 10-channel subscription. I don't want 1000 channels that I never watch...!