YouTube TV Opens To the Whole US (venturebeat.com)

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

YouTube TV Opens To the Whole US (venturebeat.com)

Posted by msmash on Wednesday January 23, 2019 @09:50AM from the aggressive-expansion dept.

Google is today expanding its premium YouTube TV streaming service to the majority of locations in the U.S., with the rest to follow shortly. From a report: At launch, YouTube TV was available through mobile apps in five markets. In the nearly two years since its introduction, it has arrived on the big screen via apps for Android TV and Xbox, as well as Apple TV and Roku, and expanded to 100 U.S. markets, covering 85 percent of households. Now it's landing in an additional 95 markets, which will extend this coverage to 98 percent of households. Other markets not yet covered will soon be added to the mix.

57 comments

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Why by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 09:58 · Score: 0

this is a a bad thing ?
Ouch, $40 a month and nothing else? by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 10:01 · Score: 0

If they had a $10-20 option I'd be sold. I don't need 6 accounts, why no solo option for less? Don't they want to get everybody signed up then trickle-up the charges like the big boys?
Get more channels from the cable company by DarkRookie2 · 2019-01-23 10:05 · Score: 1

They will give 125 channels for $45 a month.
Also, this still only works in Chrome.

--
http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
1. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 10:08 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah, but I fucking hate my cable company.
  I'd gladly pay more so I don't have to deal with the constant rate hikes, terrible service, etc.
2. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 10:11 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah because streaming services have never raised their prices. No, not once.
3. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 10:11 · Score: 0
  
  I would rather get 50 channels for $50 rather than having to deal with comcast any day
4. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 10:15 · Score: 0
  
  Works on my phone, my tablet, my computer. Nice to have an unlimited DVR and be able to watch stuff on one device while others watch what they want on other devices (including TVs).
5. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by saloomy · 2019-01-23 10:17 · Score: 2
  
  You know by paying more, you are economically saying "I am willing to pay more for video content, you should raise my rates." to your cable co.
  Personally, I prefer to subscribe to HBO Now, Netflix, and other commercial free services. I hate commercials. If I want to watch something that isn't on those services, I use iTunes to rent or purchase it (if its something others will want to watch or something I prefer to have).
  Everything is in relatively great quality, commercial free, and on demand. Oh, and on all my TVs via Apple TVs (no more multi-tv costs, no more DVR costs) and I can stream them to my mobile devices and download them for offline viewing.
  The only thing I was missing out on was sports / major news events, but recently I decided to take advantage of a Direct TV Now offer from my cell company, and that works too. It just doesn't work on the Apple TV universal search, but at $35/month, I can't complain. This is all much cheaper Than my old $150/month cable bill that included commercials.
6. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 10:18 · Score: 0
  
  Netflix has gone up a few bucks.
  My cable company calls me twice a week to try and get me to buy a 100 dollar/mo tv package.
7. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Kaenneth · 2019-01-23 10:24 · Score: 1
  
  not being locked into a multi year contract is a huge improvement
8. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 10:36 · Score: 0
  
  You can get cable service without a contract.
9. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Desler · 2019-01-23 10:44 · Score: 2
  
  Then go with Sling. Highest cost plan is 52 channels for $40 a month or two smaller tiers for only $25 (one of those with 49 channels the other with 32). It also works on way more devices.
10. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Desler · 2019-01-23 10:48 · Score: 1
  
  What decade do you live in? Most cable companies have tablet and phone apps for both on-demand and live TV watching for years now.
11. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by mattb47 · 2019-01-23 10:52 · Score: 1
  
  Also supported on Roku devices (but not Amazon Fire devices).
  It's missing a few key channels still (History, A&E). But has my major local channels.
  CW annoyingly requires recorded shows to be replaced (I think after a day or so) with their on-demand feeds. That means you can't skip the commercials. (But not sure if other cloud TV providers have the same problem.)
  Love the unlimited DVR feature -- that's the real reason I picked YouTubeTV.
12. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by rtb61 · 2019-01-23 15:56 · Score: 2
  
  I find that content pretty boring, a lot of it has been really lame for decades, poorly done repeats. The only way I can generally watch it, is while playing computer games or browsing the internet. That canned shite has simply become too boring, poorly written, poorly told stories. Finally watched that STD show on Netflix, sexually transmitted disease alright, so stupidly written, turning scifi into a gobfest, ohh the klingon orcs couldn't stand to hear them talk in slow motion with a mouth full of marbles, reverse the polarity was kinda of dumb but the silly shit they come up now, fuck any kind of sense, science needs to work like this to hit the plot points, no sun shades on a star ship so they all cringe from the enemy vessel, fine not a problem. It took a little over three hours to watch the whole season, fast forwarding through the worst shit, yeah, not much left after that.
  Internet interaction and computer gaming is killing my desire for canned poorly written, content, the stupid practically exudes from the STD show, yes, stupid is a sexually transmitted disease, from generation to generation (Star Trek, we don need no stinkin scientists, we are social studies geniuses and it really stands out in the silly shit they say).
  For canned content $10 a month is my limit, probably add music video streaming for $5 per month. Just the limit based on other activities, why pay for something not accessed that often. Canned content versus interactive internet and gaming, the internet and gaming win hands down, just the way it is. Canned content has nothing on say, multi player gaming, nothing at all.
  
  --
  Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
13. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 19:15 · Score: 0
  
  You can't get rid of your cable company because they are the ones providing your Internet access. Nothing like YouTube TV works without your Internet connection.
  Your stuck.
14. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-24 01:08 · Score: 0
  
  Then that $45/month turns into $145/month.
15. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-24 01:49 · Score: 0
  
  They will give 125 channels for $45 a month.
  But if you add in DVR service you will quickly get beyond twice the YouTubeTV price point. So you need to decide if you prefer more channels or the unlimited DVR.
  It's good to have choices.
  
  Also, this still only works in Chrome.
  This is just flat out incorrect.
16. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by guyniraxn · 2019-01-24 01:55 · Score: 1
  
  You can get sports and news for free on PlutoTV.
17. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-24 03:13 · Score: 0
  
  You can now because the cable companies are desperate and have their back against the wall.
18. Re:Get more channels from the cable company by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-24 04:12 · Score: 0
  
  I don't watch sports, but the Pluto news content is very good with multiple choices (biases?) for the providers. The rest of Pluto is pure crap, but it's crap you don't pay for, unlike the cable providers. However, I did enjoy Aeon Flux on Pluto this month. Charlize is better than viagra! I never did get the idea of how you pay for the cable channels and still get the commercials, sometimes so many you forget what you're watching.
To many sports channels I don't want to subsidize. by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 10:14 · Score: 0

Next...
When is reg. YT going to open the whole world? by UnknownSoldier · 2019-01-23 10:14 · Score: 1

Getting tired of bullshit "This content is not available in your region" when sending links to friends in Canada. Really, Canada??? WTF.
Hell, fix that stupid 400 error that breaks YouTube every other month because some javascript noob is storing too many gsScrollPos-# in Local Storage.
1. Re: When is reg. YT going to open the whole world? by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 10:22 · Score: 0
  
  Haha ha hey are your panties still in a wad?
2. Re:When is reg. YT going to open the whole world? by omnichad · 2019-01-23 10:32 · Score: 1
  
  It's the owner of the video putting those restrictions on, while YouTube only provides the tools. Quite often, the company/network posting the video only has distribution rights for a country or a few, and are not the ultimate owners. How else do you allow them to post at all without breaking their contacts?
3. Re:When is reg. YT going to open the whole world? by UnknownSoldier · 2019-01-23 10:45 · Score: 1
  
  Content creator posts public video on a public website.
  Artificially restricts who can view it.
  *Facepalm*
  Isn't the WHOLE point of putting it on YouTube in the first place is to get views???
  Wait till they find out about free advertising! It will blow their mind!! /s
4. Re:When is reg. YT going to open the whole world? by Desler · 2019-01-23 10:53 · Score: 2
  
  Content creator posts public video on a public website.
  Artificially restricts who can view it.
  Yeah it's called geoblocking. Welcome to the way content licensing and distribution has worked for decades.
5. Re:When is reg. YT going to open the whole world? by butchersong · 2019-01-23 10:53 · Score: 2
  
  Well that's what they get for burning down our capital. #neverforget
6. Re:When is reg. YT going to open the whole world? by omnichad · 2019-01-23 10:57 · Score: 1
  
  Let's use an extremely simple example. CBS wants to post a video of Big Bang Theory on YouTube to promote it. They are not the content creator - Warmer Brothers is. They also don't have worldwide distribution rights. Sure, they could ask Warner Bros to post it, but they'd really rather the video be on their own account and link people to other CBS shows.
7. Re:When is reg. YT going to open the whole world? by tlhIngan · 2019-01-23 11:08 · Score: 1
  
  Well that's what they get for burning down our capital. #neverforget
  It was just the White House, actually. And it didn't burn completely down - it was rebuilt and there is still some blackened arches and beams which remain as evidence of the torching.
  And very few commercial projects have world wide distribution - it's often far more profitable to sell distribution rights on a piece by piece basis - you can make more money selling the US and Canadian distribution rights separately than you can selling the rights to both combined.
8. Re:When is reg. YT going to open the whole world? by Obfuscant · 2019-01-23 11:12 · Score: 2
  
  Content creator posts public video on a public website.
  You're confused. YouTube is owned lock, stock and barrel by a corporation. The fact that they have a part of the website available for free access and upload of user content doesn't make the entire website "public."
  
  Isn't the WHOLE point of putting it on YouTube in the first place is to get views???
  No. The "whole point" of this specific part of YouTube is to act as a delivery medium for content you have to pay to get.
9. Re:When is reg. YT going to open the whole world? by TheSync · 2019-01-23 12:24 · Score: 1
  
  Somewhere in every media company is a person updating a spreadsheet that maximizes revenue from pricing & licensing deals for every mode of distribution in every geography. Broadcast, OTT SVOD, OTT ad-supported VOD, TV Everywhere, MVPD, MVPD VOD, Blu-Ray, DVD, etc.
10. Re:When is reg. YT going to open the whole world? by omnichad · 2019-01-23 15:30 · Score: 1
  
  They didn't even invest in YouTube! Unless you mean Capitol.
11. Re:When is reg. YT going to open the whole world? by UnknownSoldier · 2019-01-24 06:46 · Score: 1
  
  Geoblocking is short-sighted.
  If I'm on vacation on another country then I can't view content I've legally paid access to? This is bullshit. It isn't 1920 anymore. /sarcasm And then they wonder why people pirate.
  Content Licensing needs to pull their head out of their asses and get with the 21st century.
Misses the point by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 10:20 · Score: 0

The whole point of youtube is to be away from the TV way of doing things.
Youtube by MonsterHug · 2019-01-23 10:22 · Score: 1

youtube is rising:)
Re: When is reg. YT going to open the whole world by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 10:30 · Score: 0

Yes. I am mailing them to creimer
Today I learned ... by Obfuscant · 2019-01-23 11:14 · Score: 1

... that the whole US lives in just 98% of the households. I wonder who lives in the other 2%?
1. Re:Today I learned ... by Gilgaron · 2019-01-24 00:48 · Score: 1
  
  Cats in trenchcoats with fake IDs.
Market by manu0601 · 2019-01-23 11:57 · Score: 1

We live in states, countries or nation, not in markets, you insensitive clod.
Will they rename the company? by qzzpjs · 2019-01-23 12:20 · Score: 1

Won't they have to rename YouTube after this? The point of YouTube is that it's "You" making videos. Now it's "Them". Welcome to ThemTube.
Same scam cable TV runs by stevez67 · 2019-01-23 13:19 · Score: 1

60+ networks for $40/mo. I don't want 60+ networks. I only want the ones I watch. That was the whole reason I cut the cable, so they're not enticing me back by troweling out the same garbage channels at an inflated price.
1. Re:Same scam cable TV runs by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-24 01:20 · Score: 0
  
  I agree, but no contract plus less expensive is at least a step in the right direction.
2. Re:Same scam cable TV runs by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-24 01:52 · Score: 0
  
  Sounds like it is not the right offering for you. What are you subscribing to instead?
3. Re:Same scam cable TV runs by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-24 04:14 · Score: 0
  
  You hit the nail on the head for me. My frustration with Comcast wasn't just the constant argument over price (threaten to cancel, get 1-year promo again, etc.) it was that I was being forced to pay a bunch of money for a package where I only wanted 10% of the channels in it. Sling and YouTube TV are the exact same problem, though on a slightly smaller scale. I primarily want live sports though a few other channels are interesting to me. I have zero interest in over half of the channels in Sling Orange. It seems to me that a package with just the 10-12 orange channels I want would be cheaper. If it were offered I would probably buy it. Right now, I only get Netflix and just skip watching most sports, as the current cost is higher than my desire to watch. I'm glad that the grocery store allows us to buy just what we want instead of only selling pre-packaged boxes of assorted goods where we throw away half of each box.
Re:To many sports channels I don't want to subsidi by alzoron · 2019-01-23 13:30 · Score: 2

The crazy thing is those sports channels are probably responsible for at least 55% of the total monthly price due to the crazy agreements they require of anyone that wants to provide them to their customers.
Get rid of the sports channels by Nocturrne · 2019-01-23 14:08 · Score: 1

Offer real choice. Let people choose what they pay for instead of just repeating the same old cable TV package mistakes of the last 40yrs.
1. Re:Get rid of the sports channels by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-24 01:22 · Score: 0
  
  Funny, the sports channels are the only reason I would consider joining. I watch my tv shows and movies with other sources, but live sporting events are difficult to find high quality, reliable streams for most of the time. Sure, there are a few decent streams now and again, but nothing consistent. Youtube's offering most of the major sporting networks, so this service would fit nicely for me. However, I'm not willing to pay $40/month for a service with all those other junk channels (Cartoon Network, local broadcast channels, BBC, Bravo, SYFY, USA, etc.) that I'd never watch. If they offered a sports-only tier for $10-15, I'd happily sign up.
lets say a friend wants to go full pirate mode by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-23 18:55 · Score: 0

Let's say a friend wants to get rid of netflix, amazonprime, dish, xfinity etc and just go with streaming and doesn't care about where it comes from. Full pirate mode, bird on shoulder, peg leg, eye patch and a hearty heigh-ho comcast blows.
what apps should I tell him or her to look at? what plugins? kodi? vlc? plex? please foregive me being clueless but i really am when it comes to this.
Just in Time by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-24 00:29 · Score: 0

Hulu raising price on live TV package next month, YouTube TV now available in my area for less means I'm jumping ship.
Yes, it's still a lot of channel fluff that I won't watch but it's the easiest way to be able to watch live sports and events. Until there is a truly a la carte option with reasonable price point... here we are.
We use it, and like it quite a bit by turp182 · 2019-01-24 00:59 · Score: 1

We really like YouTube TV.
Benefits:
1. Unlimited cloud based DVR saving of shows (retained for 9 months)
2. Works on computer, Roku, tablets, phones (all able to stream live and saved shows, great when travelling)
3. Local channels available.
4. For many shows they have on demand, some offer 5+ seasons of backlog (they do have commercials you can't skip, for DVRed shows you can skip them).
5. I enjoy some sports, it has the national, regional, and some international (soccer) offerings
6. We went from over $100 for cable per month to $40. We will subscribe to HBO's service for Game of Thrones and then cancel it.
While it hasn't increased our TV time, it has changed the dynamic. We only have one TV (but also 2 nine year olds); now my wife can retire to our bedroom and watch a show while the kids are hogging the TV.
If you want cable I think it's the best offering available at this time. They don't have Comedy Central but I wasn't watching that much anymore.

--
BlameBillCosby.com
1. Re:We use it, and like it quite a bit by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-24 01:53 · Score: 0
  
  We looked into it, and it seemed quite nice. Dealbreaker was no HD sports.
2. Re:We use it, and like it quite a bit by Anonymous Coward · 2019-01-24 16:04 · Score: 0
  
  We have subbed to YTTV since last February when they added TNT, TBS, etc just before March Madness. All the sports channels are streamed in either 720p or 1080 at 60fps. What the heck where you watching where it wasn't being shown in HD?
No millennial is going to pay for this. by brunes69 · 2019-01-24 02:10 · Score: 0

Sorry but the days of me paying $40, $30, or even $20 / month for you to stream ads in my face every 15 minutes, just so I can have "live" TV, are long, long gone. If you're going to show me ads, the service better be free. If I am paying, there better be no ads.
As an aside - my daughter is 4 years old now and except when we're outside the house, shes never seen a TV ad in her life. When she sees them interrupt her shows, they really throw her for a loop and she gets upset. As she should, really. This trend is spreading, It's the exact same for every toddler in every household I know.
We're now raising a generation on Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, who are not used to having ads thrown in their face anymore, and are not going to put up with it as they age - and I can't wait.
Countries delegate "market" decision to licensees by tepples · 2019-01-24 04:28 · Score: 1

Countries' radio regulators issue licenses to traditional terrestrial free-to-air broadcasters. These broadcasters' signal coverage determines what's a "viewing area" for the purpose of retransmission of NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox affiliates' programming on multichannel pay TV networks.
Sneakernet by tepples · 2019-01-24 04:35 · Score: 1

If your friend ditches the local cable company and the local fiber company, he or she will lose high-speed Internet access and may have to fall back to sneakernet: trading copies of shows on hard drives. Sneakernet dissemination of creative works has been around for a while; an older example is "tape trees" organized by fans of the Grateful Dead. It could work for movies, scripted TV series, and in-depth news magazines. It's not ideal for reality, game shows, entertainment award shows, sports, daily political commentary, and other works with a short shelf life.