Up next in 10
YouTube TV is planning big changes for 2026. In this video, I share what I would do if I were running the live TV service, including pricing ideas, skinny bundle options and feature fixes.
🚨 Get the latest deals: https://michaelsavesdeals.com/
📺 Compare live TV services: https://michaelsaves.com/streaming/best-live-tv-streaming/
💻 Find a better internet plan: https://michaelsaves.com/internet-plan-comparison-tool/
Variety article: variety.com/2025/tv/news/youtube-tv-plans-genre-specific-cheaper-sports-espn-unlimited-1236605324/
YouTube TV blog: https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/introducing-youtube-tv-plans-launching-early-2026/
CHAPTERS:
0:00 – Big Changes Coming to YouTube TV
0:29 – Pricing & Retention Trends
2:09 – Why Bundles Make Sense
4:04 – UPDATE: YouTube TV Plans Confirmed for Early 2026
4:22 – My 'YouTube TV Lite' Idea
4:49 – Feature Fixes YouTube TV Needs
6:30 – Add-Ons, RSNs & YouTube Premium
7:27 – Tips for Price-Sensitive Viewers
Start your regular Amazon shopping with my link to support the channel: https://www.amazon.com/shop/michaelsaves
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
Maybe you've heard by now there's some
0:01
big changes coming to YouTube TV in
0:04
2026.
0:05
Yeah, after reaching new agreements with
0:07
Disney and other content providers in
0:10
2025, we already know some of what's
0:13
ahead. But as someone who's reviewed the
0:15
service since it launched, I've got my
0:17
own ideas. So today, I'm sharing what
0:20
I'd do if I were running the service,
0:22
and I look forward to hearing your
0:24
thoughts in the comments below. Let's
0:26
get started with the base plan pricing.
0:29
Since its launch in 2017, YouTube TV has
0:32
had one main bundle, a broadcast and
0:35
cable TV networks, plus some add-ons.
0:38
The channel lineup and the pricing,
0:40
they've both changed over time, but it's
0:42
been one simple plan. And that
0:45
simplicity is a big reason why a lot of
0:47
people like YouTube TV. It is now the
0:49
most popular live TV streaming service.
0:52
But I suspect that one planon model has
0:56
reached its limit. Let's talk about why.
0:58
After the service raised its price by
1:01
$10 a month in December 2024, I began to
1:04
notice a change. And maybe you picked up
1:07
on this, too. YouTube TV began offering
1:10
retention offers to those who considered
1:12
cancelling. And it wasn't just once.
1:15
Some people redeemed the retention
1:16
offers backto back, delaying the higher
1:19
price for up to a year in some cases.
1:22
So, a recent increase in retention
1:25
offers. But having said that, I don't
1:28
expect the price increases to stop.
1:30
These pay TV bundles typically raise
1:32
their prices about every year or so. And
1:35
historically, YouTube TV has been priced
1:38
right around the same as Hulu Plus live
1:41
TV. And that service, it went up to $90
1:44
a month in October 2025. So, a base plan
1:48
price increase of five, maybe $10 a
1:50
month. That sounds about right to me. I
1:53
think that's fair to expect because of
1:55
all the things you already know,
1:57
especially YouTube TV's deal with
1:59
Disney, which includes making ESPN
2:01
Unlimited, available to subscribers,
2:04
plus new agreements with NBC Universal
2:07
and Fox in the fall. So, if the YouTube
2:10
TV base plan continues to go up in
2:12
price, and I expect that it will, I
2:15
don't think the answer is adding a whole
2:17
bunch more channels to it. Instead, I
2:20
think it's about giving people more
2:22
choice. YouTube TV said for years that
2:25
it wants to offer greater flexibility,
2:27
and Disney's news release after the twoe
2:30
blackout with YouTube TV ended said
2:32
select networks would be available in
2:35
genrespecific packages. I've been
2:38
covering a lot of new skinny bundles, so
2:40
here's how I would approach that if I
2:42
were calling the shots at YouTube TV.
2:45
Follow me here. I think the best way to
2:47
do this is to copy from the playbook of
2:49
another Google product, YouTube Premium.
2:52
There's the regular YouTube Premium plan
2:54
and then there's YouTube Premium Light.
2:57
So, if we apply that to the live TV
2:59
service, YouTube TV would be the full
3:01
bundle like what's offered today. And
3:04
then YouTube TV Light would be for any
3:06
skinny bundles. And many of you have
3:09
told me you're open to switching to a
3:11
YouTube TV skinny bundle. So, there is
3:14
interest here. Most popular would likely
3:16
be one similar to DirecTV's My Sports
3:19
plan. This focuses on broadcast TV as
3:22
well as cable sports and news networks.
3:25
Direct TV's plan launched in early 2025
3:28
for a regular price of $70 a month. I
3:31
could also see YouTube TV creating its
3:33
own version of this plan, Direct TV's My
3:36
Entertainment. This combines live TV and
3:39
ondemand apps. The bundle launched at
3:42
$35 a month, and it's one of the best
3:45
values in streaming. What I think
3:47
YouTube TV can do better than DirecTV is
3:50
offering new bundles without making the
3:53
decision process so overwhelming. Direct
3:56
TV has got a lot going on. And that's
3:58
why I think the idea of YouTube TV and
4:01
YouTube TV Light really works. And after
4:04
recording this video, Variety confirmed
4:06
the service will launch more than 10
4:09
genres specific packages in 2026. More
4:12
details to come on that, but they'll be
4:14
under the name YouTube TV Plans. Listen,
4:17
YouTube TV, not too late for you to
4:19
switch to my idea, YouTube TV Light.
4:22
Most streaming services today are
4:24
struggling not with signups, but with
4:26
keeping subscribers monthto-month. And
4:29
Skinny Bundles at lower price points
4:32
would give YouTube TV something new to
4:34
offer customers who go to pause or
4:37
cancel. So, imagine this screen if it
4:40
had YouTube TV light options. I've got a
4:43
feeling it could keep some full bundle
4:45
customers from cancelling during the
4:47
summer months. What do you think?
4:49
There's one thing that I hear over and
4:50
over again from people who switch away
4:52
from YouTube TV, and that's that they
4:55
miss the user experience. It's a good
4:57
app, but there's a couple changes to
5:00
features I'd like to see. The first has
5:02
to do with the 4K Plus add-on. And as
5:05
far as I'm concerned, this is one of the
5:07
biggest ripoffs in streaming. And why is
5:10
that? Well, look at how little content
5:12
is actually available to stream in 4K.
5:16
So, I'd like to see YouTube TV include
5:18
4K content in the base plan, no extra
5:20
charge, just like some of its
5:22
competitors already do. And there's two
5:25
other features with the 4K Plus add-on.
5:27
Unlimited streams at home and the
5:29
ability to view DVR recordings offline
5:32
on mobile devices. I don't really have a
5:35
problem with YouTube TV charging extra
5:37
for these. $5 a month seems like a fair
5:40
price. The current 4K Plus add-on is
5:43
double that but discounted for new
5:45
customers. From multi- view to key
5:48
plays, YouTube TV's got a lot of
5:50
features that I think keep people with
5:52
the service. There's one though that may
5:54
be driving some away, and that's the
5:57
cloud DVR. It's all or nothing for most
6:00
content, so when you add a series to it,
6:02
it's going to record all episodes. No
6:05
option for a single episode or new
6:07
episodes only. And the same thing goes
6:10
when you go to delete them. You can't
6:12
remove just one at a time. Since YouTube
6:14
TV includes unlimited storage, this
6:17
isn't really a problem for me
6:18
personally, but many users want more
6:21
traditional DVR controls that other
6:23
services offer. Making this one change
6:26
would ease the transition to the service
6:28
for a lot of new cord cutters. So, by
6:31
now I think it's clear I don't think
6:33
adding more channels to the base plan is
6:36
the answer here. RSN's A&E networks,
6:39
anything that would drive up the cost.
6:42
I'd rather see regional sports networks
6:44
offered as add-ons, similar to what the
6:46
service already does with NFL Sunday
6:48
Ticket and NFL Red Zone. That way, not
6:52
everyone is forced to pay for the RSNs.
6:55
One recommendation I've heard from
6:56
viewers is that YouTube Premium should
6:58
be included with the YouTube TV base
7:01
plan. It's an interesting idea. I'm just
7:04
not so sure it makes business sense.
7:06
YouTube Premium is far more popular than
7:09
YouTube TV. It's got more than 10 times
7:11
the subscribers,
7:13
125 million. So, Google probably doesn't
7:16
feel the need to give it away. Don't get
7:18
me wrong, I'd love to see it happen,
7:20
too. And maybe a discount on YouTube
7:23
Premium, like what Verizon offers, would
7:25
work out instead. When YouTube TV first
7:28
launched at 35 bucks a month, it was a
7:31
no-brainer for people who wanted to
7:33
escape the high cost of cable TV. Now,
7:36
the service is more expensive, and not
7:39
all its customers are price sensitive.
7:42
If you are price sensitive, but still
7:44
want live TV, here's your action plan.
7:47
Make a list of the channels and content
7:49
you watch most. Compare any skinny
7:52
bundle options across multiple providers
7:55
and rotate your services seasonally to
7:57
save money. You know, YouTube TV wasn't
8:00
the first live TV service, but it is now
8:02
the best. And as more flexible options
8:05
are introduced, my hope is that more
8:08
people are actually going to start
8:09
paying attention to them from YouTube TV
8:12
and across the board. Let me know what
8:14
changes you would make to YouTube TV and
8:17
check out my monthly news update video
8:20
to stay ahead. I'll see you next time
8:22
and on michaelsavesdealss.com.