parker63

First Sling, then Vue, then Hulu, and now...

http://www.theverge.com/2016/5/4/115...-service-rumor

YouTube is reportedly building a streaming cable service called Unplugged

Another giant is trying to make internet TV happen
By Chris Welch on May 4, 2016

YouTube is entering the online TV landscape. Bloomberg News reports that the company is working on a subscription-based streaming service called "Unplugged" that would let customers stream a bundle of cable channels. YouTube has been working on such a product since 2012, according to the report, but has ramped up efforts recently as other companies including Dish, Sony, and now Hulu have launched or plan to deliver premium internet TV offerings. The current goal is to launch Unplugged in 2017, and YouTube has already made behind-the-scenes infrastructure changes to meet that target.

Talks have been ongoing with all the big content players — NBCUniversal, CBS, Twenty-First Century Fox, and Viacom — but so far YouTube has been unable to lock down deals with any of them, the report says. This is the same sort of roadblock that led Apple to pause on its own web TV plans. But companies like Sling have been able to piece together so-called "skinny bundles" for rates starting at $20 per month. YouTube is aiming to price Unplugged at under $35 monthly, according to Bloomberg News.

It sounds similar to Sling TV in other ways, as well. YouTube is apparently considering selling "theme" packs of additional, less-watched channels as add-ons to a primary bundle. Dish is already doing that with Sling, offering extra content for specific categories like kids, sports, and news. But selling a service based on second-tier programming probably isn't the best strategy. It's likely that YouTube is considering many different options for how best to bring Unplugged to market.

This paid service would be yet another source of revenue for YouTube on top of the ad-supported main site and premium YouTube Red subscription service launched last fall. The Red product offers exclusive access to videos from popular YouTubers, but it's not anything that approaches cable TV. The Verge has reached out to YouTube and parent company Alphabet for comment.

Alan Smithee

Does ANYONE subscribe to YouTube Red? I don't even know what you get from that, besides maybe no pre-video ads which my Adblocker already gets rid of.

majorjoe23

A coworker was telling me that if you use Red, you also get Google Music for free. That seems like a not bad deal.

spainlinx0

That is exactly why I subscribe. I switched over from Spotify. I pay the same a month, but also get to use YouTube adfree.

JohnSlider

They also have a lot of premium content made in partnership with their popular vloggers. Not my bag, but there seems to be a sizable market for it.

Alan Smithee

So there's stuff you can only see if you pay for this?

DJLinus

I had YouTube Red when I recently snagged a Google Music trial membership. It was nice to have a video's audio still play when I minimized the app on my phone. (Usually, that stops a video.) I didn't seek out any of their exclusive content, though.

I wouldn't pay for a YouTube Red membership, but it's a nice perk added to a Google Music one.

JohnSlider

Yes. I haven't seen anything worth watching though.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqV...KeBU_yyt_QkItQ

Alan Smithee

Ugh- whole point of YouTube is that it's been stuff people just want to share, and are happy if anyone watches it at all.

davidh777

How does Unplugged make sense as a name? Because you're unplugging your cable? But you're not unplugging YouTube.

shadokitty

I have Google Play, but have yet to check out YouTube Red.

DJariya

http://deadline.com/2017/02/youtube-...ks-1202028418/

parker63

https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/28/...ve-tv-service/

...always a catch with this stuff, isn't there? From the linked article:

Not a deal breaker for everyone, but without AMC, that's going to put quite a few folks off I would imagine. No option for HBO either that I can see, but then again I suppose a cord-cutter could always subscribe to HBO NOW in addition to this.

lwhy?

I've been really looking into switching to a skinny bundle, but only Directv Now and Sling TV have Viacom channels and I watch a lot of shows on CMT and MTV. As of right now, Sling TV and Directv Now don't have cloud dvrs. I'm interested to see what channels the Hulu skinny bundle will have.

Raul3

https://www.macrumors.com/2017/04/05...vice-launches/

https://tv.youtube.com/welcome/

$35

1 month free trial. Limited promo of free chrome cast device. Unlimited DVR, 6 accounts, 3 streams at the same time, etc.

For me, channel list is barely OK, compared to DirecTV Now (what I have right now), but they are missing some that are important to me, AMC (TWD!), Nick (SpongeBob!), and some spanish channels. Pros: unlimited DVR, infrastructure should be better, so no issues with streaming, I hope, like with the competition. Also, CBS channels is a plus, because DirecTV Now is missing those.

Oh, one big issue, for me right now, no AppleTV app. You have to stream to your TV using another device. I guess this one is more for millennials.


Channel list:

DJariya

Very barebones. Probably more as you said more for Millennials who watch TV on their devices and laptops. I could see College kids using this service since cable is way too expensive for students.

Next up, Hulu Live. Curious to see how they are set up, the channel selection and infrastructure. Last I read was that Hulu Live didn't have the live rights to NBC yet.

Trevor

So I guess it ends up being $35 for two months and a Chromecast. I'll give it a shot.

Trevor

Well crap, only available in 5 cities so far.

Kal-El

This just became available in the San Francisco Bay Area yesterday and I signed up for the free trial. Quality's great so far and navigation is pretty easy. Too bad about no AppleTV app though. Had to stream from my phone.

Raul3

They got AMC sometime since my last post, and my wife wanted to watch today's premiere of The Walking Dead. Signed up with the free promo.

Still no apps, for apple tv, or xbox, or PS4. I used my iPhone and streamed to AppleTV, it has been working perfectly all night.

So far looks really good. I need to get used to the interface though, DirecTV Now was better. Maybe PS Vue was better too. DVR functionality seems just awesome.

Nth Power

I subscribed mainly for the World Series, but I may keep it for awhile. I haven't had cable for awhile, so it's kind of nice to have network TV again. I mainly watch it on my PC and tablet, and both work and look good.

Raul3

It works well, as expected from Google. I hope price was lower though, under $30, closer to SlingTV.

Also, being Google you don't know they will close this project.

DaveNinja

Android TV and Xbox one apps available now so i might have to try this out. I'm mainly worried about DVRing stuff that ends up being available on streams and getting stuck with commercials.

Trevor

Finally available in my area, but free trial is down to 7 days now. Free chromecast after first paid month mentioned on website, but not in the sign up process. Hmmmm. Still might give it a go next week off work.

parker63

YouTube TV is adding more channels, but it’s also getting more expensive

https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/14/1...price-increase

Turner networks including TBS, TNT, CNN, and Adult Swim are coming
By Chris Welch@chriswelch Feb 14, 2018, 9:00am EST

YouTube TV, the company’s internet TV streaming service, is expanding its programming with the addition of several Turner networks including TBS, TNT, CNN, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, truTV, and Turner Classic Movies. Those channels are all being added to the core monthly package, giving customers access to hits like Rick and Morty, TNT’s new drama The Alienist, and a nice selection of live sports. On that note, YouTube TV is also bringing NBA TV and MLB Network to the base lineup. NBA All Access and MLB.TV will be offered as optional paid add-ons “in the coming months.”

But there’s a significant downside coming along with the good news: these changes are leading to a price hike. Starting March 13th, YouTube TV’s monthly subscription cost will rise from $35 to $40. All customers who join the service prior to the 13th will be able to keep the lower $35 monthly rate going forward. And if you’ve been waiting for YouTube to add Viacom channels, that still hasn’t happened yet.

$40/month puts YouTube TV on par with Hulu’s live television service and Sony’s PlayStation Vue. Other competitors continue to offer lower starting subscription prices, however; Sling TV starts at $20, while DirecTV Now’s base package is $35. YouTube seems to believe that the unique perks of its service — a cloud DVR with no storage limits and six individual users per account — are enough to compensate for the increased price. And again, the company is giving people time to get in before it takes effect.

Hopefully these jumps in subscription cost won’t happen very often. Otherwise these internet TV businesses might suddenly start feeling more like cable (and not in a good way).

YouTube is continuing to improve availability, as well. Today it’s adding a bunch of new YouTube TV markets including: Lexington, Dayton, Honolulu, El Paso, Burlington, Plattsburgh, Richmond, Petersburg, Mobile, Syracuse, Champaign, Springfield, Columbia, Charleston, Harlingen, Wichita, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton. With those added to the total footprint, YouTube claims its TV service is now available in the top 100 US markets and over 85 percent of US households. The product launched last April in just five cities, so that’s not bad progress for a year.