Although some video streaming services primarily feature on-demand or original content, others are designed to completely replace your cable subscription. YouTube TV takes the latter approach, offering more than 90 channels of news, sports, and entertainment in one package. It also integrates excellent DVR features, 4K streaming, the ability to download DVR recordings for offline viewing, and support for an unlimited number of simultaneous streams on your home network.
Outstanding features of YouTube TV
Channel Lineup: One of the best features of YouTube TV is that it provides local affiliate channels for ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX in most areas of the USA. You can visit the website to confirm local channel availability by entering your ZIP code. Additionally, YouTube TV’s channel lineup features more sports and news channels than most of its competitors. However, you may notice that many regional sports networks (RSNs) are no longer included with a subscription.
Premium Subscription Services: YouTube TV also provides the opportunity to sign up for premium subscription services within its ecosystem. You can opt into paying for a subscription as a part of your monthly YouTube TV bill. That content would be available to stream on your YouTube TV app alongside the content from your base subscription. Here’s a sampling of the premium channels or services that are available through YouTube TV:
- HBO
- Max
- Cinemax
- Showtime
- Shudder
- Hallmark Movies Now
- STARZ
- MLB.TV
- NBA League Pass
Cloud DVR: If you’re worried about losing your DVR functionality when you cut the cord, you’ll be happy to know that YouTube TV offers a DVR experience that rivals the very best cable experience. YouTube TV is one of the only streaming services to offer unlimited cloud storage space for its DVR. Other services limit the amount of cloud DVR storage you can access, and some even upcharge for the privilege.
Multiple Streams: Another big concern for cord cutters is ensuring that the entire household is able to enjoy watching television the same way that we have with cable. Without charging you for a box to use on each TV, YouTube TV enables each household to watch up to three streams simultaneously. Besides, there are six accounts included with a YouTube TV membership. So, everyone in the household can get their own unique cloud DVR storage spaces and personal settings for consumption.
Simple and easy to use
Compared to some services with multilevel interfaces, YouTube TV is fairly simple. There are three tabs at the top of the interface: Library, Home and Live. Library is where your DVR content lives, and Home is where featured and live thumbnails appear. The Live tab is a familiar-looking program grid that displays both currently playing and upcoming shows.
You can search for content from the top of any page, making it relatively easy to jump straight to the programming you want. You can also perform searches with a compatible voice remote or Google Assistant. Though this is easier if you have an Android TV streamer, you could also perform searches on your Google Nest Mini and play it on a Roku, for example.
In conclusion
YouTube TV presents a mixed bag of advantages and disadvantages. You must carefully evaluate its limitations and benefits to determine if it aligns with yout streaming preferences and requirements. So, if you’re thinking about signing up for YouTube TV, take advantage of the free trial first. That will give you a chance to feel out the product before handing over any cash. If you’re not sold, just make sure to cancel the trial before it expires so that your credit card is not charged.
