YouTube TV, after a very slow rollout, is finally available on the largest streaming player platform in the country. The availability on Roku could definitely boost numbers for the service which according to CNBC has just over 300,000 subscribers. Until now YouTube TV has only been available on wireless devices and the Android TV Platform.
Now though, YouTube TV has to work on expanding the places where the service is available. Unlike its competitors, YouTube TV is not available nationally. It is actually available in 84 cities. YouTube’s help page on the subject is a little complicated to understand, but it comes down to, if you don’t live in one of the current cities you can’t watch it at home. This limits the potential subscribers even though many of the cities in the included list are major media markets.
“We are thrilled to bring YouTube TV to our customers,” said Tedd Cittadine, Vice President, Content Distribution, Roku. “YouTube TV connects Roku users with great live TV from major broadcast and popular cable networks in a channel built specifically for TVs.”
“We love TV—from the shows to live sports to the can’t miss events. We built YouTube TV to give consumers a better way to experience this great content,” said Christian Oestlien, Product Management Director, YouTube TV. “The way people watch TV is ever-evolving, and expanding our reach through the Roku platform was a great fit.”
What do you get with YouTube TV?
The service offers over 40 cable channels including ESPN, ESPN 2 and the rest of the ESPN Networks. The service also includes regional sports channels. There is access to broadcast network content to some varying degree depending on your location. This means in some cases viewers can watch local TV channels live and in other cases, they can only watch Network programming on demand after it airs. This limits access to live sports so, don’t cancel your cable before the big game. Other channels include cable stalwarts like Fox News and MSNBC, USA Network, SyFy and basically everything in the NBC Universal family. The service also includes major channels from Disney owned properties such as Free Form, and Disney XD.
Main Features Of The YouTube TV App
- Cloud DVR with no storage limits
- “Library” tab that includes easy access to the shows you’ve recorded. Browse movies, shows, and events by
- New, most watched, and more to find the perfect thing to watch
- “Home” tab with personalized recommendations, including top picks, resume watching (easily pick up where you left off on another device when you get home!) and more
- “Live” tab with a full program guide to see what’s on now and what’s airing soon
- Background playback experience so you never miss the action while you browse the app
- Ability to share with up to 5 other roommates or family members in your household. Each family member gets their own login, DVR, and personalized recommendations
Needed Improvements For YouTube TV
YouTube TV does not include the Turner networks, which means subscribers can’t get CNN or TNT. That misses out on a lot of great NBA basketball and college basketball during the NCAA Tournament. The service seems a little light on lifestyle programming also. This is a major part of the pay-TV universe that many people enjoy.
