The Complete History of YouTube TV Price Hikes

Introduction

As the largest online video platform, it’s no surprise that YouTube created YouTube TV. They launched the platform in February 2017, offering their tech and expertise to stream 40 channels to five cities at $35/month. During that time, it was half the price of cable, making it a top choice for cord-cutting then.

Eight years later, however, YouTube TV more than doubled their channel line-up… As well as their prices. They’ve also expanded their reach to every corner of the United States, added new features to the platform, and made plenty of deals, add-ons, and standalone plans to help keep customers, but it all comes at a cost. Is the cost worth it? In this article, we’ve tracked down each of their updates to see what the future holds for YouTube TV, and what that might cost their subscribers.

YouTube TV Price Hikes

March 13, 2018. From $34.99 to $39.99.

YouTube TV had its first price hike a year after in 2018, raising the cost by $5 for new subscribers. Those who signed up before the hike were offered their regular rate.

It was a busy year for YouTube TV. The platform expanded its reach to more than 85% of the nation, reaching to the top 100 US markets. They also expanded their line-up to more than 50 channels, adding not just popular cable networks, but also local sports networks. This included Turner channels like TNT, Adult Swim, TBS, and CNN, among others, so the raise was made to offset the cost.

April 10, 2019. From $39.99 to $49.99.

The streamer continued to expand the year after. Google made the streaming service available in every US TV market. It also reached more than 70 channels for their line-up after their deal with Discovery. They also added new features in October like improved, unlimited DVR, dark mode, live previews, and sports spoiler shields to improve the user experience. 

Of course, with all these updates, YouTube TV again raised its prices by $10 for all customers.

June 30, 2020. From $49.99 to $64.99.

Prices rose again for YouTube TV, but the difference was quite drastic compared to other years. From $49.99, YouTube raised prices up by $15, making a whopping 30% price increase. This hike hit new customers immediately, but it also reflected on existing subscriptions the month after.

This comes as a result of the streamer’s ViacomCBS deal, which added 14 channels. At the time, this made the total line-up to more than 85 channels. The platform also continued to add new features like the “Mark as Watched” selection and a redesigned Live Guide.

May 20, 2022. From $64.99 to $64.99. (YouTube TV base plan)

After the back-to-back yearly increases, YouTube TV took a while to raise prices after 2020. That was because the streamer decided to create new standalone plans instead of increasing the base plan.

One such bundle was the standalone Spanish plan for $34.99/month, which Spanish speakers could avail of starting May 2022. This plan had over 28 channels. Those who wanted to keep their base plan could also add 25 Spanish-language channels through the Spanish add-on at an additional $14.99/month. The prices for the Spanish plan and add-on remain the same as of writing.

YouTube continued its focus on add-ons later that year. In October, they offered around 34 standalone plans like Paramount+, HBO Max, and more through their platform. They’ve also offered an 4K plus add-on that offered improved tech features like improved resolution and  offline downloads, which was handy for sports streamers.

March 16, 2023. From $64.99 to $72.99. (YouTube TV base plan)

After three blissful years of no price hikes, YouTube TV raised the cost of its base plan by $8. This follows its streaming deal with NFL Sunday Ticket, which used to be only available through the streamer’s competitor DirecTV. 

However, YouTube TV also offered its 4K plus add-on at a lower price. Instead of $19.99, subscribers could access ultra high definition streams at $9.99/month, which was 10 dollars less. 

January 13, 2025. From $72.99 to $82.99. (YouTube TV base plan)

YouTube TV raised prices by $10 after nearly two years, with the base plan now costing $82.99/month. This hike was immediate for new users. However, some existing subscribers were offered the chance to lock in their previous $72.99 rate for six months.

YouTube TV Future Price Hikes

With the last price hike happening so recently, it’s unlikely YouTube TV will increase prices this 2025. So far, the streamer spaced its hikes between a year or two. If it does happen, it might happen in January 2026, to maybe around 93 dollars. 

Still, the price now is quite steep. Originally offered at half the cost of cable, YouTube TV has more than doubled its rate. Like its competitors, it’s harder to see how cutting the cord is the better alternative, considering that cable and live TV streaming are now roughly the same price in America. 

That being said, YouTube TV might still be worth the cost due to its features. Obviously, unlike cable, streaming services can air channels on multiple devices. YouTube TV makes this even easier with its reasonable travel considerations– as long as any user streams in their home area once every three months, they can access their usual line-up anywhere, even abroad. Sports fans would also appreciate the dedicated stats pages, game breakdowns, multiview feature, and of course, the NFL Sunday Ticket. The standalone plans might also be worth exploring, seeing that you can check out other streamers through the platform itself. They also have one of the best online interfaces in the streaming market.

It will be a challenge for YouTube TV to continue making these improvements while refraining from raising the price. Hopefully, YouTube TV will manage to do so for the sake of their subscribers.