Mike Wuerthele
Google's subscription tv service YouTube TV's latest update for iPhone adds AirPlay, allowing for streaming to an Apple TV or other compatible device — but there is still no native tvOS app.
The addition of AirPlay gives subscribers to the service a second option besides the Chromecast to wirelessly view programming from the $35 a month service on a television.
Announced in February, YouTube TV launched in April and is available to use in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Users have to be physically located in one of those areas to sign up and gain access, as support pages advise it is due to licensing restrictions from content owners, including blackouts for sporting events.
As part of the service's launch, Google is offering a free Chromecast to YouTube TV members, if they pay the first month's subscription after the 30-day free trial. Participants have to redeem the offer within 30 days of the payment in order to get the Chromecast, with Google also covering the shipping costs, and it is still being offered while supplies last.
Up to six accounts can be created under a subscription, allowing it to be used by an entire family, with up to three streams viewable at a time. subscribers will have access to a cloud DVR with unlimited space, and will include a recommendation system using Google's AI-powered recommendation engine.
Customers signing up using the iOS app on an iPhone or iPad will end up paying more than the publicized $35 monthly fee. The support page advises that it is possible to sign up through in-app purchase, but it will cost $39.99 plus tax per month, an increase to take into account Apple's cut of App Store transactions.
YouTube TV is fighting with similar offerings from Sling TV, DirecTV Now, and PlayStation Vue, while a service from Verizon is also expected to launch in the coming months.
For people living outside the five launch markets, YouTube TV is collecting email addresses for interested parties. Google plans to send a message once the service becomes available in other areas.
The YouTube TV app is free, takes 88MB of device storage space, and requires iOS 9.1 or later.
Stephen Silver
Christine McKee
Charles Martin
Amber Neely
5 Comments
Not just US only, but select cities in the US only.
$40 is so much money for access to what should really be free over the air channels. I know there are basic cable channels included, but they show ads. These ads should fund the content. Maybe not all of it, but most. For $40 you can get Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and HBO. There is more on those 4 services than most of us have time to watch. There are no commercials and none of the silly legacy scheduling issues. Having "DVR functionality" as a perk sounds about as silly as throwing in a DVD recorder. If this service was $10 a month I might consider it. I'd use it for the odd basic cable show, live news if something dramatic were happening, like a big storm, and possibly The Oscars. $40 is crazy money for that.
Such little increments of capabilities, taking so much time, to make AppleTV a serious threat to cord-cutting.
I barely use mine any more except as a device to stream music via iTunes Match (which is a twitchy piece of work itself).
'Nuff said.
Total rip off, no tvOS app, no fast forward dvr content, no single sign on. No guide. Crashes airplay all the time. Already cancelled