YouTube TV arrives on Apple TV after months-long delay

YouTube on Thursday launched its live TV streaming service, YouTube TV, on Apple TV, making good on promises made last year to deliver the product to Apple's set-top devices.

Google-owned YouTube unveiled YouTube TV for Apple TV in a surprise post to Twitter, saying, "Hey @AppleTV users, check the app store."

A follow-up tweet included a looping GIF image featuring a Duke basketball game, one of many live sports options available through YouTube TV.

And there it is! We are happy to announce you can now use YouTube TV on @AppleTV.

Try it now https://t.co/OWpJ6AL7S7 pic.twitter.com/9t31aHfFlv
— YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV) February 1, 2018

YouTube TV on Apple TV arrives just hours after company representatives told media outlets that the service would support Apple's hardware "very soon." Earlier today, YouTube TV rolled out for Roku devices, another platform for which YouTube promised support last year.

Google planned to deliver YouTube TV to Apple TV devices shortly after an October debut on Android TV and Xbox One devices, but the company missed its goal. In December, YouTube modified its expected launch timeline to the first quarter of 2018.

Unlike traditional YouTube channels, which serve up pre-recorded content, YouTube TV streams live TV to compatible devices. The U.S.-only service costs $35 per month and is now available on a range of platforms including iOS, Android and certain smart TV sets.

Subscribers get access to live television shows from major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, as well as certain sports and cable channels. Add-on plans are available for an extra fee and include networks like Showtime and Fox Soccer Plus. Unlike competing offerings, however, YouTube's cord-cutting option does not include popular properties owned by Turner and Viacom, such as CNN and the Cartoon Network/Adult Swim.

23 Comments

freerange 1597 comments · 16 Years

About 6 years ago

Garbage company. They have to be kidding, $35 per month?!!!! ROFLOL

chasm 3568 comments · 10 Years

I agree with the comment above about the cost. I would have to delve much more into exactly what is offered (though it is HIGHLY unlikely to appeal to me — I like certain shows but do not need anything to be “live” since I’m not a sportsball buff), but at first glance $35/month is just waaaaaaaay too much. Hey Google: there’s a reason why so many people are cutting the cable cord, and garbage programming isn’t the primary reason — it’s cost.

bigmushroom 87 comments · 11 Years

chasm said:

I agree with the comment above about the cost. I would have to delve much more into exactly what is offered (though it is HIGHLY unlikely to appeal to me — I like certain shows but do not need anything to be “live” since I’m not a sportsball buff), but at first glance $35/month is just waaaaaaaay too much. Hey Google: there’s a reason why so many people are cutting the cable cord, and garbage programming isn’t the primary reason — it’s cost.

It depends on whether you use family sharing or not.

YouTube TV has family sharing like all other Google play products.

This means that 6 people can have their own independent YouTube TV if they are in the same family group. I am using it because I share with my brothers and they like to watch TV and 35 dollars for 3 people is cheaper than having 2 basic Comcast cable subscriptions.