YouTube TV price increase: social media reacts
YouTube TV has announced a price increase for its base plan, raising the monthly subscription fee from $72.99 to $82.99. This change will take effect on January 13, 2025, for existing subscribers, while new users will see the updated price immediately. The company cites the rising cost of content and ongoing investments in service quality as the reasons for the hike.
In addition to the price increase, YouTube TV is offering a promotional deal for new subscribers: “Try it free then $69 off your first 3 months of YouTube TV Base Plan – that’s just $59.99/mo.” This offer aims to attract new users despite the higher monthly fee.
The new pricing structure continues to include more than 100 channels, a DVR with unlimited storage, up to six accounts per household and the ability to watch up to three concurrent streams.
Social media has been abuzz with reactions to the announcement of YouTube TV price increase. Many users expressed disappointment and frustration, with some threatening to cancel their subscriptions and switch back to traditional cable TV. Others questioned whether the additional cost was justified, given the already high price of streaming services. Some subscribers suggested that YouTube TV should offer more value-added features, such as including YouTube Premium or adding more sports channels, to justify the higher fee.
MorningBrew cofounder and CEO Austin Rief told his 149.4K X followers, including MrBeast, who holds the record for the most subscribers on YouTube — 336 million subscribers (as of December 2024), “$1,000/year for live TV feels like a ripoff,” clearly not appreciating the price increase.
YouTube TV is now $82.99/month.
$1,000/year for live TV feels like a ripoff. pic.twitter.com/u30ROS6AAL
— Austin Rief ☕️ (@austin_rief) December 12, 2024
MSNBC columnist Brandon Friedman suggested to his 13.3K followers on BlueSky that they should pin this YouTube TV price hike on the incoming Trump administration.
Cost of YouTube TV is going up 14% a week before Trump's inauguration. Add it to the list of price increases to pin on the incoming administration.
— Brandon Friedman (@brandonfriedman.bsky.social) December 12, 2024 at 8:05 PM
Facebook user Christine Lundy said she will be canceling the YouTube TV subscription soon.
Kelly Evans, anchor of CNBC’s “The Exchange,” expressed her surprise over the reason given by YouTube TV for the price increase. Evans wrote, “Also YouTube TV: we’re hiking prices to $82.99 a month because of the “rising cost of content.” um…what?”
Also YouTube TV: we're hiking prices to $82.99 a month because of the "rising cost of content."
um…what?
— Kelly Evans (@KellyCNBC) December 12, 2024
While YouTube TV boasts a vast library of content, including live sports and local channels, the rising cost may push some users away. It remains to be seen whether YouTube TV can justify the increased price point and maintain its position as a leading streaming platform in a crowded and competitive market.
Featured image: The office building at 901 Cherry Avenue in San Bruno, California was home to the headquarters of YouTube at the time this photograph was taken. Photographed by user Coolcaesar on April 2, 2017 in San Bruno, California. License: CC BY-SA 4.0
