YouTube TV’s price spikes to $65 per month with ViacomCBS channels

In 2017, YouTube TV allowed us to dream of a better, cheaper future without cable. But, to quote Bruce Springsteen, “Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true, or is it something worse?”

We can’t answer heady philosophical questions like that around here, but more to the point: YouTube TV got a hefty price hike this week. It’s now $65 per month — a $15 increase over the $50 monthly fee YouTube starting charging just about a year ago. For reference, the service was just $35 per month when it launched three years ago. It’s now a full $20 per month more expensive than Sling’s Orange+Blue plan, if you want to compare it to a popular competitor.

Per YouTube’s blog post, this isn’t just an empty increase with no additional value. A bundle of ViacomCBS networks are coming to the service. As of Tuesday, YouTube TV includes the following:

• BET

• CMT

• Comedy Central

• MTV

• Nickelodeon

• Paramount Network

• TV Land

• VH1

YouTube also reminded subscribers that the service still includes unlimited DVR, three simultaneous streams, and no hidden fees. Still, two major price hikes over the span of three years may not be an encouraging sign to anyone who sought to get away from cable companies without missing out on their favorite shows and live sports. For the same monthly price (albeit with taxes and fees) as YouTube TV, you could get Optimum cable and internet. 

YouTube TV might still arguably be a better deal than similarly priced cable packages because you can get out of it whenever you want and you don’t need to pay an installation fee or anything like that. However, the lines between these cord-cutting alternatives and cable are only getting more blurry.