YouTube TV debuted in February 2017 as a nationwide streaming TV subscription service in the US. It stood out as a great alternative for anyone looking to cut the cord while wanting to spend less on content consumption. While the service started at $34/month in 2017, YouTube TV has increased its prices over the years. Fast forward to 2023, when the platform confirmed it would increase its subscription price by $8 for a total of 72.99/month.So, what is the reason behind YouTube TV's price hike? And how much does a YouTube TV subscription cost now?

Why Is YouTube TV Getting More Expensive?

The base YouTube TV plan is getting expensive by $8/month. This means YouTube TV will now cost $72.99/month, up from its previous monthly price of $64.99/month. The new price immediately goes into effect for new subscribers, while existing YouTube TV users will be charged the new rate starting April 18th.

So, what's the reason behind this price hike? YouTube TV shared on Twitter that it would increase its price by $8 because of rising content costs and expenses as well as continuous investment in service quality.

The price hike may be coming due to YouTube TV spending $2 billion a year, as reported by The Verge, to acquire streaming ticket rights for NFL Sunday Ticket in 2022. However, the platform denied this in a tweet.

On the bright side, YouTube is slashing the price of its 4K add-on by $10. Previously, you had to pay $19.99/month to enjoy selected channels in 4K on YouTube TV. But its price is now being slashed to $9.99/month. So, if you were paying for YouTube TV and its 4K add-on, your monthly subscription cost will only increase by $2.

This is the first bump YouTube TV has seen since 2020, but unlike before, the streaming TV service is not adding new channels to offset the higher cost.

In 2019, YouTube TV's monthly subscription saw a price hike from $39.99 to $49.99. That price bump came with the service gaining new channels from the Discovery network. Then, in 2020, YouTube TV had another massive price hike and changed its price from $49.99/month to $64.99/month. But again, the service added new channels to justify the added cost.

Do note that YouTube Premium and YouTube TV are two different services, so this price change may not apply to you if you're only subscribed to YouTube Premium.

How Much Does a YouTube TV Subscription Cost Now?

After the $8 price hike, a YouTube TV subscription starts at $72.99/month. This is the price of the base plan, which includes over 100 channels, and you can share the account with up to six members in a household. As a part of the plan, you'll also get unlimited DVR space and the ability to watch the content on three devices simultaneously.

If the content network you want is not a part of the base plan, you can still subscribe by paying an additional monthly fee for each network. Depending on the channel, the price can vary from $2 to $15 extra every month. A Sports Plus add-on that includes channels like Fox Soccer Plus, Gol TV, NFL RedZone, and others costs $10.99/month.

YouTube TV also has a standalone Spanish plan that costs only $34.99/month. It provides access to over 28 Spanish networks and supports unlimited DVR space and household sharing.

If you have not already, you can try YouTube TV for free for a week before deciding whether it is worth your money.

Streaming Services Are Getting Expensive

YouTube TV is not the only major streaming service that has become more expensive in recent years. Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and others have hiked their prices or introduced a cheaper ad-supported tier to offset increasing content expenses.