YouTube TVhas recently faced itsfair share of criticism. Manycord-cuttersstarted using YouTube TV because it was cheaper than cable, but over the years, the service’s price has continued to rise, increasing from $35 a month in 2017 to $83 a month today. Once an affordable alternative to cable, those days are gone.
However, there is one streaming service that has emerged as a strong competitor to YouTube TV and has surprised me lately:DirecTV. Last year, DirecTV launchedMyFree DirecTV, a free, ad-supported streaming service. Then, in February this year, it introduced its own standalone skinny TV streaming bundles, calledGenre Packs.
DirecTV’s Genre Packs allow users to pay only for the live TV channels they actually want to stream and are themed based on various interests. At launch, DirecTV offered four distinct Genre Packs: MyEntertainment, MyNews, MySports, and MiEspañol. Now, DirecTV is expanding its offerings by adding a new Genre pack and new channels to its existing packs at no extra cost. YouTube TV should start paying attention now.
DirecTV Stream and Genre Packs
DirecTV now offers standalone Genre Packs in additon to its DirecTV stream service.
I found a hidden YouTube TV discount that can save you $60
You can lower the cost of YouTube TV for the next six months thanks to this hidden gift.
DirecTV is partnering with Paramount
It is also launching a new family-friendly Genre Pack called MyKids
The MyEntertainment bundle now includes several Paramount Global channels, including BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV2, TV Land, and VH1. The MySports bundle is also receiving a major free upgrade, now offering the CBS Sports Network and 15 local CBS stations, which serve some of America’s largest cities.
Additionally, DirecTV is launching a new Genre Pack called MyKids, offering a wide range of family-friendly TV channels. The MyKids Genre Pack costs $20 a month and includes popular kids channels such as the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Discovery Family. It also includes a Disney+ subscription with ads.
Here’s how much it really costs to watch everything on YouTube TV
Prioritizing what you want to watch could save you hundreds of dollars per year.
YouTube TV should takes notes from DirecTV
YouTube TV should offer its own version of Genre Packs
The great thing about YouTube TV when it first launched was that it offered a variety of channels through its basic plan at an affordable price. But as I mentioned earlier, the idea of affordability has been abandoned. At $83 a month, a year of YouTube TV now costs nearly $1000 annually.
As the service’s cost has skyrocketed, taking a page from DirecTV’s playbook would be a smart move by Google. DirecTV’s Genre Packs give viewers exactly what they want at a lower overall monthly cost, plus they’re getting free additional content added to them, as highlighted by the Paramount deal.
YouTube TV should consider allowing users to pay for themed content packs, similar to what DirecTV offers, to let people choose what they want to watch and save money.
While I understand that one of the initial advantages of YouTube was that it didn’t offer cluttered bundles – just a straightforward basic plan – as prices have increased, the need for more affordable options has grown. YouTube TV should consider allowing users to pay for themed content packs, similar to what DirecTV offers, to let people choose what they want to watch and save money. I know this makes it feel more like cable, but at the end of the day, YouTube TV already mimics cable, given its high cost. If you’re looking for an alternative to YouTube TV, I recommend checking out DirecTV and exploring some of the Genre Packs it has to offer.
This might be the best YouTube TV replacement I’ve found
Hulu + Live TV has a lot going for it.
