Over the past two months, several major YouTube TV offerings and deals have helped long-term subscribers lower their bills. 

Subscriber retention is one of the toughest tasks across the streaming industry. That’s because people often change their streaming services depending on the content currently available. Streamers like YouTube TV, whose offerings include sports programming, tend to experience high churn rates when major sporting events are over. 

That’s why in January, YouTube TV launched a secret $10 per month discount aiming to stop subscribers from canceling after sporting events. Soon after this promotional discount, the streamer launched another major offer. 

Earlier this month, YouTube TV rolled out a significant discount for long-term subscribers. Under this deal, some users were offered $20 off per month for up to four months, enabling total savings of $80. 

Often these discounts are hidden in users’ accounts and don’t show up in the mobile app. Subscribers need to log in through a web browser on their computer or phone and once on the site, click on settings and look under the “Membership” or “Manage” section.

Some users would find the discount there, while others would see it only if they click through the steps as if they were actually about to cancel their subscription. 

Also in February, YouTube TV finally confirmed the rollout of new, cheaper TV packages, previously announced late last year. In the latest news, the more affordable plans have reached additional subscribers. 

YouTube TV’s cheaper packages reach more subscribers.

Azulblue/Shutterstock

YouTube TV’s cheaper packages reach more subscribers 

On Feb. 9, in an official blog post, YouTube TV confirmed the long-awaited packages, meaning that instead of the full “Base Plan” with more than 100 channels, subscribers can now choose a more affordable plan based on their preferences. 

The streamer has suggested that full access for all users may take several more weeks. However, several reports from Feb. 24, reveal that a wider group of users can access these more affordable packages, reported Cord Cutters News. 

YouTube TV’s new plans and monthly prices: 

• Entertainment plan ($54.99): Focuses on movies, reality TV, and dramas (includes channels such as FX, HGTV, Food Network, Hallmark, and Comedy Central)
• Sports plan ($64.99): Focuses on live games (includes major local networks plus FS1, NBC Sports, and all ESPN channels)
• News + entertainment + family plan ($69.99): A mix of news, entertainment, and kids’ channels (like National Geographic, Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network)
• Sports + news plan ($71.99): Combines the sports lineup with national news networks such as CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC Source: YouTube TV

Which YouTube TV subscribers can already access these news plans? 

To check if new plans are available, subscribers should: 

• Go to the “Settings” section on the YouTube TV website. 
• Select the “Manage” option and review the plans listed there. 

Cord Cutters News’ Luke Bouma highlights that there is no way to speed up the launch of these packages to users. Subscribers just need to be patient and wait for the offering. 

According to reports, it is possible that users are getting access based on their account history or location. There’s also a logistical and technical reason for the slow rollout, as YouTube TV is “prioritizing stability over speed.” 

Users who are looking forward to these plans should check their account daily for access. 

YouTube TV launches special offers for new subscribers amid price hikes 

While new bundle packages are more affordable than the main, most comprehensive plan ($82.99), YouTube TV is offering an even bigger discount for new users. The streamer aims to attract more new users, which is why new bundles for them come at around $44.99 to $59.99 for the first few months. 

Additionally, it is important to highlight that even on the bundle packages, users still get access to the various perks.

More Entertainment:

• Netflix quietly pulls the plug on millions of devices
• Tubi surprises subscribers with classic cartoons
• Major movie theater chain closes locations, offers refunds 

“Subscribers who sign up for one of the plans will still have access to the product features offered on YouTube TV, including unlimited DVR, the ability to add up to 6 members on one account, key plays, multiview, and more. Add-ons such as NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL RedZone with Sports Plus, HBO Max, and 4K Plus can also be purchased to create a truly customized viewing experience,” wrote YouTube Product Management Director Josh Yang. 

YouTube TV’s cheaper bundles couldn’t come at a better time, considering that most major streamers, including YouTube TV itself, raised their prices last year. 

For example, Netflix raised prices after revealing its last quarter of 2024 brought in 18.9 million new subscribers, and Apple TV raised prices for the third time in three years, according to CNBC. Other streamers that also raised prices in 2025 include Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, and Fubo. 

YouTube TV users raise issues with sports programming labeling 

In other recent news about the streaming giant, YouTube TV sports fans complained on Reddit that the service is not adequately labeling which gender of athletes are competing, reported Android Authority. 

Subscribers are finding it annoying that they can’t see who is competing in a game before clicking on it, specifically because there’s no distinction between men’s and women’s sports.  

Instead of saying “Men’s Basketball,” for example, the app might use small, easy-to-miss abbreviations such as NCAAM (for men) or NCAAW (for women). 

Additionally, users have complained that in some cases, the sport itself isn’t even mentioned on the preview title. The title might just show the names of two colleges, leaving viewers to guess whether it is basketball, volleyball, or soccer. 

“Most of the time (unless they recently changed it), it doesn’t even tell the sport. At least on the SEC Network. It could be basketball, football, baseball, softball, or even gymnastics. No way to tell by the description,” wrote user gmoney41k. 

The labeling is not new, so why are users just now complaining about it? It looks like the 2026 Winter Olympics played a role, as viewers noticed that Olympic events were thoroughly labeled and started asking why other events can’t be labeled similarly.

YouTube TV is on its way to becoming a dominant player in U.S. streaming 

YouTube TV often upgrades offerings and improves its features following subscriber feedback. For example, it recently upgraded its key perk, Multiview, enabling users to fully customize it. 

These constant improvements and promotions seem to be working well, as the numbers reveal that YouTube TV is on track to become a dominant player in the U.S. streaming industry.  

“YouTube TV will surpass Charter and Comcast to become the largest pay-TV operator in the United States by 2027, marking the first time a virtual pay-TV provider will claim the top position in the market,” according to December 2025 data from Omdia. 

Related: Warner Bros. Discovery cuts key feature for certain HBO Max users