Over the past few months, YouTube TV made several important moves to upgrade its offering and reward subscribers.
The breaking news mainly focused on two-week dispute with the Walt Disney Company, during which millions of subscribers lost access to popular Disney channels, including ABC, ESPN, the Disney Channel, FX, and National Geographic. However, the streaming giant quickly found a way to give back to its subscribers.
While Disney channels were off, YouTube TV gave subscribers a $20 credit. About the same time, it also made a $10 discount offer, reducing the standard monthly price of $82.99 to $72.99 for six months.
On Nov. 17, the streaming service provider became the first to relaunch a brand-new 24-hour linear channel, NBC Sports Network (NBCSN). Shortly after, it confirmed that in 2026, it will launch cheaper, personalized packages.
Earlier this month, YouTube TV finally improved its Multiview feature in response to user requests. Until recently, the Multiview feature contained one annoying characteristic — a noticeable sound icon or bright border around the active audio channel. This was resolved, to the relief of subscribers.
In the most recent news, YouTube TV confirmed that a long-awaited addition will arrive very soon.
YouTube TV rolls out C-SPAN networks, after months of waiting
YouTube TV will roll out C-SPAN networks by the end of this week, the streaming giant confirmed to Cord Cutters News.
C-SPAN, or Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable and satellite television network, created in 1979 by the cable television industry as a nonprofit public service.
Its channels — C-SPAN, C-SPAN 2, and C-SPAN 3 — provide unedited live coverage of Congress, government hearings, and other public-affairs programming.
Google’s TV platform first announced in September that it planned to add C-SPAN in the fall.
“The three C-SPAN channels — C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, and C-SPAN3 — will all join YouTube TV’s base package lineup this fall. In tandem with this launch, C-SPAN and YouTube will also broaden their partnership to include sponsoring the network’s coverage of America 250 celebrations, and investing in the optimization of C-SPAN’s presence on YouTube,” reads the official announcement.
When C-SPAN will be available for YouTube TV subscribers
While the exact date was not revealed with the official announcement in September, the press release noted that C-SPAN was coming in the fall.
In the most recent development, a YouTube TV Spokesperson told the outlet, “We expect C-SPAN to be live on YouTube TV by the end of the week.”
There is still a possibility that technical issues may disrupt the launch; however, the addition of C-SPAN to YouTube TV is closer than ever.
C-SPAN provides unedited live coverage of Congress, government hearings, and other public-affairs programming.
C-SPAN needed to modernize viewers’ access, as many ditch cable
C-SPAN’s partnership comes at a time when people are increasingly dropping cable and switching to streaming platforms.
As much as 83% of U.S. adults use streaming services, and far fewer subscribe to cable or satellite TV, according to a July 2025 Pew Research Center survey.
More precisely, 28% of Americans subscribe to cable or satellite TV and watch streaming services. Another 55% watch streaming but do not also have a cable or satellite subscription.
“Streaming reached a historic milestone in May as its share of total television usage outpaced the combined share of broadcast and cable for the first time ever,” according to Nielsen’s monthly snapshot, The Gauge.
C-SPAN used to rely on small fees from cable and satellite providers to fund its ad-free, nonpartisan shows. However, as more people turn to major streaming providers such as YouTube TV, C-SPAN is losing millions of viewers.
While YouTube TV can’t compete with Netflix in terms of subscribers (300 million, according to Flix Patrol), the former is steadily growing.
In 2020, YouTube TV boasted around 3 million subscribers, according to 9 to 5 Google. By 2022, it reached 5 million subscribers, and according to a Cord Cutters News report from Nov. 2025, the number of YouTube TV subscribers has surpassed 10 million.
In August, Streaming Better ranked YouTube TV compared to DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, and others, suggesting that with around 8 million subscribers, YouTube TV ranks first.
The partnership between YouTube TV and C-SPAN comes at an important time not only for C-SPAN, but also for YouTube TV. With this addition, Google TV is providing its subscribers with key channels as key legislative sessions near.
Subscribers have been waiting a long time for C-SPAN
When the news about the C-SPAN reaching YouTube TV was first announced in September, subscribers quickly shared it on Reddit. Many users expressed enthusiasm, arguing that the move is long overdue and a win for political transparency.
User GandalfHank44 wrote, “This is long past due.” Kevinyeaux added, “Great news for both YTTV customers and for C-SPAN, which is facing real challenges with the shift from traditional cable providers to streaming to fund their really good work.”
User NickFromNewGirl seconded the enthusiasm, saying, “Nice! I’m glad they’re finally doing this. I know I can access it via YouTube, but this makes it a lot more accessible and I’ll be more likely to select it.”
A number of users were concerned that the move might justify another YouTube TV price increase. User ItsChappyUT wrote, “Well if that doesn’t justify 3 more price hikes then I’m not sure anything will.”
Higher prices were not announced, but the move marks an important milestone for YouTube TV as it expands its offering beyond sports and entertainment, filling the gap in public affairs news.
Related: Netflix quietly removes popular feature, frustrating subscribers