5 causes YouTube TV did not work for me (and what I realized after canceling it)

Ah, YouTube TV. If you happen to’ve been inquisitive about cord-cutting or maintaining with stay tv with out the trouble of cable, you’ve got most likely heard of it. For the final 12 months, my household gave it a go. If you happen to’re unfamiliar, YouTube TV is a streaming service that mimics conventional cable by providing stay TV channels, sports activities, and DVR capabilities — all for $83 a month.

To provide you some background: I have never had cable in 20 years. The final time I paid for cable was after I lived at my mother and father’ home. I am additionally a die-hard early adopter of streaming — I bear in mind when Netflix despatched out DVDs, and I would eagerly watch no matter arrived in that little crimson envelope. In the present day, I am subscribed to Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+, Max, and Prime Video. I really like on-demand streaming, which is sensible since I am a working mother with a full plate. My husband, although? He is a sports activities fanatic.

That is how we ended up with YouTube TV. In 2024, my husband satisfied me to subscribe so he might watch faculty soccer, particularly Miami Hurricanes video games. It gave the impression of a win-win: he will get live sports, and I get to revisit the nostalgia of flipping by stay channels like I did rising up. However after the soccer season led to December, I canceled YouTube TV.

Right here’s why — and what I realized from the expertise.

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1 Stay TV simply isn’t my factor

Until it’s for sports activities, I don’t watch stay TV. Interval.

My household solely actually opened the YouTube TV app throughout faculty soccer season. However, earlier than subscribing, my husband had at all times discovered methods to look at the Miami Hurricanes, whether or not by ESPN, community apps, or some streaming hack. Whereas YouTube TV consolidated all the pieces in a single place, I couldn’t assist however really feel prefer it wasn’t value the fee.

My takeaway? If we’re going to subscribe to YouTube TV, it’s a seasonal factor. We’ll enroll in August for soccer season, then cancel come December. Fortunately, YouTube TV is versatile, not like conventional cable contracts.

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2 DVR is a characteristic I by no means use

Does anybody?

I assumed I’d love YouTube TV’s limitless DVR. As an alternative, I didn’t contact it. Initially, I imagined recording reveals or films to look at later. In actuality, I simply turned to Hulu or one of many many different companies I already subscribe to for on-demand viewing. My husband’s not huge on DVR both. Sports activities spoilers from social media make recorded video games pointless for him — he’ll solely watch stay or skip them completely.

DVR may be a promoting level for others, however it not for us. It seems like an outdated characteristic — one thing from a bygone period.

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3 Attempting new streaming companies is extra enjoyable

Shudder, AMC+, oh my!

Pocket-lint / Erik Mclean / Unsplash

At $83 a month, YouTube TV is dear. For that value, I might check out different area of interest streaming companies I’ve been eyeing, like Shudder for $5 or AMC+ for $7. Truthfully, I might subscribe to 10 totally different companies for the price of one month of YouTube TV — and all of them would supply content material on-demand, which is how I favor to look at. For me, stay TV seems like a chore. I don’t have the time (or persistence) to schedule my life round a present or occasion. I’d somewhat stream what I need, after I need.

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4 I have already got entry to stay information

Thanks, Roku.

YouTube TV gives native channels like ABC, FOX, and NBC. However guess what? So does my Roku. As a Roku person, I get a built-in Stay TV channel information that features ABC Information Stay, NBC Information Now, Fox Stay Now, and extra. If I ever really feel nostalgic for that traditional “channel browsing” expertise, I simply fireplace up the Roku. It’s free, simple, and scratches that cable-like itch with out the fee.

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5 YouTube TV is simply too costly

It went up $10 in December

Pocket-lint / Glenn Carstens-Peters / unsplash

At $83 a month, YouTube TV prices greater than all my different streaming subscriptions mixed. That’s a troublesome tablet to swallow in at this time’s financial system. Outdoors of soccer season, the service simply didn’t maintain sufficient worth for my household.

Whereas YouTube TV has its perks — flexiblility to cancel at any time, stay sports activities, and a well-known TV expertise — it finally wasn’t the proper match for us year-round. It taught me to suppose critically about what I worth most in my streaming companies: affordability, on-demand content material, and the liberty to look at on my schedule.

If you happen to’re somebody who’s hooked on stay TV or loves having sports activities and cable channels multi functional place, YouTube TV may be value it. However for us, it’s now a fall-only affair. When soccer season rolls round, we may be again. Perhaps.

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