Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
YouTube TV now has more than 300,000 subscribers
- According to a new report, YouTube TV now has more than 300,000 customers.
- It still trails competitors like Sling TV (2 million), DirecTV Now (1 million), and Hulu with Live TV (450,000).
- The service launched in five markets in April of 2017 and has since expanded to over 80 markets, with more on the way.
YouTube’s alternative to cable TV looks to be a success so far. According to a new report from CNBC, YouTube TV currently has over 300,000 subscribers.
YouTube TV, which officially launched in April 2017, offers a selection of channels for just $35 a month— a fraction of what customers pay with cable or satellite. The service initially launched in just five local markets (New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Fransisco), but has now expanded to more than 80. Customers who don’t live in an officially supported market can still sign up, but won’t be able to watch local affiliates.
YouTube competes not only with cable and satellite, but other streaming providers too. Sling TV, DirecTV Now, Hulu with Live TV all lead YouTube TV in subscriber counts with 2 million, 1 million, and 450K subscribers, respectively. That doesn’t mean YouTube is in a bad spot, though. The service is still rolling out to new markets, and overall, attitudes have changed about letting go of cable. People are far less likely to keep their cable subscriptions, especially now that subscription services offer live sports streaming. YouTube TV, for example, offers local affiliate channels which routinely air NFL and College Football, and ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox Sports, and FS1.
Perhaps another reason why streaming services like YouTube TV have so many subscribers is because there’s no fear of being locked into a contract. Getting rid of a cable or satellite contract can be a huge hassle, but you can usually cancel online streaming services with just a few clicks. If you see a service that offers more channels or a lower price, you can quickly get rid of your service and sign up for another.
As YouTube TV becomes available in more areas, its subscriber count is bound to grow. Have you used YouTube TV? Let us know in the comments.