OT: YouTube TV Expands to Detroit

Submitted by elpigeon on

For you monthly topic on cordcutting, YouTube TV has expanded from its initial batch of, uh, five cities to fifteen, including Detroit!

It's now available in:

  • Atlanta
  • Charlotte
  • Chicago
  • Detroit
  • Dallas
  • Houston
  • Los Angeles
  • Miami
  • Minneapolis
  • New York City
  • Orlando
  • Philly
  • Phoenix
  • San Francisco / Oakland
  • Washington DC

Refresher on the deats:

  • $35/mon
  • Channels in the package include all local ABC/CBS/Fox/NBC affiliates, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, BTN, SEC Network, ESPNEWS, CBSSN, NBCSN, FS1, FS2, and the usual cable suspects
  • Unlimited DVR, on the cloudddd
  • Free Chromecast w/ first payment

Nice to see the growth, particular since PS Vue raised its prices earlier this month.

Link: https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/20/youtube-tv-triples-its-footprint-with…

PS, it's my first post and I want the full experience, please be ruthless.

Great Cornholio

July 23rd, 2017 at 12:30 AM ^

Over/under on the number of posts until someone mansplains to us why this is emphatically NOT cord cutting, and how all our efforts to subvert the corporate media hegemony are futile.

Shadowban

July 23rd, 2017 at 1:11 AM ^

Also too, they'll remind you that ESPN will still make just as much money per subscriber, and that these services will inevitably cost as much as cable very soon, and despite the fact that I spend $70 less on programming than when I had Dish Network, I'm not really saving money because I still pay for internet access, which I was doing anyway when I had Dish but now I have to add that cost to my YouTube TV or whatever cost because they say so, so really I'm not saving money, and the $70 that stays in my pocket every month is an illusion, cause mansplaining.

Bigku22

July 23rd, 2017 at 2:12 PM ^

It will definitely save you some money, I think the argument has always been how much per month makes it all worth while. 

For example, right now I have a Uverse cable and high speed internet all in for $120/month on a 2 year price lock contract. If I purchased just the high speed internet not in a bundle from AT&T or Xfinity it would run me about $70/month all in (includes modem rental and taxes/fees). Add on the $35/month for this and I am at $105/month for an approx savings of $15/month or $180 for the year. 

For some, that's worth it. If you're paying upwards of $175/month or more for cable/internet then it most cases it's definitely worth it. For me, the $15/month savings isn't worth the loss of channels, possible buffering issues, reduced convenience, etc... 

But if you're a sports fan, I think this is a great deal and package, probably the best out there in regards to cord cutting options for sports fans. 

 

getsome

July 23rd, 2017 at 12:47 PM ^

thats the move, if youre willing to deal and not entirely sick of your cable situation or ready to move on...much obviously depends on the particulars but you can typically find solid deals if you have even the slightest bit of leverage and willingness to haggle.  then again, i get wanting to move on regardless

gruden

July 23rd, 2017 at 12:37 AM ^

Yup, I signed up Thursday.  I was a little worried they wouldn't come through before football season started.  If you're a cord cutter who wants to see all the games this is a great option.  When the season is over we'll drop it until the season after comes around.

Also, you can have up to 6 people on the plan, you just send an email invitation for them to join.  Really the limitation is that the viewer is only available on limited platforms.  We can get it on our cell phones (iPhone and Android), but there is no client app for either of our android tablets, one of which is less than a year old.  Otherwise you have to watch it on Chrome on your PC.  Hopefully they'll fix that soon.  Would be nice to have a client for the Amazon fire stick.

Kewaga.

July 23rd, 2017 at 10:32 AM ^

This is what I am looking for, if I can connect to my t.v.  I almost exclusively watch only college football (all of it!) and some college basketball, hockey etc.  So I want most of the top sports channels and the local options.  But, I want to watch my football on a big screen... so when that happens.... done deal.   Thanks OP.  (good first post)

OwenGoBlue

July 23rd, 2017 at 12:57 AM ^

This is great, but we really need more internet providers options in major cities before this actually drives costs down.

Ex: I'm in one of these cities living in one of the 30% of residences here that have only one internet provider available. So I can pay generic regional telecom service X $80/month for just the internet or $120/month for internet and 300 channels. 

No politics or whatever, but regulate the damn internet as a utility already. 

Maizenblueball

July 23rd, 2017 at 1:51 AM ^

As much as I'd like to be ruthless to give you the full experience, there's not much to complain about with your post.  It was informative and well titled.  

But if it makes you feel better, I'll insult you anyway, El Pigeon.  

You smell like an inbred New York subway pigeon on a hot July afternoon, after being pissed on by a cat, puked on by a bum, then shat upon by two subway rats with one very small cup. 

Blumami

July 23rd, 2017 at 6:19 AM ^

Not surprised to se this topic come up yet again as the landscape is changing rapidly. While the ideal solution for anyone's particular needs may not have been available a month ago -- or even a yeast ago-- it could be today. For me, that solution is Fubo TV. Because it allows me to watch live, in-market Tigers and Red Wings on the local Fox Sports affiliate (in addition to BTN), I am finally able to cut the cord. Availability of Fox Sports Detroit was always the gap in the coverage options but that is no longer the case. Surprised to see that Fubo doesn't get more mention here.

UMProud

July 23rd, 2017 at 9:23 AM ^

Never heard of it but nice sports offering...missing ESPN though.  Unfortunately, ESPN broadcasts a ton of football games including Michigan.  No ESPN = no sale during CFB season. 

Thanks for bringing it up though.

JBDaddy

July 24th, 2017 at 9:55 AM ^

I tried, but the app was very specific about having to live in the market where they offer service.  I live 75mi SW of Detroit, 35 mi NW of Toledo, and got the message that my zip code isn't eligible for service with Youtube TV.

They were also quite adamant about "if you lie about your location, we'll find out, and ban you" or somesuch.  I forget the wording, but that was the meaning.  I'm tempted to try a VPN terminating in Detroit, but the app requested location service on my phone, meaning GPS, not just Geo-IP detection.

PS Vue considers me in the Toledo market.  I guess that's the service I'll be using for games this year.

 

gruden

July 23rd, 2017 at 10:05 AM ^

No.  Sling doesn't offer BTN or affiliates (ABC only in some places).  You're going to miss games.

Hulu Live is next best thing, offering same sports channels, but they want $40/mo, but they only offer 1 free week, Youtube TV gives you a full month free trial.  However, Hulu does offer a different package of non-sports channels so really it's a matter of preference.

MGoStrength

July 23rd, 2017 at 11:08 AM ^

Ahh, thanks I couldn't seem to find that answer.

 

Hulu TV sounds like there is no app for Roku (and other devices) however.  Right now it's only offered on AppleTV, Android phones & tablets, Xbox, AppleTV, and Chromecast.

 

I still don't see a great option for getting all the neccessary channels for watching UM football without either 1) buying more equipment or 2) having to watch it on a tablet or phone.  I want to watch it on my TV.

Mr. Robot

July 23rd, 2017 at 10:16 AM ^

Was just about to switch to PS Vue, but this might be a game changer if it includes Fox Sports Detroit. Heck, even if it doesn't, you get a free Chromecast for signing up for a month and it looks from the picture like the 4k version too. Hockey doesn't start until October anyway.

Edit: I was mistaken about the Chromecast; I didn't know they changed the basic one to look goofy now too.

reshp1

July 23rd, 2017 at 10:16 AM ^

Sweet, I just saw that they did this and also now have BTN. I did PS vue and liked it last year, but I think this is the way to go this season.

BlueWon

July 23rd, 2017 at 11:35 AM ^

I spend about half my time in Japan and have had to use Comcasts's Cloud DVR and streaming services which requires keeping everything installed in my hiuse in A2 to access it. I use a VPN on my iOS devices to due an end run on the borger guards. 

I haven't used it for a while but, for example, CBS was not part of the streaming options due to their international licensing restrictions (the actual direct CBS app accessed the iOS device GPS and blocked access internationallly).

I'd like to save some doughwhen in Japan as the whole Comcast internet/cable bundle costs about $130/month but would rather pay it than not have accesss to my channels.

Does YouTube TV have a DVR option?

UM Fan from Sydney

July 23rd, 2017 at 11:36 AM ^

This is neat, but I cannot get rid of Dish Network. Their sports bar feature (four screens on one monitor) is just too good and perfect for football.