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Verizon looks to Apple or Google for live TV over 5G
Verizon may be looking for some help launching its 5G home internet service with a bang. Sources talking to Bloomberg have claimed that Big Red is looking to team up with either Apple or Google to provide a streaming TV service when its fixed 5G broadband launches later in 2018. Although talks are still young and could easily go south, the insiders said it would either draw on YouTube TV or "Apple TV" (a service, not the device) to provide live programming. That last part is a head-scratcher, since Apple isn't expected to launch a video-focused service until roughly March 2019 -- Verizon might have to be patient.
After Math: Stage 4 capitalism
It's been another fun-filled week of plebes like us being crushed under the heel of big business. Want to take a trip into orbit? You're gonna need to mortgage your house and your children's futures. Want to own the last decent MacBook Pro? Tough, Apple now says that the garbage touch panel version is the only one for sale. Trying to watch the World Cup on YouTubeTV? NOPE. NO SOCCER FOR YOU. COME BACK FOUR YEARS!
YouTube TV apologizes for World Cup downtime with a free week
In the middle of Wednesday's World Cup semifinal match between England and Croatia, YouTube's live TV service suffered an unfortunately-timed outage (not unlike ones we've seen from Sling or Hulu). Naturally, it enraged YouTube TV subscribers who had picked up the service specifically to catch live broadcasts like that game, and now it's offering an apology in the form of a credit. In an email that went out to customers, YouTube TV promised a free week, which for customers on its standard $40 per month plan should amount to $10 off. It also noted that DVR'd recordings of the full match should be available in the Library -- if you can stand to watch that one again.
YouTube picture-in-picture is coming to all Android users
YouTube TV introduced a picture-in-picture mode for Android 8.0 Oreo users back in November, which extended to its streaming Red (now Premium and Music) services. The feature works as expected, minimizing videos to a corner to let you keep watching while browsing around other apps. But now it seems the feature is rolling out to non-paying YouTube users, too, as some report seeing the option appear without notice -- though it's restricted to the US for now.
Hulu’s live TV service surpasses 800,000 subscribers
During an interview with CNBC today, Hulu CEO Randy Freer said that the company's live TV service had surpassed 800,000 subscribers, with April being the best month yet for gaining new customers. The live service launched just over a year ago and in January, sources familiar with the company's numbers told CNBC that the live offering had around 450,000 subscribers at the time.
Nielsen to include YouTube TV viewing figures in its local ratings
As users cut cords and go with live TV streaming services like Hulu and Sling TV, it gets harder for broadcasters to gauge those all-important ratings -- especially on a local level. Now, Nielsen has announced that it will start measuring local TV audiences for YouTube TV, one of the newest cord-cutting TV services. That will give advertisers "a full account of all viewing activity, irrespective of distribution channel," said Nielsen's Jeff Wender.
YouTube TV adds The Young Turks and Tastemade channels
YouTube TV is adding two more digital media companies to its slate -- Tastemade and TYT Network. The move follows the recent addition of Cheddar and Cheddar Big News to the service. Both companies will produce new shows on top of existing content that will be included on their channels, with Tastemade set to create 10 new series and TYT Network producing four new shows. "We've seen them build huge and engaged audiences over the years [on YouTube]," Heather Moosnick, director of YouTube TV's content partnerships, told Variety. "In news and lifestyle, these are really compelling content areas for us. We're excited to see them join the rest of the best of television, which YouTube TV already carries."
YouTube TV turns on 'voice remote' feature for some users
YouTube TV and Google Home have worked together to give you voice control over your live TV since last October. Now, the service is starting to roll out and test a voice-powered remote feature in its mobile app. We've seen the feature ourselves, so can confirm that it's happening for some folks, at least.
YouTube helps advertisers target TV cord cutters
Do you watch YouTube instead of TV, rather than alongside it? Like it or not, marketers will soon have a better shot at targeting you. YouTube has revealed that it will soon give advertisers the chance to target viewers who either watch little in the way of conventional TV or watch YouTube on TV. To begin with, it's introducing an AdWords category called "light TV viewers" -- that is, cord cutters who watch most or all of their video online. In the months ahead, YouTube will also give a range of advertisers the option of targeting TV screens, not just mobile devices and PCs.
YouTube TV brings two Cheddar digital-only shows to its lineup
YouTube TV is making its way onto a more devices and bringing quite a few live TV channels along with it, including Turner Network channels. The Google-owned service is also in quite a few markets, making it easy to access from almost anywhere. Now YouTube TV is blending digital-only channels with its broadcast lineup via the addition of two new properties, Cheddar and Cheddar Big News.
YouTube's live TV service now streams in Firefox
YouTube TV debuted in a limited number of markets and could only be accessed through Chrome. The video-sharing platform is making it easier and easier to access, though: after launching it in additional locations and rolling it out to Apple TV, YouTube is now making it possible to access its live TV service on Firefox. Google's support page clearly shows that you can now view YouTube TV HD on either Firefox or Chrome and that the tech giant is working to bring it to more browsers in the future.
YouTube TV’s price goes up to $40 per month tomorrow
Today is your last day to get YouTube TV for $35 per month. Tomorrow, the price increases to $40 per month, putting it in line with similar services such as Sony's PS Vue and Hulu's live TV plan. YouTube TV launched last April in a limited number of markets, but since then, it has grown significantly in both reach and offerings. Google announced the planned price increase last month as it added a number of new channels, including TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network and CNN to the service. Those who subscribe before March 13th will retain the $35 per month price.
YouTube TV will soon include MLB’s streaming service
Baseball fans looking for a way out of cable TV's clutches might finally have their answer: MLB.tv is coming to YouTube TV. MLB and YouTube are expanding the partnership that began in 2017 to include a bunch of sponsorship extras, which largely just means a load more promotional activity before and during games, but the deal also includes bringing the MLB Network to YouTube TV from today, and getting MLB.tv on board in the near future. Launch details are vague -- no timeline has been given -- but we do know that it will involve an additional fee. Currently, MLB.tv costs an eye-watering $90 a year for a single-team or $116 a year/$25 a month for all teams, so if it can rival these prices it could definitely stand a chance of drawing fans away from cable. Still, it may well be the case that both parties are waiting to see how the MLB Network performs before making hard and fast commitments about MLB.tv, but it's a win for YouTube TV's baseball fans regardless.
YouTube TV adds Seattle Sounders local broadcasts to its MLS slate
YouTube TV has landed another Major League Soccer deal, and this time you might be more likely to notice. As part of a multi-year agreement, the internet TV service is now the official streaming option for all Seattle Sounders FC games. Similar to the LAFC deal, you can watch the 14 nationally televised games on conventional TV networks like ESPN and Fox (including through their online apps), but a dedicated YouTube TV channel will stream the teams' 20 regionally-broadcast games online.
After Math: Market fluctuations
It's been a volatile week for us all, what with the stock market's unpredictable undulations, the US Senate's DACA drama, the Olympics hacking and whatever other craziness that's sure to happen between the time I file this post and Sunday morning. It was pretty wild for the tech industry as well. Turns out that Apple's HomePod seemingly secretes wood-marking oils, Sony announced it'll cut the price of its VR headset by a third, and Netflix continued its spending spree, blowing $300 million on the guy who brought us "Glee." Numbers, because how else are you going to count stuff?
YouTube TV gets TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, CNN and a price bump
It's been almost a year since Google first announced YouTube TV, its $35-per-month service for cord cutters. Since then, Google has been iterating to improve on a product that was solid at launch -- but today marks the biggest expansion of YouTube TV thus far. The service now has access to a host of new channels from the Turner network, including TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network, CNN, Turner Classic Movies and a few others. For sports fans, YouTube is also adding NBA TV and the MLB Network as well. But there's a bit of bad news that comes along with this: New YouTube TV subscriptions will now cost $40, up from the $35 price that the service has cost since launch. The price increase will hit on March 13th, so new potential customers still have a month to get in the door and lock in the $35 rate; existing subscribers won't see a change to their bill at all.
YouTube's live TV service is now available on Apple TV
Looks like Google is making good on its promise to bring its cord-cutting alternative to more popular platforms. YouTube TV is now available for Apple TVs, after having hit Roku devices earlier today. The service is available in almost 100 different metro areas, and can also be downloaded for Chromecast, Android TV, Xbox One and newer Samsung and LG TVs. It's taken almost a full year since Google announced the service for this to happen.
Google Assistant gets music-powered alarms and better Netflix controls
Google has been improving its Home devices for a while now. The company added better search, upgraded the Home app interface and enabled an intercom feature last November. It can also now match your voice to your own Netflix profile, too, a feature that builds upon Home's multiple voice recognition system. Now Google has added an update that adds a voice-powered alarm function and makes it a bit easier to find shows and music with your Home devices.
YouTube's live TV starts streaming on Roku devices
Google is living up to its promise of making native YouTube TV apps available for the media hub of your choice. You can now add a YouTube TV channel on "select" Roku devices, giving you the service's usual range of live broadcasts, a cloud DVR and the other perks of the cord cutter service. There isn't any mention of Roku-specific features, but the allure is really the freedom to watch in your living room using a device explicitly meant for a laid-back viewing experience.
YouTube TV snags rights to local Los Angeles FC soccer broadcasts
You can certainly watch sports on cord-cutting TV services, but major sports exclusives? Not until now. YouTube TV has reached a deal that makes it the official live TV and video partner for Major League Soccer's brand new team, the Los Angeles Football Club. The streaming service will be the only place for Angelenos to watch all locally televised English-language LAFC games, and it'll also carry all nationally broadcast games on ESPN, Fox and FS1. The deal will be impossible to ignore regardless of how you watch -- players will have YouTube TV's logo "prominently" plastered on their jerseys.