YouTube TV Unveils Major Update With Multiview & More Live Channels — What’s New and How to Get It

YouTube TV has confirmed that its Base Plan will jump from $72.99 to $82.99 per month beginning 13 January 2025, with the higher rate already in effect for new sign-ups. The $10 hike—its second in two years—pushes the live-TV streamer past the psychological $80 barrier and intensifies the cost squeeze facing cord-cutters. Why the bump? Alphabet cites rising programming fees, especially for live sports. YouTube TV’s blockbuster deal for NFL Sunday Ticket reportedly cost Google $2 billion a year, and the service recently renewed multiyear carriage contracts with Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. Industry analysts say those agreements left little room to keep the old price. What’s included at $82.99 • 125+ live channels, regional sports networks in many markets, and unlimited cloud DVR that keeps recordings for nine months. • Add-ons like 4K Plus ($9.99/mo after trial), Sports Plus, and standalone channel packs. • Multiview upgrades: YouTube TV just expanded its “Key Plays View” from NFL to NBA and NHL games, letting viewers watch condensed replays and live action side-by-side. Consumer impact The new rate widens the gap with Hulu + Live TV ($76.99) but remains cheaper than Fubo’s sports-heavy plan ($79.99 before RSN fees). Existing subscribers can soften the blow by pausing service for up to six months or stacking limited-time promos that discount the first four months to $52.99. Still, an annual outlay of nearly $1,000 may drive price-sensitive households back to antenna or FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) options. What to watch next • Possible regional-sports fee: executives hinted on an earnings call that a “flexible pricing model” could arrive by MLB Opening Day, letting non-sports fans pay less. • 4K device expansion: Google says support for Apple Vision Pro and additional smart-TV brands is “on the roadmap for 2025.” • Add-on marketplace: à-la-carte channel subscriptions—similar to Prime Video’s Channels—enter beta this spring, aimed at bundling Max, Paramount+ with Showtime, and AMC+. Bottom line YouTube TV’s 2025 price increase cements the reality that live-TV streaming is no longer the budget option it once was. For cord-cutters who value sports, unlimited DVR, and a slick interface, $82.99 may still beat cable. Everyone else has more cause than ever to reassess their bundle.