Traditional cable is hanging by a thread, so to speak, and if you're planning to join the millions of users who have ditched their old channels in favor of a live TV streaming service, you have many options to choose from in 2026.

YouTube TV and Hulu + Live are two of the most popular streaming services around, but how are they different? What channels does each app offer, and how can you get the best bang for the buck? No matter what you're hoping to watch, I've broken down everything you need to know about YouTube TV and Hulu + Live in this guide.

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live: At a glance

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live: Channels

Winner: YouTube TV

If you're coming from traditional cable, you'll be pleased to learn that both YouTube TV and Hulu + Live give you access to nearly all of the same channels. Both services come with local standards like NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX, plus the base plans will give you live content from Comedy Central, CNN, HGTV, and dozens of others.

There are some glaring omissions on these channel lists, however. Hulu + Live doesn't have AMC or BBC America, for example, while YouTube TV is missing A&E and the History Channel. Some of the missing channels may come as a surprise, so it's worth checking each app's respective channel lists to make sure the one you choose has your favorites. Considering the full lists, I'd argue that YouTube TV has the more comprehensive list of "top channels", so they get the win here.

• See the full list of channels on YouTube TV
• See the full list of channels on Hulu + Live TV

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live: Features

Winner: Hulu + Live

This is where things get more complicated. YouTube TV is an absolute triumph for sports fans, as the app offers exclusive access to NFL Sunday Ticket. For $20 per month, this add-on gives you access to all out-of-market regular season Sunday NFL games that aren't usually broadcast in your area. You can also pay for add-ons like Fox Soccer Plus, NFL RedZone and Tennis Channel. YouTube TV also offers a separate Sports Plan ($64.99/mo) that has fewer channels than Basic but more options for sports fans.

The problem is that all of those popular YouTube TV features will increase the price of your monthly subscription. Hulu + Live, on the other hand, includes Hulu (with ads), Disney Plus (with ads), and ESPN Plus (with ads) streaming at no additional cost. That means that you're getting thousands of hours of additional on-demand and original content automatically upon sign-up. On-demand content from YouTube is limited to select titles from your usual cable networks (similar to the offerings included with traditional cable).

Both Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV give you unlimited Cloud DVR storage with the base plans, plus you have the ability to fast-forward through ads on all recorded content.

YouTube TV vs. Hulu + Live: Verdict

Both YouTube TV and Hulu + Live offer the best that live TV streaming has to offer in 2026, so there's really no objective "best choice" here. The right pick for you is going to depend on your needs as a user.

If you're ditching cable for the first time, YouTube TV offers a seamless transition and a super-intuitive interface for beginners and streaming veterans alike. Add-ons like NFL Sunday Ticket and RedZone also make YouTube's app the preferable choice for sports fans.

Hulu + Live, on the other hand, has a clunkier interface that newcomers may struggle with, and you'll want to check the streaming service's channel list to make sure it has everything you want. If you're already experienced with streaming services, however, the included subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus offer a lot of bang for the buck.

When it comes down to it, all you need to do is think about the stuff you watch and choose the service that offers it. Both streaming services are great and cost about the same, so you really can't go wrong either way.

Are these options too pricey for you? Sling TV is a great alternative, and we've broken down all of the pros and cons in our Sling TV vs. YouTube TV guide.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV is rolling out customizable multiview, letting users choose which channels to watch together.
• The new interface shows recommended channels and categories like sports, news, shows, movies, and other live content.
• The feature is now rolling out widely for all YouTube TV users in the U.S.

After a few users started spotting it, YouTube TV has now officially confirmed that it has started rolling out a feature that lets users customize which channels appear in the multiview view.

Earlier this year, YouTube TV announced plans to make multiview more flexible, alongside introducing new pricing bundles for specific content. While those bundles, like the $64.99/month Sports plan and $54.99/month Entertainment plan are already live, customizable multiview streams are now starting to show up as well.

First spotted by a Reddit user and now detailed by Google in the blog post, the multiview feature in the YouTube TV app on smart TVs now lets you customize what you want to see in it.

Now, when you open multiview, you'll see a list of recommended channels along with your current selections at the top. There are also categories like Recommended, Sports, News, TV shows, and Movies to make it easier to browse. You can essentially add whatever live content you want into your multiview setup.

That said, there are still some limitations. Multiview is designed only for live content, which means you can't add video-on-demand or DVR content right now. Some family-friendly content also isn't eligible for customization. And YouTube says a small number of older devices (less than 5%) won't support the full feature, although they'll still get access during major events like the NFL or World Cup.

Google says the feature is rolling out widely and should be available to most YouTube TV users in the U.S. already. If you don't see it yet, it's likely a server-side rollout and should show up on your smart TV soon.

If you want to check whether you have it, open a live stream and press the down button on your remote to bring up the multiview menu. You should see an "Add to multiview" option along with sections for recommended channels and different categories.

It's a welcome addition, especially for users who like to watch multiple games or events at once. For someone like me, it's particularly useful during football (soccer) matches when multiple games are happening at the same time.

If you're finally ready to ditch your traditional cable contract, YouTube TV is the only reasonable answer. This popular live TV streaming service gives you instant access to all of your favorite channels with no contract or hidden fees to worry about, and if you sign up today, you'll get $45 off your first three months of service. 

That streaming deal drops the price of YouTube TV down to $67.99 per month, plus you get your first 21 days without paying a cent AND the ability to cancel at any time with zero hassle. Compare that to your last cable bill and tell me it doesn't sound good. 

YouTube TV's base plan gives you access to dozens of live TV channels within minutes of signing up, including ABC, NBC, AMC, FX, and others, plus you'll have the option to add on premium channels for an additional cost. The membership also lands you unlimited DVR space with up to six individual profiles and the ability to stream simultaneously on three separate devices. 

Again, unlike traditional cable, there's no contract or hidden fees to worry about, and YouTube is even offering a 21-day free trial so you can explore the ends and outs of the service with zero risk. 

So what's the catch? Well, despite its popularity, YouTube TV isn't the only live TV streaming service to consider. Sling TV, for example, offers more customization options and is typically more affordable than YouTube's service, while one of the best streaming devices may be a better choice if live entertainment isn't your top priority. 

That being said, if you want a comprehensive package to replace traditional cable, YouTube TV's base plan is the way to go, even without a deal attached. The $45 off new customer discount is simply the icing on top. 

• More streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+

What you need to know

• YouTube has approved new 30-second unskippable ads for TV viewers who are not subscribed to YouTube Premium.
• The ads are designed for big-screen viewing and will appear alongside 6-second and 15-second ad formats.
• Google's AI will dynamically choose which ad length to show based on the audience and viewing context.

YouTube currently shows ads to users who are not subscribed to its Premium membership, and it seems the company may soon make things worse for those viewers. YouTube has approved 30-second unskippable ads for people watching YouTube on TVs.

YouTube on TV has arguably become one of the best ways to consume content. I regularly watch YouTube through the app on my Google TV, and I know many others who do the same. After all, the platform lets you stream content from creators for free.

However, the company has recently been cracking down on ad blockers. Not everyone is a YouTube Premium member like me, and it now seems Google may make the experience tougher for users who are not paying.

As first spotted by Android Headlines, YouTube has approved 30-second unskippable ads for advertisers running campaigns on YouTube TV. Google confirmed the change in a recent blog post.

Google says the new 'non-skip ads' are designed specifically for the big screen. The company also says its AI will dynamically optimize between 6-second bumper ads, 15-second standard ads, and 30-second CTV-only non-skippable formats to ensure ads reach the right audience at the right time.

Now that this ad format is available for advertisers, non-paying YouTube users may start seeing longer ads on their smart TVs. This doesn't necessarily mean every viewer will get 30-second unskippable ads, but advertisers and Google's AI now have the option to serve them.

Of course, ads are necessary for the platform to operate, but this move does feel slightly aggressive. It could also be part of a broader strategy to encourage users to subscribe to YouTube Premium, especially now that the company also offers the lower-cost YouTube Premium Lite plan that removes most ads.

For years, YouTube TV offered a cable-like subscription service with a high price and tons of supported channels. There is no "cord," but the currently $82.99/month subscription with over 100 networks is certainly reminiscent of cable plans. Although YouTube TV is one of the most value-focused ways to get that many channels in a single streaming service, it faced many of the same problems as cable — people were paying for extra channels they didn't need.

That's finally changing now, as YouTube TV announced tailor-made plans that match certain interests with fewer, more focused channels. There's a Sports Plan, Sports and News Plan, Entertainment Plan, and the News, Entertainment, and Family Plan. The primary, all-inclusive YouTube TV plan is still on offer, but the four above alternatives will add some much-needed variety and customization to the platform.

Personally, I'm excited about YouTube TV's Sports Plan. If you're a sports fan, you probably already know that a ridiculous amount of subscriptions are required to follow your favorite team for an entire season. With the YouTube TV Sports Plan, the idea is that you can finally watch your team using just one subscription. It's available for $64.99 per month for new users or $54.99 per month for new users for one year, which is pretty competitive when you consider the cost of alternatives.

While it's not for everyone, YouTube TV's new Sports Plan feels like it was made for me, and I think it's finally time for me to switch.

Why I'm switching to YouTube TV's Sports Plan

I watch most sports leagues occasionally, but my passion is college basketball. That is a tough sport to follow for an entire season without subscribing to every streaming service under the sun. My favorite conference, the Big East, streams games on Fox Sports, NBC Sports, TNT Sports, and ESPN. That means I'd need, at a minimum, subscriptions to FOX One, Peacock, HBO Max, and ESPN Unlimited to follow one Big East basketball team for the year.

FOX One is $20 per month, Peacock Premium is $11 per month, HBO Max Standard is $18.50 per month, and ESPN Unlimited is $30 per month. Combined, that's nearly $80 monthly or over $950 for the year. That's the price of the four subscription services I need to watch my college team (St. John's) play in the Big East. It's outrageous.

YouTube TV's Sports Plan has the channels to replace each of those streaming services. It offers the major broadcast networks required to watch primetime games, which are ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, The CW, and Ion. The Disney suite of sports channels is covered by ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, NFL Network, SEC Network, and the ACC Network. There's also FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, CBS Sports Network, and NBC Sports Network. Every channel I need to watch a season of college basketball is included.

While not necessary for my needs, the Sports Plan also includes USA Network, Golf Channel, and NBA TV.

That's an incredible lineup that lets fans of certain sports follow an entire season of coverage with a single subscription. We took that for granted when cable TV was ubiquitous, but in the streaming era, it's unprecedented. It's all for $55 per month with the new-subscriber rate — saving me about $25 each month compared to what I was paying for FOX One, Peacock, HBO Max, and ESPN Unlimited individually.

What's great about this grouping specifically is that it cuts out the non-sports fluff that pads out the base YouTube TV subscription. Buying the standard $83 monthly YouTube TV subscription wouldn't save me any money. On the flip side, the focused Sports Plan absolutely will save me money — and a lot of it.

What's missing from YouTube TV's Sports Plan

Notably, full ESPN Unlimited access won't be available until this fall. Games streamed on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, or Paramount Plus exclusively won't be available, either. Some games available on those streaming services aren't simulcast on cable networks, so a YouTube TV Sports Plan won't save you from subscribing to them.

That said, it all depends on which sports and teams you follow. In my case, using YouTube TV's Sports Plan will save me about $25 in my quest to watch as many Big East college basketball games as possible, and I'm thrilled.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV Plans are officially rolling out to consumers this week, though it will extend over "several weeks" before everyone has it.
• Plans include a Sports plan for $64.99/month and an Entertainment plan for $54.99/month; however, there are combo plans that combine even more content.
• YouTube TV states these plans are provided at prices lower than what you'd get from its main $82.99/month package.

We had it teased in December, and teased again in January by YouTube's CEO; now the service's new TV Plans are here.

This morning (Feb 9), YouTube TV announced that its "TV Plans" are finally here, as they'll begin rolling out "this week" for consumers. The whole idea behind these TV Plans was to give consumers more control over what they view on its streaming service, and we're now seeing exactly what that means for pricing.

The main chunk, which is the YouTube TV plan, will reportedly remain at $82.99/month w/100+ networks across genres.

What some viewers have been clamoring for is its Sports plan. YouTube TV officially states that this plan will be offered at $64.99/month or $54.99/month for new users (new users meaning their "first year"). This plan was teased previously, but YouTube Tv builds on it, stating you'll get content from "major broadcasters," alongside "FS1, NBC Sports Network, all of the ESPN networks, and ESPN Unlimited (coming this fall)."

There's also an Entertainment Plan for $54.99/month, or $44.99/month for new users. New consumers grabbing this one are only eligible for this lowered price for the "first three months." In here, you'll receive content from Hallmark and FX to Comedy Central, Bravo, Paramount, Food Network, HGTV, and more.

These are the following combo plans:

• Sports/News Plan $71.99/month, or $56.99/month for new users (first three months): everything in the Sports package, plus CNBC, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, and more.
• News/Entertainment/Family Plan $69.99/month, or $59.99/month for new users (first three months): everything in news and entertainment, plus Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, PBS Kids, and more.

YouTube TV wants to give you choice

YouTube TV says subscribers will have access to DVR, multiview, key plays, and add-ons, such as NFL Sunday Ticket and RedZone, HBO Max, 4K Plus, and more.

A couple of weeks ago, YouTube's CEO Neal Mohan teased that multiview was going to expand; however, that 2026 outlook post mentioned these TV Plans. They were described as "cheaper, genre-based subscription plans" that consumers can take advantage of.

Even in YouTube's announcement post, it highlights how many of these plans range from $28 to $11 cheaper than its main YouTube TV bundle. While this new direction for the service is rolling out this week, the post states it'll be an ongoing process. Over the "next several weeks," YouTube TV states it will roll out "10 plus plans across Sports, News, Entertainment, and Family content, priced lower than the main YouTube TV Plan."

Android Central's Take

On the surface, YouTube TV Plans feel like a good move, especially for people who don't want everything—especially not at that higher price. At least, with this avenue, users have the choice to make a choice, customize their viewing options, and enjoy themselves. We've ditched satellite and cable for streaming, after all, right? Might as well bring those old fashioned customization options to the new age of content viewing.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV is getting more flexible in 2026 with fully customizable multiview and cheaper, genre-based subscription plans.
• The service is moving away from one-size-fits-all pricing, replacing its $82.99 base plan with over 10 genre-focused bundles.
• Exact prices aren’t official yet, but early leaks point to noticeably cheaper options than the current full bundle.

YouTube TV just announced two big changes that could make its streaming service feel smarter and more flexible. At the center of the update are two things everyone’s been asking for — a truly customizable multiview experience and cheaper subscription options launching in early 2026.

Multiview on YouTube TV has been around since 2023, originally launched as a way for sports fans to watch multiple games at once. Initially, it was locked to a small set of channels and mostly focused on sports, but last year, users could start building their own multiview windows with non-sports channels as well.

Now, YouTube's CEO Neal Mohan said the service is expanding this feature even more. Soon, you’ll be able to mix and match up to four channels on one screen, whether you want to watch news, sports, entertainment, or anything else.

This is great for households with different viewing preferences, like soccer fans and reality show lovers, or for anyone who wants to watch several games at once without switching apps.

The new customizable multiview shows that YouTube TV is giving users more control. Allowing people to choose their own layout may help the service stand out from traditional cable bundles.

Cheaper options are coming

YouTube TV is also changing its pricing and plans. Instead of one large plan for everyone, it will offer over 10 different packages based on genres, starting early next year.

Currently, the base plan costs about $82.99 per month and includes over 100 channels, unlimited DVR, and features like multiview and key plays. However, some people have criticized this all-or-nothing approach, especially as streaming prices rise.

The new genre-based plans aim to solve this problem. You’ll be able to choose bundles focused on sports, news, family, or entertainment.

YouTube hasn’t shared exact prices yet, but early leaks suggest these packages will likely cost much less than the full base plan.

The arrival of 2026 means that most of the best streaming deals of the holiday season have come to a close, but there's one YouTube TV promotion that keeps hanging on.

Join the popular live TV service before March 17th and you'll get $46 off your first two months of streaming, knocking the price down to $59.99 per month (with the ability to cancel at any time). YouTube TV has been getting a lot of flak since the whole Google-Disney debacle last year, but that simply means that the streaming service is more eager for new business than ever before.

Streaming services just keep getting more expensive nowadays, which is why no YouTube TV deal should go overlooked. Thanks to this offer, you can sign up in minutes and enjoy over 100 live TV channels without any of the stress of a basic cable contract. You can cancel at any time, plus a YouTube TV subscription gives you the ability to download content for offline viewing. You can even add on premium channels like HBO and STARZ for an additional monthly fee.

FAQ

Does YouTube TV have a free trial?

Yes! If you aren't ready to commit, you can sign up today and enjoy your first 21 days of streaming for 100% free. The exact length of the free trial tends to vary (sometimes it'll drop down to a week, other times it'll be a month), but the important thing is that you have the ability to explore the service without paying a cent. You can even cancel at any time with zero penalty.

What channels does YouTube TV come with?

A YouTube TV subscription gives you instant access to over 100 live channels, including ABC, CNN, Comedy Central, Food Network, and many more. You can check out the full list of channels included in the Base Plan on the YouTube TV website.

What other YouTube TV deals are available? 

While the introductory offer detailed above is probably the simplest way to save money on a YouTube TV subscription, if you're a Verizon user, you can also save $20 per month for six months by bundling your membership with an eligible Verizon Mobile or Home Internet plan.

• Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+

What you need to know

• Verizon is cutting YouTube TV’s price by $20 a month for eligible customers, dropping it from $82.99 to $62.99 for the first six months.
• The deal is only for Verizon Mobile or Home Internet subscribers, and you must sign up through the My Verizon app to qualify.
• Billing moves to Verizon, meaning your YouTube TV charge is bundled into your Verizon bill instead of going through Google.

Paying almost $83 each month for live TV can really add up. With streaming prices rising in 2025, finding a good deal is more important than ever. If you’re a Verizon customer, there’s a new perk that could help lower your entertainment bill.

Verizon is now offering a substantial $20 monthly discount on YouTube TV for six months, effectively slashing the entry price of one of the best live TV services on the market (via 9to5Google).

If you are a Verizon Home Internet or Mobile subscriber, you can now snag YouTube TV for just $62.99 per month, down from the standard $82.99. While this isn't a permanent price cut, it lasts for your first six months of service. Do the math, and that comes out to $120 in total savings — basically enough to cover almost two full months of the service once the promo period ends.

After that six-month honeymoon phase is over, your bill automatically reverts to the standard in-market rate.

Before signing up in the My Verizon app, check that you meet the requirements. You must be a new YouTube TV subscriber to qualify. If you already have an account with unlimited cloud DVR or NFL Sunday Ticket, you won’t be eligible unless you create a new Google account.

Carrier billing is mandatory

Additionally, you must be a current Verizon Mobile or Home Internet customer. The final requirement is billing integration: to get the discount, you have to link your YouTube TV account through the My Verizon app. This combines your bills, meaning you pay Verizon for your TV service rather than paying Google directly.

If you’re thinking about canceling cable or switching live TV providers, this deal is a great option. YouTube TV is often seen as the best choice because of its easy-to-use interface and unlimited cloud DVR. Saving $20 each month makes it even more appealing.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV Plans were announced today (Dec 10) a set of 10 genre-specific packages for consumers to tailor their entertainment experience, set to arrive "early 2026."
• The platform teased its Sports Plan, a package that focuses on sports, giving users access to NBC Sports, "all" ESPN networks, ESPN Unlimited, FS1, and more.
• After YouTube TV and Disney finally reached an agreement, the deal for ESPN lacks one major package: MLB.TV.

Today (Dec 10), YouTube TV announced plans set for 2026 to introduce a set of new plans that consumers might find appealing.

The platform announced "YouTube TV Plans" in a blog post, stating its goal is to "let you tailor your subscription with more options." These new plans aren't set to kick off until "early 2026," per the post; however, it's teasing what's to come by revealing the contents of its YouTube TV Sports Plan. In this, consumers are set to receive access to major sports broadcasters through its service, such as NBC Sports Network and FS1.

The platform states this plan will also include "all" ESPN Networks and ESPN Unlimited.

While the aforementioned broadcasters and services are the meat and potatoes of the Sports Plan, YouTube TV says it will provide a few add-ons, as well. If you're looking for more, consumers can add the NFL Sunday Ticket and RedZone to the Sports Plan for even more NFL action, likely in preparation for the 2026-2027 season next September. Multiview, unlimited DVR, and more will be included.

As YouTube TV stated, the goal of these new "plans" is to give users the ability to tailor their viewing experience. The platform plans to expand this with 10 genre-specific packages next year. This Sports Plan is just one of them, as the post teases the consumer's ability to combine sports and news, focus on family entertainment, focus on sports, or anything else that grabs your attention.

This could've been different, and it probably is

It's hard to gloss over what's transpired between YouTube TV and Disney (after that whole negotiation battle), as ESPN is a major part of this Sports Plan. While talks have concluded positively for the viewer, there was a huge catch for baseball fans: the MLB.TV package is gone. YouTube TV is allowed to keep ESPN after settling with Disney, but a strong catalyst for viewing baseball games was excluded.

The MLB.TV package is headed into the ESPN app next year; however, this integration removes its offering from third parties, like YouTube TV. The new rights agreement with MLB gives ESPN full control over out-of-market games.

If things went differently, perhaps MLB.TV would've been included in YouTube TV's Sports Plan, but who knows. It's also quite timely that YouTube TV has announced this Sports Plan (and its new plans in general), considering it Disney's channels returned roughly a month ago.

After two long weeks, the two finally reached an agreement, bringing back 21 channels to consumers who were growing tired of the back and forth.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV has finally added C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, and C-SPAN3 to its live lineup.
• A small per-subscriber deal struck in September paved the way for the channels to launch this week.
• The added cost is low enough that YouTube TV users shouldn’t expect a price hike.

For a long time, people who wanted direct political coverage had to use free streams and awkward browser tabs to watch congressional hearings, since C-SPAN wasn’t on YouTube TV. That’s changed this week. YouTube TV now includes C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, and C-SPAN3 in its live TV lineup.

C-SPAN and YouTube TV first struck a deal back in September, agreeing on a modest per-subscriber fee, according to 9to5Google. This agreement made it possible for the full launch to happen this week.

Until now, YouTube TV subscribers had to jump through hoops to watch C-SPAN content, relying on the network’s website or scattered livestreams during major political events. That’s no longer the case. The channels are now in the regular guide with other news outlets, and there’s no need for a special add-on.

This change is also a lifeline for C-SPAN. As more people dropped cable, the network’s revenue fell from about $64 million in 2019 to $45 million in 2023, Newsday reported. Joining major streaming bundles became necessary for its survival.

No extra cost for YouTube TV subscribers

For YouTube TV, the cost is low enough that subscribers probably won’t see a price increase because of this change. It’s a win-win: C-SPAN reaches millions of homes without cable, and YouTube TV adds a news channel that many people thought it should have had long ago.

For viewers, this change is straightforward. You get C-SPAN’s full, unfiltered coverage, now with YouTube TV’s playback controls, search features, and the ability to watch on different devices.

The bigger point is what this means for streaming overall. If a public-affairs network like C-SPAN can finally join major live-TV services, it could lead to more niche or civic-focused channels moving away from cable too. It also raises the bar: if streaming platforms are going to replace cable, it should offer the same variety, including important coverage of government and democracy.

For a service that prides itself on being a full cable replacement, this addition brings it closer than ever to actually feeling like one.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV and TelevisaUnivision have reportedly reached a worthy agreement to return several Spanish network channels to U.S. viewers.
• It's been reported that, within this deal, TelevisaUnivision will attempt "new initiatives" to capture a broader audience on YouTube.
• This agreement has arrived 10 days after YouTube TV and Disney finally reached an agreement to return 21 channels to frustrated consumers.

YouTube TV is reportedly still wrapped up in content deal negotiations with other providers; however, there's one service that it's settled the terms.

Reported this morning by Deadline, YouTube TV has reportedly agreed on an acceptable deal with TelevisaUnivision to return its content to the platform. A YouTube TV spokesperson confirmed to the publication that a deal had been reached, stating, "In addition to restoring their channels to YouTube TV, this new agreement will offer their streaming service, Vix, to more countries around the world through our Primetime Channels."

The spokesperson informed Deadline that YouTube TV was "excited to partner" with TelevisaUnivision to "grow their presence."

This presence expansion is seemingly wrapped in this deal that the two services struck, as it's been stated that TelevisaUnivision will activate "new initiatives" to reach more users on YouTube's main platform. As far as what returns, the agreement was for a "multi-year" deal that brings Univision, Unimás, TUDN, and Galavisión back to YouTube TV viewers. These channels had reportedly dropped off toward the end of September while the two hashed out an agreeable deal.

The deal states that these network channels will be available to users through YouTube TV's base and Spanish plans.

No time to rest, more channels return

While a few popular Spanish network channels that many in the U.S. may recognize return to YouTube TV, this is coming off the back of that huge Disney battle. Both sides were locked in an exchange that didn't result in anything positive toward the end of October. As the deadline loomed, YouTube TV viewers were on the cusp of losing Disney's content, as well as ABC and ESPN.

That deadline came and went, and sure enough, those channels were gone, as agreements failed.

In the days that followed, neither side wanted to budge. YouTube TV and Disney pointed fingers at the other party, claiming the opposite was at fault for varying reasons. Fortunately, as of November 16, Disney's channels, including ABC and ESPN, returned to the platform for consumers who were becoming increasingly frustrated. There were 21 channels involved in this battle, all of which have hit home TVs once again, alongside a new ESPN Unlimited plan.

Consumers were also given the option of adding the Disney Plus and Hulu Bundle to a certain YouTube TV plan.

Many Cyber Monday streaming deals are still holding their own as the new week begins, but I wouldn't wait if I were you: some of the best promotions are set to expire at midnight tonight.

Whether you're hoping to save big on Hulu, HBO Max, or Peacock, keep reading for my favorite streaming deals of the holiday season. Many of these offers are set to expire early next week, so act fast if you want to enter the new year with a significantly reduced streaming bill. There are a lot of great last-minute deals to look at, so let's dive right in.

Quick links

• Disney Plus: score up to 61% off annual bundles
• Hulu: premium add-ons from $2.99/month
• HBO Max: from $2.99/month for 12 months
• Prime Video: premium add-ons from $1.25/month for Prime users
• Apple TV: $5.99/month for first six months
• Disney Bundle: $25.99/month for 12 months
• YouTube TV: 10% off your first three months
• Amazon: score up to 50% off streaming devices

Cyber Monday streaming deals

Cyber Monday streaming device deals

More Cyber Monday 2025 - quick links

• Best Buy: up to 60% off Chromebooks, Android phones, and more
• Amazon: early discounts on headphones, smart home tech
• Walmart: early price drops on ASUS laptops, locked phones
• Samsung: new Galaxy XR headset, trade-in opportunities
• Verizon: free phones with new line, trade-in
• T-Mobile: free Galaxy phones, $300 back w/ 5G Home Internet
• Mint Mobile: 50% off Pixel 10, BOGO Unlimited plans
• AT&T: get a free Z Flip 7 with trade-in, new line
  
  More Black Friday coverage
• The best Google Pixel deals of Cyber Monday
• The best Samsung deals of Cyber Monday
• The best Motorola deals of Cyber Monday

What you need to know

• YouTube TV refreshed its Live tab on mobile, giving the interface a cleaner, cable-style layout with new info bubbles and a relocated Sort button.
• Its mobile Live tab update replaces the instant auto-play preview with a mandatory long-press gesture.
• The updated guide presents more useful data upfront, including clear start/end times and a timer indicating how much of the program is left.

YouTube TV is rolling out a noticeable refresh to its Live tab on mobile, and while the layout tweak feels familiar enough, one change may be rubbing people the wrong way.

The quick-preview feature now requires a long-press, and the whole experience suddenly feels slower, as reported by Android Authority. The redesign itself isn’t generally the problem. Everything’s boxed into new bubbles, with the channel name and logo on the left, program details inside, and a Sort button in the upper left. It’s cleaner, more structured, and honestly pretty reminiscent of a cable-style guide.

But the preview change is probably the sticking point. Previously, YouTube TV would auto-play a glimpse of whatever was airing at the top of the list. Now, auto-play is gone. To get a preview, you need to long-press on a channel and wait for a card with description, episode information, and shortcuts. Oddly enough, it takes nearly the same amount of time as just opening the channel.

Preview defeats its purpose

That’s where the friction lies. A preview is only useful when it’s faster than watching the full stream, and this new flow doesn’t deliver on that. For casual browsers, it almost defeats the purpose of having a preview at all, Android Authority notes. You’re doing the same number of taps and waiting the same amount of time, so you may as well just jump into the program.

Still, for most people, this update won’t be a deal-breaker. The redesigned Live Guide is basically a cleaner version of the menu system TV viewers have known for decades. It presents more info upfront — such as start/end times and how much is left in a program — and those additions actually help when you’re hopping around looking for something worth watching.

If you mainly scroll the grid, pick a channel, and move on, the preview change probably won’t matter much. This is a server-side rollout, so not everyone has it yet. And since YouTube TV has been steadily revamping its Home, Library, and Live views, this likely isn’t the last UI experiment we’ll see.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV offers aggressive discount to win back subscribers after recent channel blackout.
• YouTube TV and Disney reach agreement, restoring Disney channels for nearly 10 million subscribers.
• Upcoming sports bundle excludes MLB.TV, moving to ESPN app in 2026.

YouTube TV and Disney finally reached a new multi-year agreement after a two-week standoff that left almost 10 million subscribers without access to Disney's channels. And now the streaming giant is trying to woo its lost subscribers with a promo. The new deal brings back all the channels, including ESPN, ABC, and more, to the streaming platform.

This 15-day blackout created unnecessary disruptions for subscribers who were caught in the middle of these streaming giants. YouTube TV did issue credits to its users for the inconvenience caused.

But the timing of it all was particularly disruptive for sports fans, who missed major live sports programming on ESPN and ABC, including college football matchups, NBA, and NFL games.

$60 Promo to Return from r/youtubetv

This, in turn, caused several subscribers to ditch the platform to look for other means to watch these sports events. According to several reports, a significant percentage of YouTube TV's estimated 10 million subscribers either cancelled or considered cancelling their service during the blackout.

The subscribers who left the service started getting emails from YouTube TV asking them to return for $60 off the first month, according to a user on Reddit (as spotted by 9to5 Google).

With the base plan costing $82.99, this discount slashed the first month's cost to just $22.99, a huge incentive for people who come back. Several people on the Reddit thread confirm getting these emails, but a few users who canceled their subscriptions haven't seen them yet.

This move only goes to show that YouTube TV is clearly prioritizing the recovery of lost subscribers, as evidenced by this "win-back" approach—one of the streaming industry's most aggressive tactics.

In other news, YouTube TV’s lower-cost sports bundle is possibly coming next year; however, MLB.TV, a crucial sports add-on for cord-cutters, will not be in the new bundle.

Major League Baseball made a separate deal to move MLB.TV into the ESPN app starting in 2026, consolidating its out-of-market games under ESPN's direct-to-consumer platform instead of third parties like YouTube TV. This means YouTube TV, despite carrying more ESPN content, will not offer MLB.TV.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV is keeping ESPN after its dispute with Disney, but the deal specifically excludes the MLB.TV package.
• Starting in 2026, MLB.TV will be integrated into the ESPN app, not offered through third-party distributors like YouTube TV.
• MLB’s new rights setup gives ESPN full control over out-of-market streaming, letting the league centralize pricing, distribution, and bundling.

YouTube TV subscribers just wrapped up a two-week standoff with Disney that ended with what looked like a massive win: free access to ESPN Unlimited by the end of 2026. But baseball fans celebrating the deal could end up disappointed.

Puck's John Ourand reports that MLB.TV, a key sports add-on for cord-cutters, will not be included in the new bundle. It appears that while YouTube TV and Disney were ironing out their deal, Major League Baseball made a separate plan to move MLB.TV into the ESPN app starting in 2026.

That move lets MLB consolidate its out-of-market games under ESPN’s direct-to-consumer umbrella, rather than relying on third-party distributors like YouTube TV. So, even though YouTube TV now carries more ESPN content, it doesn’t gain access to MLB.TV.

This is a real setback for people who use YouTube TV to watch out-of-market baseball. MLB.TV has been an important part of sports streaming, and many subscribers thought that adding more ESPN channels to YouTube TV would also bring MLB’s package.

A deliberate power play?

Instead, YouTube TV gets the broader ESPN catalog, but the one piece baseball fans wanted most is now being tucked away behind ESPN’s own app. The technical reason is pretty simple: MLB’s new rights structure gives ESPN the keys to out-of-market streaming, letting the league manage distribution, pricing, and bundling more directly.

The bigger picture is that sports streaming is getting even more fragmented. A single subscription rarely covers everything anymore, and even highly publicized carriage deals come with fine print that can reshape what you actually get.

The next step is watching how MLB prices the new setup inside the ESPN app and whether it stays a standalone add-on or becomes part of a larger bundle.

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether YouTube TV pursues a separate agreement for MLB.TV or leave the baseball die-hards to subscribe elsewhere. Either way, subscribers looking for complete MLB coverage will soon need more than just YouTube TV, no matter how many ESPN channels the service adds.

• Need an alternative to YouTube TV?
  Hulu + Live TV, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus: $89.99/month with free trial

What you need to know

• YouTube and Disney end negotiations, restoring 21 major channels to YouTube TV immediately.
• Subscribers regain access to previously recorded content and new ESPN Unlimited Plan options.
• Disney and YouTube affirm the value of their programming amid heated talks.

After a tense fortnight of negotiations, YouTube TV subscribers can rejoice as a newly struck multi-year deal with Disney reinstates access to 21 channels, including ABC and ESPN, just in time for a thrilling college football weekend.

Google and Disney announced the new deal in separate press releases, each conveying a positive outcome for both sides. More importantly, YouTube TV subscribers can now access all Disney content, including the new ESPN Unlimited Plan, on the service. They'll also have the option to add the Disney Plus and Hulu bundle as part of certain YouTube TV plans.

"We’re happy to share that we’ve reached an agreement with Disney that preserves the value of our service for our subscribers and future flexibility in our offers," YouTube TV said in a statement. "We apologize for the disruption and appreciate our subscribers’ patience as we negotiated on their behalf."

Meanwhile, Disney's top executives said the deal "recognizes the tremendous value of Disney's programming."

The deal brings to a close nearly two weeks of contentious talks. YouTube TV and Disney's prior carriage deal ended Oct. 30, 2025, and the sides began publicly advocating for a new agreement even before it expired. In the days and weeks that followed, both sides took heat from subscribers and the public.

Disney tried to pressure YouTube TV to bring back ABC for Election Day, and subscribers lamented YouTube TV for going without Monday Night Football. Then, YouTube TV accused Disney of trying to win over public favor by leaking documents.

There were other wild elements to the negotiations, like commentator Pat McAfee calling out Disney-owned ESPN for using its media personalities to pressure YouTube TV — something he did during his show that airs on ESPN. Disney-owned media also became unavailable for purchase on unrelated platforms like Google Play and YouTube in a stunning twist.

Now, subscribers finally get a resolution, as 21 channels and more Disney content returns to the live TV streaming service. The multi-year deal means YouTube TV users won't have to worry about a Disney blackout for the foreseeable future.

What you need to know

• YouTube and Disney reached a multi-year deal Friday to restore major channels on the live TV streaming service.
• Disney-owned channels and content are live on YouTube TV, effective immediately.
• Subscribers will also see previously-recorded content return to their YouTube TV account.

YouTube TV and Disney were entrenched in heated content rights negotiations for roughly two weeks, leaving subscribers without access to 21 channels, including big ones like ABC and ESPN. The public dispute finally came to an end Friday, Nov. 14, as YouTube and Disney announced they reached a multi-year agreement to bring the channels back to YouTube TV. As of now, subscribers should see all Disney channels and previously-recorded content back on the live TV service.

Google and Disney announced the new deal in separate press releases, each conveying a positive outcome for both sides. More importantly, YouTube TV subscribers can now access all Disney content, including the new ESPN Unlimited Plan, on the service. They'll also have the option to add the Disney Plus and Hulu bundle as part of certain YouTube TV plans.

"We’re happy to share that we’ve reached an agreement with Disney that preserves the value of our service for our subscribers and future flexibility in our offers," YouTube TV said in a statement. "We apologize for the disruption and appreciate our subscribers’ patience as we negotiated on their behalf."

Meanwhile, Disney's top executives said the deal "recognizes the tremendous value of Disney's programming."

The deal brings to a close nearly two weeks of contentious talks. YouTube TV and Disney's prior carriage deal ended Oct. 30, 2025, and the sides began publicly advocating for a new agreement even before it expired. In the days and weeks that followed, both sides took heat from subscribers and the public.

Disney tried to pressure YouTube TV to bring back ABC for Election Day, and subscribers lamented YouTube TV for going without Monday Night Football. Then, YouTube TV accused Disney of trying to win over public favor by leaking documents.

There were other wild elements to the negotiations, like commentator Pat McAfee calling out Disney-owned ESPN for using its media personalities to pressure YouTube TV — something he did during his show that airs on ESPN. Disney-owned media also became unavailable for purchase on unrelated platforms like Google Play and YouTube in a stunning twist.

Now, subscribers finally get a resolution, as 21 channels and more Disney content returns to the live TV streaming service. The multi-year deal means YouTube TV users won't have to worry about a Disney blackout for the foreseeable future.

Tis the season for Black Friday streaming deals, but you don't need to wait until November 28th to take advantage of one of Hulu's best offers. Sign up for the Hulu with Live TV, Disney Plus, and ESPN+ bundle before November 18th and you'll get 20% off your first three months of streaming. That's only a few days away, so don't wait too long if you're interested!

The Black Friday streaming deal comes in the midst of a widely-publicized feud between Disney Plus and YouTube TV. The Google-owned live TV service recently lost access to many of its Disney channels as a result of the scandal, and while negotiations are ongoing, the sudden loss of ABC and ESPN content has led many subscribers to ditch YouTube TV altogether. 

Fortunately for subscribers (and unfortunately for YouTube), Hulu has swooped in with this bundle deal so you won't miss a thing. Hulu with Live TV gives you instance access to 95 live channels - including local news, ESPN sports, and cable networks like NBC, Paramount, and Discovery - plus you'll get regular streaming content from Hulu, Disney Plus (with ads), and ESPN Select. 

Of course, an agreement between Disney and YouTube TV is likely to happen at some point, so if you don't want to leave your existing service, it's worth mentioning that YouTube is offering a $20 credit as a way of apology. But if you're sick of the corporate bigwigs getting in the way of your favorite live programming - they did disrupt Monday Night Football, after all - then there are plenty of streaming alternatives to consider instead. The Hulu discount described above is simply the icing on the cake. 

Black Friday 2025 - quick links

• Best Buy: up to 60% off Chromebooks, Android phones, and more
• Amazon: early discounts on headphones, smart home tech
• Walmart: early price drops on ASUS laptops, locked phones
• Samsung: new Galaxy XR headset, trade-in opportunities
• Verizon: free phones with new line, trade-in
• T-Mobile: free Galaxy phones, $300 back w/ 5G Home Internet
• Mint Mobile: 50% off Pixel 10, BOGO Unlimited plans
• AT&T: get a free Z Flip 7 with trade-in, new line
  
  More Black Friday coverage
• The best Google Pixel deals of Black Friday (so far)
• The best Samsung deals of Black Friday (so far)
• The best Motorola deals of Black Friday (so far)

What you need to know

• YouTube TV users receive $20 credits due to Disney Channel unavailability.
• Claim your credit via YouTube TV's desktop website in simple steps.
• YouTube TV and Disney remain in negotiations, affecting channel access.

YouTube TV has begun issuing $20 credits to subscribers as Disney-owned channels countinue to be inaccessible. This follows initial $10 credits, marking a significant commitment from Google amid subscriber frustrations over channel availability.

Disney-owned channels, including ABC, ESPN, FX, and National Geographic, were removed from the platform after the October 31, 2025 deadline.

The company even started crediting some users with a surprise $10 amount last week, but that rollout was limited and less than what YouTube TV initially promised. Thankfully, it seems the full $20 credits are now rolling out.

As reported by TechCrunch, YouTube TV subscribers can now get $20 in credit applied to their next billing statement. The company is also sending emails to all subscribers explaining how to claim it, but if you haven't received the email yet, here's how:

Go to YouTube TV's desktop website on a web browser. Once there, click your profile image in the top-right corner and select Settings. Then scroll to the bottom and hit Updates.

Inside, click Disney Content, where YouTube TV mentions that "Disney channels, including ABC and ESPN, are currently unavailable," acknowledging how frustrating this is and adding that the company "deeply appreciate[s] your membership."

"That's why we're offering you a one-time $20.00 credit," reads the page. To claim it, hit the Claim credit button at the bottom, after which you'll see a dialog box saying "$20 will be applied toward your next bill." That's it. If you're billed through Google Play, the notice says the "credit will be applied automatically."

This comes as YouTube TV and Disney remain in a dispute, with both companies failing to reach an agreement. Popular channels continue to be unavailable on YouTube TV, though the company says that once a deal is reached, channels will be restored within hours. Until then, you can claim your credit in the meantime or sign up for other alternative services.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV users are getting $20 credits from Google as Disney-owned channels stay unavailable.
• The credit applies to the next billing cycle and can be claimed through YouTube TV's desktop website.
• Some users earlier received $10 credits, but Google is now rolling out the full promised $20 amount.

If you're a YouTube TV user, you can now get $20 back from Google as Disney channels continue to remain unavailable on the platform.

Google promised $20 credits to YouTube TV users when Disney-owned channels, including ABC, ESPN, FX, and National Geographic, were removed from the platform after the October 31, 2025 deadline.

The company even started crediting some users with a surprise $10 amount last week, but that rollout was limited and less than what YouTube TV initially promised. Thankfully, it seems the full $20 credits are now rolling out.

As reported by TechCrunch, YouTube TV subscribers can now get $20 in credit applied to their next billing statement. The company is also sending emails to all subscribers explaining how to claim it, but if you haven't received the email yet, here's how:

Go to YouTube TV's desktop website on a web browser. Once there, click your profile image in the top-right corner and select Settings. Then scroll to the bottom and hit Updates.

Inside, click Disney Content, where YouTube TV mentions that "Disney channels, including ABC and ESPN, are currently unavailable," acknowledging how frustrating this is and adding that the company "deeply appreciate[s] your membership."

"That's why we're offering you a one-time $20.00 credit," reads the page. To claim it, hit the Claim credit button at the bottom, after which you'll see a dialog box saying "$20 will be applied toward your next bill." That's it. If you're billed through Google Play, the notice says the "credit will be applied automatically."

This comes as YouTube TV and Disney remain in a dispute, with both companies failing to reach an agreement. Popular channels continue to be unavailable on YouTube TV, though the company says that once a deal is reached, channels will be restored within hours. Until then, you can claim your credit in the meantime or sign up for other alternative services.

What you need to know

• A leaked Disney memo showcased the company's stance on YouTube TV negotiations.
• YouTube TV responded with an aggressive statement that claimed Disney intentionally leaked the document to the press.
• Neither side appears ready to back down as 21 channels remain dark on YouTube TV.

To offer a wide-range of traditional cable networks on its live TV streaming service, YouTube TV frequently enters negotiations with legacy media companies. Google successfully negotiated public bouts with NBCUniversal, Paramount, and Fox this year, but its ongoing battle with Disney appears to be different. Disney's 21 channels have been unavailable on YouTube TV since Oct. 31 as the talks drag on into their second week.

Both sides have took to their various channels and platforms to advocate for a "fair" deal. The situation escalated Friday, Nov. 7 when an internal Disney memo leaked to the press — penned by Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN's chairman, and Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, the co-chairs of Disney Entertainment. The Athletic's Andrew Marchand obtained the document, which accused YouTube TV as demanding special treatment:

YouTube TV responded with a strong statement alleging Disney intentionally leaked the memo to The Athletic.

"Once again, Disney is resorting to their old tactics like leaking documents to the press, negotiating in public through their paid talent and misrepresenting the facts including from the deals they’ve offered and taking credit for our product proposals," YouTube TV told Marchand, according to a post on X (formerly Twitter).

"Our team stands ready to make a fair agreement in line with their deals with other distributors and we encourage Disney to come to the table and do what's best for our mutual customers."

The statement also criticized Disney's use of its on-air talent, including major personalities like Stephen A. Smith, to try and sway public interest in the company's favor. Pat McAfee, a sports personality who appears on-air for ESPN in multiple capacities, similarly criticized the strategy (via Awful Announcing):

In the leaked internal memo, Disney also expressed an unwillingness to budge from its stance on the ongoing content negotiations. "YouTube TV continues to insist on receiving preferential terms that are below market and has made few concessions," the memo reads.

In the meantime, both Google and Disney customers end up losing out. The companies aren't faring well, either. Disney is said to be losing about $5 million per day in YouTube TV subscriber fees while its channels remain dark (via Awful Announcing). YouTube TV is handing out a $10 monthly credit to subscribers while Disney channels are unavailable.

This is Android Central's News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.

This week, YouTube TV and Disney's feud continues, Google Maps gets a massive Gemini upgrade, Qualcomm reports its Q4 earnings, Galaxy S26 might be a tad heavier on your wallet, and Samsung's trifold leaks again. Let's dive in now, shall we?

YouTube TV and Disney's streaming stand off continues

Read more here and here

It's been 8 days since Disney pulled all of its channels from YouTube TV, and this week was pretty uneventful as the streaming giants weren't able to negotiate a deal. This has left several YouTube TV users in limbo, without access to ESPN, ABC, and other Disney channels.

The ongoing issue resulted in subscribers missing both a football game and the election day coverage that occurred earlier this week. To provide a brief update on the current situation, Disney has recently requested that YouTube TV restore access to ABC for just a day. Google denied that request with a public statement, saying that Disney's proposal would "cause customer confusion" since the channel would disappear after that.

Disney argues that YouTube TV is refusing to pay "fair rates" for its channels, while YouTube TV says that Disney is proposing "costly economic terms" that would force it to raise the price of their subscription.

YouTube also issued a $20 credit for the inconvenience users have been facing, but that didn't do any good, as a recent report suggests that several are ditching the service due to the uncertainty of the whole situation.

However, those seeking respite have other streaming options if they wish to access Disney content.

Google Maps gets boosted with Gemini

Read more here

Google Maps just got a major Gemini update this week, and in case you missed it, here's what Google plans to roll out on Maps in the coming weeks. With a goal for hands-free navigation, Gemini will allow you to ask for things while on the go, like "Find a budget-friendly restaurant with vegan options along my route," or follow up with questions like, "What's the parking like there?"

Additionally, users will also be able to report traffic disruptions more naturally, simply saying things like, "I see an accident," or "Watch out for that slowdown," instead of tapping on the screen whilst driving.

The most exciting update is that Google Lens is directly built in with Gemini at its core. Users arriving at a restaurant can open Lens and ask about the establishment. They will be able to voice their query or type it, and let Gemini explain "what's so popular" about the place they're at.

Qualcomm's AI powered double digit Q4 earnings

Read more here

Qualcomm ended its year reporting a Q4 revenue of $11.3 billion, with a 10% year-over-year increase. The uptick in revenue was due to the chipmaker's QCT division, which saw revenue gains across the board.

Headsets revenue increased by 14% to nearly $7 billion, driven by its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipsets for high-end Android smartphones. Additionally, Automotive and IoT rose 17% and 7%, respectively, highlighting the growing success of the company's diversified strategy.

"Our business remains strong as demonstrated by record QCT revenues in fiscal 2025," said Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon in a statement. Other than AI, smart glasses also contributed to the company's earnings.

"This emerging category is growing at a remarkable pace, and has reached an inflection point, fueled by very strong demand for smart glasses from Meta," Amon stated. "This quarter alone, Meta introduced several new Snapdragon-powered styles, including the Ray Ban Meta second-generation glasses, the Oakley Meta Vanguard performance glasses, and the Meta Ray-Ban Display and Neuro Band."

Galaxy S26 could get pricier

Read more here

We're a few months away from Samsung's Unpacked event; however, the Galaxy S26 leaks keep getting better. While there were tons of specs and launch day-related leaks, this one specifically sheds light on how much it could actually cost.

Korean outlet ET News (via @Jukanlosreve on X) reports that pricing for the Galaxy S26 series could increase compared to the Galaxy S25 due to the rising costs of many internal components all at once.

Tech giants like Samsung and Google strive to maintain the same cost of their flagship models year after year, essentially absorbing all excess production costs, which gives consumers little to no reason to opt for a new phone.

Samsung did increase the price of the Galaxy S24 Ultra by $100 when it launched in January 2024, so if pricing rises again, it would mark the second increase in three years.

Samsung's Galaxy Z Trifold shows up in all angles

Read more here

Samsung lifted the veil on its much-awaited tri-folding phone, the Galaxy Z Trifold (rumored to be called), and now more information about this device seems to be surfacing. While the images shown at the Summit in South Korea gave us a glimpse of the trifold from afar, a new video has emerged, offering a closer and more detailed look at the phone. In the video, the presenter goes over the various visible phone specs.

Regarding the display, the tri-fold could have a 6.5-inch display, similar to a regular smartphone; however, when unfolded, it will feature a 10-inch display. The video also reveals that the display's bezels appear thick, which could limit usable screen space.

You can also see that the camera placement of the trifold is similar to that of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, as the lenses are placed vertically on an elevated camera bump with the flash off to the side. This suggests Samsung could be maintaining a consistent design across its upcoming product line.

More stories this week

Those are some of the biggest stories from this week. Meanwhile, here are some other stories that are worth catching up on:

• Samsung says the Galaxy S26 will get an AI upgrade with enhanced camera performance
• Ray-Ban Metas just got an unexpected video recording upgrade
• Google and Epic's settlement proposal could finally end the multi-year Play Store dispute
• Android Central and 9to5Google join forces to discuss the Galaxy XR, Android XR, and what it means for the future of VR and smart glasses
• Samsung's rogue stress alerts signal a larger problem with smartwatches
• Samsung's Galaxy XR could expand to more countries in 2026
• The good-old Google dictionary box in Search might be getting replaced by AI
• Samsung is restocking Galaxy XR controllers, but you'll have to act fast
• Samsung to get 'aggressive' with the Galaxy S26 with hopes to sell 36 million units
• Spotify can now tell which songs Android users are addicted to

What you need to know

• A survey conducted by Drive Research claims that 82% of YouTube TV subscribers are so done with the Disney battle that if it continues, they want out.
• The company's research adds that roughly 24% have already cancelled their service or are at least planning to.
• YouTube TV and Disney have been stuck in this content stalemate for over a week now, and users are missing out on the content they love, like live sports, shows, and more.

The YouTube TV, Disney content battle continues, and a new report sheds light on how consumers might be feeling as a direct result.

A survey conducted by Drive Research was highlighted by Variety this week, which claims that upwards of 82% of YouTube TV subscribers are fed up and want out if the battle with Disney continues. Now, while this number seems high, the post notes that Drive Research is a market research firm that polled 1,100 U.S. consumers with a YouTube TV subscription.

This 82% are "likely" to cancel; however, 24% of those surveyed claim that they have "already cancelled" or are at least "planning to" at some point.

The fact of the matter is, as noted in the firm's research, people have subscribed to YouTube TV to obtain the content they want to see (channels from Disney). Over half state they did so to view sports on ESPN, like the NFL. Nearly half claim that they've purchased a YouTube TV subscription because "they value the ability to share the service with household members or use multiple streams," per Variety.

YouTube TV reportedly chimed in, as Variety notes, a spokesperson offered comment about Drive Research's survey. YouTube TV throws shade, stating, "We’re not familiar with this firm and can’t speak to their credibility or methodology." The spokesperson adds that while it doesn't love "subscriber churn," what's been happening recently has been "manageable" and "does not align with the findings of this survey."

Advancing the narrative, roughly 30% of Drive Research's findings state that people are already looking to directly subscribe to ESPN Unlimited and Hulu Plus Live TV just to get what they're missing.

It's been a rough going, and the viewer is tired

There is probably a wealth of emotions and takes that can arise from a situation like this, especially from the consumers, but the fact of the matter is that we're stuck in a deadlock. Neither YouTube TV nor Disney has been willing to budge on settling this content battle and restoring content for the consumer. Each side's been pointing fingers at the other, as YouTube TV claims Disney's been "unnecessarily aggressive and assertive," while the other says the opposite's blown things out of proportion.

There was a report earlier this week, right before Election Day, that said Disney approached YouTube TV to restore ABC for one day, just for that crucial moment. However, YouTube TV reportedly declined, instead wanting Disney to allow it to return ABC and ESPN "indefinitely" while their talks proceed.

This report from Drive Research on consumer frustration echoes another that says viewers are irritated by the struggle, which hurts them more than anyone else. Not only have events users wait all week for (College Football, NFL, Election Day, weekly shows) come and gone, but users are also left with uncertainty as to how best to proceed. Users on Reddit have started venting about this issue, as they're going to miss out.

Others have stepped up to offer consumers a way out of the blackout, like Hulu and DirecTV. The latter highlights its Genre Packs, which place everything consumers would want (sports, TV, and more) front and center and available.

There have been no new developments in this week's feud between YouTube TV and Disney (yet), but while those content providers battle it out at the negotiating table, other companies have been entering the ring with deals of their own. 

Verizon 5G Home Internet just dropped an offer that could be good news for anyone who has been affected by the streaming chaos: sign up for the 5G Home Ultimate plan and you'll get 50% off the Disney Plus Bundle AND your choice between a free Samsung TV, Galaxy Tab S10 FE tablet, or Nintendo Switch gaming console. That means you're getting Disney Plus, Hulu, and live sports through ESPN Plus (with ads) for only 10 bucks per month. And that's before you even consider the value of the free device. 

As if that wasn't enough, if you bundle your 5G Home Internet with one of Verizon's wireless plans, that Disney Bundle perk will actually become 100% free (unless you choose another free perk, of course). As with most Verizon deals, there's a good bit of fine print involved, so let's break it all down. 

For starters, it's important to know what Verizon 5G Home Internet actually is. 

Unlike traditional providers that use cable or fiber optic technology to offer fast internet access, Verizon 5G Home Internet utilizes its own ultrawideband cellular network - the same 5G network that you access with your smartphone. The advantage is that 5G Home Internet is affordable, easy to install, and if you live in an area with good 5G coverage, just as fast as traditional broadband. 

Verizon's 5G Home Ultimate plan is the best that the internet provider has to offer, giving customers unlimited premium data, Ultra HD 4K streaming, and a free Wi-Fi extender to cover your entire home. You'll also get a five-year price lock, 30-day money-back guarantee, and no hidden fees or confusing setup costs. 

And of course, like Verizon's best wireless plans, you get to mix and match entertainment perks every month for $10 apiece. These benefits range from unlimited cloud storage to streaming services, including the Disney Plus Bundle. That means you're getting Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus for 50% off its usual cost, so if you're missing out on live sports following the YouTube TV/Disney Plus fallout, now's your chance to enjoy all of the action for cheap. 

Sure, the perks here are nice, but the Verizon 5G Home Internet deal's biggest selling point is the free gift. The options include a 43-inch Samsung Q7F QLED TV (a $399.99 value), a Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE tablet ($599.99), or a Nintendo Switch ($339.99). All you need to do is sign up for the aforementioned 5G Home Ultimate plan and use it for six months without missing a payment or cancelling the service.

Verizon's 5G Home Ultimate plan starts at $85 per month, but you can easily drop the price down to $60 per month by using AutoPay and bundling your internet service with one of Verizon's wireless plans. Members who bundle internet with mobile service will also get a complimentary perk, which means you might get the Disney Plus Bundle for completely free. 

This deal may not be for everyone, but if you live in an area with good 5G access and you're looking to switch internet providers anyway, this is a great way to do it AND get some discounted (or free) entertainment out of the deal. With the holidays swiftly approaching, that's just the kind of break I need. 

Black Friday 2025 - quick links

• Best Buy: up to 60% off Chromebooks, Android phones, and more
• Amazon: early discounts on headphones, smart home tech
• Walmart: early price drops on ASUS laptops, locked phones
• Samsung: new Galaxy XR headset, trade-in opportunities
• Verizon: free phones with new line, trade-in
• T-Mobile: free Galaxy phones, $300 back w/ 5G Home Internet
• Mint Mobile: 50% off Pixel 10, BOGO Unlimited plans
• AT&T: get a free Z Flip 7 with trade-in, new line

What you need to know

• YouTube TV subscribers miss key sports and election coverage due to Disney and Google's ongoing dispute.
• Frustration grows as users express disappointment over the situation and its impact on content access.
• Alternatives like Hulu and DIRECTV emerge as solutions for viewers seeking to watch impacted channels.

YouTube TV subscribers hoped that the dispute between Google and Disney would conclude before Monday (Nov. 3). However, it appears the ongoing issue resulted in subscribers missing both the football game on ESPN and the election day coverage on November 4 on ABC.

The two streaming giants are currently at odds, leaving fans frustrated and angry as they are caught in the midst of this rift. To give you a quick rundown of what the situation looks like right now, Disney recently asked that YouTube TV restore access to ABC just for a day.

Google denied that request with a public statement, saying that Disney's proposal would "cause customer confusion" since the channel would disappear after that.

But, Google proposed that Disney restore both ABC and ESPN indefinitely for its users while the negotiations continue between the two. Following the removal of these channels from YouTube TV, Google started issuing credits to subscribers as compensation.

Subscribers miss out on key sports and election coverage

Users took to Reddit to vent, filled with disappointment and uncertainty, and one of them stated that they're extremely unhappy with the way things have been playing out.

"Disney wants to funnel any viewers who want to watch CBB/CFB to ESPN+/Fubo/Hulu, and now I can't watch football this weekend, and if they don't figure out the contract dispute by early next week, I won't be able to watch UK's season opener. I am unhappy," they stated.

Despite being offered the credit, some users feel it is insignificant when compared to the loss they've incurred, and were particularly "pissed" about losing content during peak sports season, with comments mentioning "corporate greed" and saying they "hate them both" (Disney and YouTube TV) for the standoff.

YouTubeTV no longer streaming ESPN and Disney owned channels, Google offering $20 credit "if their content is unavailable for an extended period of time" from r/CollegeBasketball

On the other hand, some say that Disney is deliberately creating this issue during football season, with the goal that several YouTube TV subscribers would probably direct their frustration towards YouTube instead of Disney. Others, however, feel that this is a tactic by large corporations to raise subscription prices right after a deal has been reached.

The last time YouTube TV raised its base subscription price was in December 2024, when the price increased from $72.99 to $82.99 per month. Disney's core streaming plans also saw a significant price increase that took effect on October 21 this year.

For now, all Disney content remains unavailable on YouTube TV, forcing subscribers to seek out other ways to tune into these channels. Many users feel they are being used as pawns in the ongoing negotiations between Disney and YouTube TV. They feel frustrated at the lack of consideration for their access to crucial content, especially major sporting events, despite having paid for these services well in advance.

Other services like DIRECTV have jumped on this opportunity to keep users connected on Election Night and other major games. As for ABC, Disney's Hulu with Live TV subscription gives users access to the channel.

What you need to know

• DirecTV enters the YouTube TV, Disney content battle chaos, by offering consumers a way to access their favorite content.
• The service highlights its Genre Packs, which brings packaged bundles of entertainment to users through DirecTV Stream for shows, sports, and news.
• YouTube TV and Disney have entered a stalemate in terms of its negotiations, as both sides continue to point fingers.

Amid YouTube TV's content battle with Disney, DirecTV is throwing its hat into the ring, but not for the reason you think.

In an email to Android Central earlier today (Nov 5), DirecTV highlighted its own content battle with Disney in 2024, and how it solved it for consumers, even now. According to DirecTV, consumers left in the dark by YouTube TV's ongoing negotiations can hop into its "Genre Packs." With this pack, it states viewers will find access to shows like Dancing with the Stars and major sports events, like college basketball.

Vince Torres, chief marketing officer at DIRECTV, states, "With options for free TV, specialized Genre Packs, and comprehensive streaming solutions all on our new and improved experience, DIRECTV makes it easy for consumers to watch what they want, how they want, and when they want. Consumers are taking notice and value our new, reliable, and simple streaming experience."

Torres also states that DirecTV provides a simple, single platform for viewers just looking to watch what they want. Viewers can do this easily, as DirecTV breaks things down into three important categories: MySports, MyNews, and MyEntertainment. Each one focuses on your favorite sports, elections, world news, and the most popular shows on the air.

DirecTV highlights its "five-day risk-free trial," which makes it easy for consumers who want to see if the service is worth keeping around.

DirecTV shows up with the content

DirecTV was making headlines late in October, as it partnered with Google TV to completely revamp and revitalize TV in hotels. DirecTV wants to bring its new "Advanced Entertainment Platform" (AEP) to hotel rooms, a customizable platform that lets hotels tailor it to their needs. Google TV serves as the backbone to this, bringing the streaming services and apps that visitors will seek to tune into.

More importantly, users can even sign into their hotel TV with their Google account to access their shows. The post states that their information will be wiped to ensure their privacy remains secure.

As far as the YouTube TV angle goes, Disney's content was on the verge of a total blackout for the former's viewers late last month. The deadline loomed heavy, as viewers were at risk of losing out on nearly a dozen of Disney's channels, including ABC and ESPN. At the time, YouTube TV claimed that Disney's proposition during the negotiations could force it to "raise prices" for consumers. Fingers were quickly pointed the opposite way, as Disney said YouTube TV was "exploiting its position at the expense of their own customers."

When both sides failed to reach an agreement, those channels swiftly disappeared. Now, we're completely locked in a stalemate as neither side is willing to budge just yet on a way to return those channels to consumers. The finger-pointing continues; however, as YouTube TV claims Disney has been "unnecessarily aggressive and assertive.' Disney says the opposite, claiming that YouTube TV has blown the situation out of proportion.

As you might have heard already, there is some serious drama happening over at the YouTube TV and Disney HQs. On October 31st, a widely-publicized feud between Google and Disney bigwigs bubbled over and resulted in YouTube TV losing some of its most popular networks, including ABC, ESPN, and others.

Although full service is expected to return soon as the two sides negotiate, all of this drama (around Monday Night Football and Election Day, no less), has inspired many folks to abandon the live streaming service altogether. Fortunately, if you're looking for the YouTube TV streaming experience without all of the baggage, you're in luck: there are a number of awesome alternatives that you can join right now, and they don't come with that hefty serving of family drama on the side.

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What you need to know

• Google and Disney's feud already led to YouTube TV missing out on Monday Night Football on ESPN, and it could lose ABC's Election Day coverage too.
• Disney asked YouTube TV to reinstate ABC for one day so the public could watch Election Day reporting.
• YouTube TV denied the request, and instead wants Disney to allow it to offer ABC and ESPN indefinitely while the two sides negotiate.

Google's standoff with Disney over content rights for YouTube TV hit consumers hard Monday, Nov. 3 when subscribers went without Monday Night Football on ESPN. That's not the only major event coverage YouTube TV users will go without if the two companies can't come to an agreement. Election Day in the U.S. is today, Nov. 4, and Disney is requesting that YouTube TV restore access to ABC — one of the four major news networks — for one day only as a result.

Google denied that request with a public statement, also sent to Disney leadership, that serves as a counteroffer. The company says Disney's proposal would "cause customer confusion" by having ABC return for a day and the channel disappearing immediately after. Instead, Google is proposing that Disney restore both ABC and ESPN indefinitely on YouTube TV while the two sides negotiate.

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"There are plenty of other options for customers — election news information is very widely available across other broadcast stations and news networks on YouTube TV, as well as on the main YouTube service, for free," Google's statement reads. "In fact, on the last two U.S. election days, the vast majority of tuned in YouTube TV subscribers chose not to watch ABC."

Google's email emphasizes that it could restore ABC and ESPN on YouTube TV "in hours" if Disney agrees to the proposal, just in time for Election Day coverage. It also claims that ABC could alternatively livestream its coverage for free on YouTube.

Google's response follows the earlier proposal from Disney, which would only see ABC return for 24 hours. In a statement to Deadline, Disney explained its position on the matter, saying it wants to put the negotiations aside for a day for the sake of public interest.

"Despite the impasse that led to the current blackout, we have asked YouTube TV to restore ABC for Election Day so subscribers have access to the information they rely on," a Disney spokesperson said in the statement to Deadline. "We believe in putting the public interest first and hope YouTube TV will take this small step for their customers while we continue to work toward a fair agreement."

What happens next?

For now, all Disney content remains unavailable on YouTube TV, and that includes ABC's Election Day coverage. If that remains to be the case, YouTube TV subscribers would need to tune into the other news networks or access ABC by other means to gain access to its Election Day coverage. For example, Disney's own Hulu with Live TV subscription offers access to ABC and more.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV and Disney's stalemate sees no change, as both sides find fault in the other.
• YouTube TV claims Disney has been "unnecessarily aggressive and assertive," while Disney states the former has blown things out of proportion.
• Viewers lost 21 of Disney's channels last week, including ABC and ESPN, as neither side could reach a content agreement before the October 30 deadline.

YouTube TV consumers will undoubtedly know that Disney's channels vanished late last week; however, the two have continued talks, albeit a little rocky.

There are two sides to this, as reported by Deadline, as YouTube TV claims Disney has been "unnecessarily aggressive and assertive." According to the publication, this is in regard to the "economics" of pay-TV, per an executive the post cites. The exec told Deadline in a statement that, regarding Disney, "There are aspects of their portfolio that are doing well on our platform." However, everything isn't so clean cut, as they add that their "broad portfolio" may contain channels where viewership may "decline" or become "non-existent."

It's because of this thinking that the exec reportedly informed the publication that Disney was expecting "steep carriage fees," despite its viewership dropping a bit in recent years. Disney has also reportedly dismissed this statement, saying that it's actually tried to offer services that "lower" costs for the consumer.

Apparently, there were some rumors about Disney potentially using its acquisition of Fubo, as well as Hulu Live, as "leverage" for its current negotiations with YouTube TV. A Disney executive reportedly cut down that theory, stating YouTube TV was “intentionally misrepresenting the situation."

From the recent reports, it seems clear that consumers are going to have to continue waiting for a YouTube TV, Disney agreement. Even the fate of ESPN on the platform is in the air, which doesn't bode well for sports lovers.

No middle ground, Disney's channels disappear

Android Central has reached out to YouTube TV and Disney about the latest stalemate report and will update this post if we hear back.

Last week, we were rapidly approaching the deadline for a content deal between YouTube TV and Disney. The former claimed it had entered negotiations with the latter in order to keep channels like ABC and ESPN for its subscribers. However, similar to what we've heard today in the recent report, YouTube TV claimed Disney's proposals would've led to a price hike for viewers.

Still, Disney pointed the blame at YouTube TV, stating it was "exploiting its position at the expense of their own customers."

Both sides had until October 30 at 11:59 pm ET to reach some sort of middle ground, but that didn't happen. With the contract up, viewers lost 21 channels, including ABC and ESPN. YouTube TV and Disney delivered their own statements, each defending their stances, which only lengthens this blackout for consumers. According to Disney, "Google is using its market dominance to eliminate competition and undercut the industry-standard terms we’ve successfully negotiated with every other distributor."

It's a similar sentiment we've heard Deadline report from a Disney exec.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV is giving select users $10 monthly credits after Disney removed its channels from the platform.
• The credits aren’t automatic, and users must manually check their YouTube TV account settings to claim them.
• The dispute continues as Disney and YouTube TV blame each other for unfair pricing and failed negotiations.

After the removal of Disney-owned channels from YouTube TV, the service is now handing out $10 credits to subscribers as compensation, so you might want to check your account soon.

YouTube and Disney have been at odds for weeks. The two companies failed to reach an agreement last month, which led to Disney pulling its channels, including ABC, ESPN, FX, and National Geographic, from YouTube TV starting October 30, 2025.

While no new agreement has been reached and the channels remain unavailable, Google is compensating users with monthly credits. However, as spotted by some Reddit users, the credit isn’t automatically available for everyone.

You’ll need to access the YouTube TV website on desktop, then go to Settings > Membership > Manage Plan to see if your account qualifies. Strangely, not all users are receiving the credit, and there’s no notification about it either.

YouTube TV offers $10 credits after Disney fallout

You can also check manually via a direct link. If the credit is available and accepted, YouTube TV will apply $10 monthly credits to your account for the next six months before your plan returns to its regular price.

That said, it’s still not much considering the loss of 20 channels. Even though $60 over six months sounds decent, it doesn’t fully offset the value lost, nor is it the $20 credit Google initially promised, which now seems delayed for an “extended period of time."

This isn’t the first time YouTube TV has faced such issues. Earlier this year, the service also struggled to reach a deal with Paramount, which provided 34 channels. At that time, YouTube offered $8 credits, while this time it’s giving $10.

The dispute continues as Disney claims YouTube TV refuses to pay fair rates for its channels, while YouTube TV accuses Disney of demanding terms that would unfairly raise prices for subscribers and favor Disney's own Live TV + Hulu competing service.

What you need to know

• Disney channels became unavailable on YouTube TV as of Oct. 30, 2025.
• YouTube TV and Disney failed to reach a deal as their distribution contract came up for renewal, displacing 21 channels, including ABC and ESPN.
• Both companies have made public statements defending their stances on the stalemate.

YouTube TV and Disney are feuding over content rights, and the two sides failed to come to an agreement before the Oct. 30, 2025 deadline. As of now, all Disney channels are blacked out on YouTube TV, and that includes both live channels and recordings stored in your library.

The blackout affects 21 channels, all of which are now unavailable on YouTube TV, including big names like ABC, ESPN, and The Disney Channel. It follows warnings from YouTube TV and Disney last week that the channels would go dark if the deadline passed.

"Each time we renew our contracts with network partners, we advocate for fair pricing and greater flexibility to offer our subscribers the best possible live TV experience," Google said in a support document. "Our current agreement with Disney has approached its renewal date, and we will not agree to terms that disadvantage our members while benefiting Disney’s own live TV products."

Both companies took to social media to defend their positions, with the official YouTube TV account on X (formerly Twitter) saying it is "committed to continuing to work with Disney to reach an agreement." The blackout began during Scott Van Pelt's show on ESPN, who shared a link to keepmynetworks.com on his personal X account. The site encourages YouTube TV subscribers to contact Google and demand Disney channels.

What Google and Disney are saying

"Unfortunately, Google’s YouTube TV has chosen to deny their subscribers the content they value most by refusing to pay fair rates for our channels, including ESPN and ABC," Disney said in a statement to Yahoo. The company also called out YouTube TV's parent company, Google, alleging it is using "market dominance to eliminate competition."

YouTube TV says that if it can't reach a deal with Disney and content remains unavailable for "an extended period of time," it will offer subscribers a $20 credit.

Google claims Disney is trying to benefit its own live TV streaming products, which compete with YouTube TV. Just this week, Disney closed its acquisition of Fubo, which will merge with Hulu with Live TV — immediately making Disney's live TV product the second-largest, trailing only YouTube TV.

Disney channels will remain off YouTube TV until if and when a deal is reached, and this displaces the following stations: ESPN, ESPN2, Freeform, FX, FXX, Disney Junior, SEC Network, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, Disney Channel, ESPNU, FXM, ABC News Live, ACC Network, Disney XD, Localish, ESPNews, ESPN Deportes (Spanish Plan), Baby TV Español (Spanish Plan), and Nat Geo Mundo (Spanish Plan).

YouTube TV successfully navigated similar negotiations with NBCUniversal, Fox, and Paramount over content rights in 2025. We'll have to wait and see whether it can do the same with Disney, and how long it might take to come to a resolution.

What you need to know

• YouTube is introducing an AI-powered feature that automatically upscales low-resolution videos.
• The new "Super resolution" label will mark upscaled videos, with an option to opt out for users and creators.
• YouTube is also adding immersive previews and contextual search features for TV users.
• Creators can now upload larger, higher-quality thumbnails with the new 50MB file size limit.

YouTube is rolling out a new feature that will automatically upscale all videos using AI.

There was a time when most videos uploaded were just 240p. Even today, many creators still upload only in 1080p. For those pixel peepers out there, Google is now rolling out a new YouTube feature that automatically upscales low-resolution videos to higher resolutions.

For now, YouTube has announced that it will begin upscaling videos uploaded below 1080p from SD to HD resolution. Later, the company plans to upscale videos to 4K. Videos enhanced using YouTube's AI will be clearly marked as "Super resolution" to indicate upscaling.

YouTube also notes that both creators and viewers will be able to opt out if they prefer not to watch upscaled content. The company will keep the original files and resolutions intact.

It was initially reported that these upscaled videos would be available only on the YouTube app for TVs, but the company confirmed to Bloomberg's Chris Welch that the feature is coming to all YouTube platforms, including smartphones and web, alongside TVs.

AI upscaling is coming to YouTube across all devices

For TVs, YouTube is also adding some nice tweaks to enhance the experience. Viewers will now see a more "immersive preview" when browsing channels on the home page. Additionally, YouTube is rolling out "contextual search on TVs," so when a viewer searches from a creator's channel page, videos from that channel will be prioritized at the top of results instead of getting buried among other content.

Another upgrade for creators is an increased file size limit for thumbnails. Previously, the cap was 2MB, but it has now been raised to 50MB, meaning you'll soon start seeing more detailed thumbnails from your favorite creators.

YouTube says the changes have started rolling out, and you should be able to see them on your screens soon. In addition, YouTube has also added new Like button animations and unveiled a major UI overhaul for Android and iOS.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV has stated its ongoing negotiations with Disney to keep content from ABC and ESPN for its subscribers.
• YouTube states that Disney's proposition could end up "raising prices" for consumers, while the latter states YouTube TV is "exploiting its position at the expense of their own customers."
• The two sides have until October 30 at 11:59 pm ET to reach an agreement and, if not, Disney's channels will disappear.

The content deal between YouTube TV and Disney has evolved, and new statements from both sides paint a tense situation.

This morning (Oct 24), YouTube issued a statement regarding the ongoing negotiations between YouTube TV and Disney to secure the latter's content for its viewers. If an agreement isn't reached, the platform states content from Disney, including ABC and ESPN, will vanish from its consumers' reach. Officially, YouTube states, "We've been working in good faith to negotiate a deal with Disney that pays them fairly for their content on YouTube TV."

Where things evolve is where the service adds, "Unfortunately, Disney is proposing costly economic terms that would raise prices on YouTube TV customers and give our customers fewer choices, while benefiting Disney’s own live TV products - like Hulu + Live TV and, soon, Fubo."

On the other side, CNBC reports that Disney has issued its own statement regarding the negotiations, as well as a new "public message" run, informing YouTube TV users about the ongoing process (via 9to5Google). A Disney spokesperson informed the publication that, "This is the latest example of Google exploiting its position at the expense of their own customers." It mentions that more than shows will disappear, as the NFL, NHL, College Football, and more will go alongside it.

We've entered crunch time, as YouTube TV and Disney have until October 30 at 11:59 pm ET to reach an agreement. If nothing is achieved, Disney's content will disappear. YouTube adds that if Disney's content is removed, and if it remains gone for an "extended period of time," it will grant subscribers $20 in credit.

Tense Situation

YouTube TV's been involved in some tense, down-to-the-wire negotiations to keep content on its platform before with NBCUniversal. In 2021, there was the threat of viewers losing roughly 14 channels of NBCUniversal's content during the agreement renewal process with YouTube TV. These two got into negotiations again just recently, as CNBC reports, which wrapped up positively in September.

In February, YouTube TV and Paramount had to hash out a new agreement to keep CBS and CBS Sports on the air for subscribers. This negotiation was a bit larger, as 30 channels were on the hook if this fell through.

This was essentially as public a struggle as we're seeing today with Disney. It was reported that YouTube TV and Paramount found difficulties in achieving a "fair deal." Things resulted well (in a way), as the two reached an agreement to keep the channels available for subscribers. However, shortly after, YouTube TV raised prices by $10 per month.

What you need to know

• Users on YouTube TV's subreddit report receiving a "returning user" NFL Sunday Ticket discount.
• One user reports a $96 discount for the streaming service, while others claim they've only been given $48 off.
• In June, YouTube TV unveiled major discounts for new NFL Sunday Ticket users who are interested in watching their first season this year.

Keep your eyes peeled; YouTube TV is reportedly sending out discount offers to get former NFL Sunday Ticket users back.

There have been varying sightings about this; however, a user on YouTube TV's subreddit reports they received quite an interesting NFL Sunday Ticket discount (via 9to5Google). The original poster (OP), VHBlazer, states they received a $96 off discount for the NFL Sunday Ticket as a returning subscriber. The user states they typically subscribe and then kick it after March Madness.

This was reported earlier this week, and it seems it's still rolling out. Of course, there's likely some underlying conditions there.

While others have started receiving their emails, they report an interesting occurrence: the price discount is not always the same. A few users who've been emailed by YouTube TV in hopes of returning claim they've been offered $48 off, instead of $96. It's not exactly clear why there's this gap in discounts.

On the other hand, some users say they haven't received a "returning user" email, but attempting to return manually shows a discounted price. Some even report getting the email, yet trying to purchase still shows the full price undiscounted price. Perhaps contacting YouTube TV's support would be beneficial here.

The NFL '25-'26 Season is upon us

NFL Sunday Ticket returning subscriber deal: $96 off from r/youtubetv

Back in June, YouTube TV announced some major discounts for new NFL Sunday Ticket holders interested in watching their first season. New consumers purchasing the Season Pass on YouTube can do so for $276, while those on YouTube's Primetime Channels will see it for $318.

It's worth mentioning that the previous announcement didn't concern recurring or returning NFL Sunday Ticket holders at all. Those users would still see the same full-priced packages. Now, though, with the recent Reddit reports, perhaps YouTube TV is offering a little love to its older, unsubscribed crowd.

Also, YouTube TV's monthly payment option for the NFL season is rolling out in more States for more users. This should give users a little more flexibility with the NFL Sunday Ticket moving forward. Be warned: YouTube TV states Season Pass' monthly installment plan length will change from 12 months to eight as we near the beginning of the season in September.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV detailed a few discounts available for new users of the NFL Sunday Ticket for their first season watching football.
• New users grabbing the Season Pass on YouTube can do so for $276, while those on YouTube's Primetime Channels will see it for $318.
• Last year, YouTube TV introduced "build a multiview," Fantasy score integration, and much more for NFL Sunday Ticket holders.

YouTube is announcing deals and discounts for consumers interested in the NFL Sunday Ticket for the first time.

In a Reddit post, YouTube TV detailed new pricing discounts for new users, students, and military personnel (via 9to5Google). If you're a new subscriber to the NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV or YouTube, you will find a differently priced set of plans. According to the post, the Season Pass on YouTube TV for the 2025-2026 NFL season will cost $276 or 12 payments of $23 per month. If you're interested in RedZone, that'll take things up to $318 or 12 payments of $26.50 per month.

Those opting for YouTube's Primetime Channels can grab their first Sunday Ticket season for the same prices as previously stated.

It's worth stressing that these reduced pricing options are only available for new users and their first season with the NFL Sunday Ticket. Moving on, YouTube states students looking to grab the NFL Sunday Ticket Student Plan can do so for $119. Military personnel, veterans, teachers, and nurses will receive a discounted version of the NFL plan, which comes to $198, "in the next few days."

The NFL Sunday Ticket evolves again due to user feedback, as YouTube states it's rolling out the option for viewers in more states to purchase/pay for the Season Pass in 12 monthly installments. YouTube warns that the plan length will shorten as the season nears (going from 12 months to 8 monthly payments).

Pre-Season's right around the corner

Payment Options & Pricing for the NFL Sunday Ticket ‘25-’26 Season from r/youtubetv

Alternatively, users can expect YouTube TV to bring its Month-to-Month plan in early September. This gives users more flexibility in how they want to enjoy their football season.

Users who've had the NFL Sunday Ticket before aren't in for any special deals or discounts as of right now. YouTube TV states you should still expect the same $378 charge for the Season Pass and $480 for YouTube's Primetime Channels.

YouTube TV has continued to update its NFL Sunday Ticket experience, as last summer brought customization. During pre-season in August, YouTube TV said users could enjoy "build a multiview." Viewers can create a personal streaming view that consists of two, three, or four games to watch at once. Moreover, users can even attach their Yahoo Fantasy accounts to their NFL Sunday Ticket account to see fantasy scores as they change.

The addition of extra playback controls and a spoiler mode entered last season to further progress the Sunday Ticket.

What you need to know

• YouTube is shaking up the Subscriptions page in an update announced last month and rolling out now.
• The page will now place Shorts at the top of the viewable area, requiring users to scroll to see traditional long-form content.
• This tweak is rolling out for YouTube app users on TVs and consoles, including Apple and Google TV hardware.

YouTube is rolling out a change to its app for TVs and consoles that prioritizes Shorts content over your subscriptions. The tweak, announced last month, shakes up the Subscriptions tab on the YouTube app for TVs.

It separates YouTube Shorts from long-form videos, placing Shorts at the very top of your subscriptions tab. This change is widely rolling out for TVs and consoles, including Google TV and Apple TV hardware, as reported by Reddit users and 9to5Google.

The new Shorts row on the Subscriptions page still only shows videos from channels and creators you're subscribed to. However, the vertical length of Shorts previews means that long-form YouTube videos aren't fully visible on the Subscriptions page anymore without scrolling.

Previously, Shorts were mixed in with a user's main subscriptions feed. The new update adds separation for YouTube's vertical, short-form content and the platform's traditional horizontal, long-form content. For some, it will come at the expense of usability, as users now have to scroll to see their traditional YouTube subscription row on the Subscriptions page.

AppleTV Youtube app & What the actual duck ??? from r/youtube

In the first few days following the new Subscriptions page's rollout, some users are already unhappy with the shift. One user on Reddit, u/AtlasMMX, pointed out the oddness of being unable to see their long-form subscription row on a 77-inch flatscreen TV. They particularly criticize the wasted space atop the Subscriptions page, which theoretically could be used to put Shorts and long-form content on the same viewable area.

It's just one of many Reddit posts on the YouTube subreddit criticizing the move across platforms, including Google TV and Apple TV. Unfortunately, there's no way for YouTube users on TVs and consoles to rearrange the order of their Subscriptions page.

What you need to know

• YouTube turned 20 recently, and it is bringing new features and some tweaks to its design on its TV app.
• YouTube TV members can experiment with building their own multiview, and this can be done with non-sports content as well.
• It is expanding its "voice reply" to comments feature to more creators across the board.
• The redesign of the YouTube app will also include a new look for its video player.

YouTube turned 20 this week and celebrating its two decade milestone, the streaming platform shared some fun facts about its inception along with latest features that are being testing and coming to users soon.

What began as a 19-second video back in 2005 has now evolved into a full-blown streaming giant, with over 20 million video uploads each day. YouTube has also become a hub for people to have conversations and comment, and react to all sorts of videos, whether they like it or not. According to the streaming platform, "in 2024, YouTube users averaged over 100 million comments on videos daily. And we discovered that last year, creators received comments from an average of 10 million viewers every day.”

That said, YouTube seems to be giving back to its avid users as well. In its blog post, YouTube said that in a few weeks, YouTube TV users can test out multiviews on their account. They can build their personalized multi-view window that showcases non-sports channels as well. Considering that YouTube is testing this feature out, YouTube says that it is starting "with a small group of popular channels and expanding in the coming months."

For its Premium users, the streaming platform is immediately rolling out 4x playback speed on mobile devices. This was being tested out in February and has now finally landed. More creators will have the ability to voice-respond to comments on their videos.

Furthermore, users can start creating their personalized radio station with the AI-powered tool called "Ask Music". You can speak or ask YouTube to create a playlist for you with "upbeat songs for a morning run," "calm jazz for studying," "80s-inspired indie," or even something more specific to your mood. Ask Music is available on iOS and Android for all YouTube Premium and YouTube Music users.

Lastly, the YouTube TV app is getting a full redesign this summer, the blog post added."Easier navigation, playback, quality tweaks, plus streamlined access to comments, channel info, and subscribing are heading to your screens," YouTube stated.

The company shared a quick glimpse of what the new UI would look like, featuring video from @LoFiGirl. The controls on the new UI are more spread out when compared to the current version. The channel, description, and subscribe buttons are on the left, the play/pause and next controls are in the center, making it more accessible and prominent. While the other controls, like settings and the like/dislike toggles, remain on the left of the screen, as seen above.

What you need to know

• Paramount channels will be available on YouTube TV for the foreseeable future as the two sides reached an agreement.
• The deal comes after the two sides publicly struggled to find what YouTube TV described as "a fair deal."
• The negotiations came shortly after YouTube TV raised prices by $10 per month.

Paramount channels were briefly in jeopardy of becoming unavailable on YouTube TV, but the two sides were able to reach an agreement to keep Paramount's 34 channels on the live TV streaming service. YouTube TV announced the deal on Feb. 15, following a days-long ordeal that saw Paramount run "Keep Paramount" ads on social media and YouTube TV criticize the company for not offering "a fair deal."

"We’re happy to share that we’ve reached a deal to continue carrying Paramount channels, including CBS, CBS Sports, Nickelodeon and more," wrote YouTube TV in the blog post. "To our subscribers, we appreciate your patience while we negotiated on your behalf."

YouTube TV says the agreement will keep over 100 channels available on the live TV service. It'll also provide Paramount add-ons, like Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME. Paramount offers over 30 channels on YouTube TV, including heavy-hitters like CBS and CBS Sports. High-profile sporting events — including March Madness (the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament) and The Masters — are set to air on the networks in the coming months.

That, paired with YouTube TV's $10 price hike last month, set the service up for a potential disaster if it couldn't reach a deal.

Things started out dire on Feb. 12, when YouTube TV warned customers that Paramount channels could disappear from the service as early as the end of the following day. It followed up with an update Feb. 13 that YouTube TV reached "a short-term extension" with Paramount while the negotiations continued. In the event it couldn't reach a long-term deal, YouTube TV threw out the idea of offering customers a credit that would allow them to subscribe to Paramount Plus.

In the end, that wasn't necessary, because the two sides have figured out an agreement. It's not the first time YouTube TV has had issues keeping channels available. Recently, YouTube TV fixed a problem affecting free channels.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV reached a temporary deal with Paramount to keep its channels on the service.
• Paramount offers 34 channels and other perks as part of the YouTube TV subscription.
• YouTube TV customers are frustrated as this dispute comes one month after the service hiked prices.

YouTube TV temporarily avoided disaster by reaching a temporary deal with Paramount to keeps its channels and properties available on the streaming services. As the two sides negotiated, YouTube TV announced Feb. 12 that Paramount channels might disappear as it was unable to reach what it considered "a fair deal." However, it later announced that Paramount channels would continue to be available on YouTube TV in the near future as the two sides continue to find a long-term solution.

"We’ve reached a short term extension as we work toward a deal with Paramount to keep their content on YouTube TV. YouTube TV subscribers continue to have access to Paramount channels, including CBS, and any recordings that are in their Library," the company wrote in the blog post. "We appreciate your patience as we continue to negotiate on your behalf. We also value Paramount's partnership and willingness to work towards an agreement."

It's unclear how long this short-term extension will last. Paramount provides 34 channels on YouTube TV, including CBS, CBS Sports, MTV, Comedy Central, and regional stations. It also enables extra services, like Paramount Plus with SHOWTIME and BET Plus.

YouTube TV customers are frustrated by the developments, as the streaming service recently increased prices by $10, from $73 to $83, just one month ago. Additionally, the timing of the rights dispute is unfortunate, with March Madness (the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament) and The Masters tournament coming up in March and April — airing on CBS and CBS Sports.

For now, YouTube TV customers can still access Paramount channels, but it's unclear how long that'll last if a true deal isn't reached. Previously, YouTube TV said it would offer a credit if Paramount channels were unavailable for "an extended period of time."

"If we can't reach an agreement and their content is unavailable for an extended period of time, we'll offer subscribers an $8 credit. You can still watch Paramount shows and movies by signing up for their streaming service, Paramount Plus, starting at $7.99 a month," the company said.

This comes shortly after YouTube TV fixed an issue affecting free channels.

What you need to know

• A Google community manager brought awareness to a channel outage affecting several major free channels, like Telemundo, CBS, and the CW.
• Users confirmed the outage, but also stated that issues had been happening since February 10, one day prior to Google's awareness.
• A YouTube TV member stated a few issues were "fixed" for CBS channels; however, the official post has yet to double down.
• YouTube detailed its "big bets" for 2025, which include going all-in on TVs which have become the primary avenue for users to watch content.

Users tuning into YouTube TV's live channels are noticing a few notable offerings are missing, but it looks like the company is on it.

A Google community manager highlighted several of YouTube TV's usual free channel providers are suffering issues on the platform (via 9to5Google). According to the post, the outage affects channels provided by Telemundo, CBS, and the CW. These issues have disrupted TV viewing for users from the east to the west coast.

Users chimed in, interacting with Google's official post, confirming the problem further. However, some users reported that the issues started well before Google jumped on it. The post went up toward the evening of February 11, yet one user claims the problems (for them) began one day prior.

Another user with access to KOTV-DT in the Oklahoma region reported the channel's outage began yesterday morning.

Curiously, the folks at 9to5 spotted an update by a YouTube TV member on Reddit, stating "This has been fixed. Let me know if you're still having issues." This was in response to a user who was trying to access CBS but could not. The YouTube TV member's update was shared early this morning, yet the official Google post has not been updated — which it said it would.

For now, continue to check to see if you can access the following Telemundo, CBS, and CW channels involved in the outage:

• KOTVDT
• KQCWDT
• KXGN
• WNOLDT
• KGWN
• WTVRDT
• KXLH
• WWTV
• WFQXDT2
• WDNI

Hopefully, these issues will be corrected soon as YouTube laid out its plans to continue its TV presence in a recent blog post. The platform turned 20 years old and to celebrate, it detailed what's next for 2025. YouTube highlighted that TVs have become the primary way users interact with the platform and view content.

Elsewhere, YouTube talked about its "big bets" for the year, which include "algorithmically" estimating a user's age on the platform. The platform already includes several safety rails for managing a user's age to avoid seeing unwanted content. Parents can also deploy a few parental controls to help keep things within a comfortable scope.

YouTube did not elaborate on its plan to do this, but we will likely see the results later this year.

This is Android Central's News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.

This week, Google had quite a few big announcements with the launch of Android XR, Gemini 2.0, and a price hike for YouTube TV. Plus, Sundar Pichai had some choice words about Microsoft and a new rumor claims the Galaxy S25 series might actually get Qi2 support, but with a catch.

Android XR is how Google competes with Meta and Apple

Read more here.

It's been long teased that Google was working on an XR platform based on Android, with hardware coming from Samsung in partnership with Qualcomm. Now the cat's out of the bag with the announcement of Android XR, a new platform that's set to power smart glasses and XR headsets not unlike the Apple Vision Pro or Meta Quest 3S.

According to Google, the platform will launch first on headsets, with Samsung's Project Moohan set to release in 2025. This will enable users to "switch between being fully immersed in a virtual environment and staying present in the real world," not unlike how some of the best VR headsets work. Smartphone and tablet apps will also work, and Google is optimizing its own apps for the platform.

Google is also testing smart glasses, as we saw with Project Astra. This will use Gemini to provide information about what you're looking at, and it's suggested that visual cues may also be available.

There seems to be a lot of potential with Android XR, which makes it one of the most exciting things to look forward to in 2025.

Gemini gets the upgrade we've been waiting for

Read more here.

Gemini has been all over the place in 2024, but 2025 looks to be an exciting year for Google's AI efforts after it revealed a major update for its model. Gemini 2.0 is taking things to the next level by making it more capable than before, allowing it to better understand the world around you and complete tasks on behalf of the user.

What does this mean, exactly? This means that Gemini 2.0 is equipped to power experiences like Project Astra, which was shown on Google I/O earlier this year. It can visualize the world around you and even remember what it saw so you can recall something later. And with Project Mariner, Gemini 2.0 can complete complex, multi-step tasks for you by understanding what's on your screen, just as a virtual assistant should. We've seen companies like Motorola show off concepts similar to this, so it'll be interesting to see how this evolves in 2025.

Qi2 could finally be a thing in 2025

Read more here.

Qi2 has been out for a little while, but it's been mostly absent on Android, save for some HMD phones. However, with the Galaxy S25, this could change, as the latest rumors suggest the company might finally adopt the wireless charging spec in its upcoming devices.

If true, then the Galaxy S25 series will support the Qi2 and MagSafe accessories available for iPhones, allowing them to charge wirelessly at the full 15W instead of being subjected to slower speeds.

That said, a separate rumor suggests that the phones may not have Qi2 integrated into the phones themselves. Instead, the newer standard may only be accessible via compatible cases. This would be similar to what we've seen with recent OPPO phones and the OnePlus 13.

If true, it's unclear why companies are opting for this method, but given that many users will likely purchase cases for their phones, it may not be a huge deal. Still, it would be nice to have it integrated for those who may not want a case, but we'll have to wait and see what we get when the Galaxy S25 launches in early 2025.

YouTube TV continues to rise, in the worst way possible

Read more here.

Price hikes for streaming services are nothing new, so the new base price for YouTube TV shouldn't shock anyone, but it will sting. The company announced this week that new users will immediately see the base price of $82.99, a $10 increase from the previous $72.99 that was introduced in early 2023.

The company explained that the updated price is due to the rising costs of content but that users can expect to retain their current features and benefits.

For new users, the price won't update until January 13, 2025, so there's some buffer time in case you want to consider your options or pause your membership. Otherwise, prepare to pay more in the coming month as streaming services continue to reach cable prices.

Google vs. Microsoft: The AI wars

Read more here.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai threw a bit of shade at Microsoft during The New York Times' DealBook Summit. Journalist and author Andrew Ross Sorkin asked Pichai about his thoughts on where Google is compared to its competitors in the AI race, prefacing it with a quote from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who said that Google should have been the default winner.

Pichai quickly responded by saying he would love to compare Microsoft's own models with Google's, noting that Microsoft is using someone else's.

It's no secret that Microsoft got a bit of a headstart in the AI space after partnering with OpenAI to integrate its models into the company's services like Bing. Meanwhile, Google was seen by many as having to play catch-up after losing some mindshare to the likes of ChatGPT.

That said, Google saw plenty of progress in 2024 with Gemini across various devices and services. However, Pichai noted during his talk that while he expects to see more advancements in 2025, we shouldn't expect it at the same pace we've seen.

More stories this week

Those are some of the biggest stories from this week. Meanwhile, here are some other stories that are worth catching up on:

• Google Wallet adds digital ID support in yet another US state
• Android and iPhone users told to pause texting each other amid major security threat
• Samsung's new One UI 7 beta killed a handy lock screen feature
• Launcher 10 lets you turn an Android phone into a Windows Phone
• YouTube Music gains a crucial feature for podcast listening and sharing
• Galaxy S24 series' latest security patch is just a One UI 7 waiting room
• Leaked Pixel 9a images reaffirm a curious design change
• The Galaxy S25 series will allegedly see sporadic price increases, per reports
• The Galaxy S25 Ultra could bump up RAM in its higher-end models
• Google Docs adds 40 new pageless templates, with more coming soon

What you need to know

• YouTube TV announced another price hike today (Dec 12), which will see its Basic Plan rise by $10 to $82.99.
• The platform states this will go into effect on December 12, 2024 for new members before hitting "most" existing users on January 13, 2025.
• YouTube TV states this rise in costs is due to "rising content costs," a similar reason given during its previous hike in 2023.

YouTube TV made an announcement today (Dec 12) confirming pricing changes, despite claiming the opposite after an "erroneous" ad.

In a thread on X, YouTube TV explained its mindset and why it has dropped another price hike here in December. In a "message for our members," the streaming service states that it will increase its monthly cost to $82.99 in light of "rising content costs."

The service published a support page to explain the entire scope of this price hike.

According to YouTube TV, this updated $82.99 price will affect those purchasing the Basic Plan. The change has occurred today (Dec 12) for all new members. However, "most" existing users will see this change go into effect for their accounts on January 13, 2025. In short, this is a $10 hike from the Basic Plan's former $72.99 charge.

Another detail to know is that anyone whose membership is paused will see this new price once you've reactivated it. Additionally, if you've received YouTube TV's Basic Plan via a promotional trial or price, the post states this new price will be attached once the promotion expires. Those who've purchased the Basic Plan through a YouTube TV Integrated Billing partner will see this new price applied to their account on February 13, 2025.

YouTube TV adds that it didn't make this decision "lightly" and states that it may "impact" its users. While the price is set to rise in a month, the post adds that those sticking with the Basic Plan won't lose any content. The Basic Plan will continue to feature 100 plus channels, unlimited storage DVR, six accounts per household, and more.

What's strange about this announcement is that YouTube TV denied any sort of price increase on Monday (Dec 9), as noted by Michael Saves (via Cord Cutters News). Verizon had run an ad (albeit a little early) about a discounted YouTube TV price within its new bundle. The post states the listed price for the service was this $82.99 tag instead of the (now old) $72.99 price.

The publication spotted TeamYouTube on X denying the idea of a price hike earlier this week. However, the social media post has since been deleted.

YouTube TV states users can check their membership status by heading into their Settings > Membership.

The streaming service has a lengthy history of continuously raising prices. In 2021, the platform's monthly cost rose by $15 to $64.99 per month. Then, in March 2023, YouTube TV took prices up again, which saw the final price double what it started as originally. Prices rose by $8 to $72.99 — and now we're met with a $10 jump today.

Its words today echo what was said last year, as YouTube TV stated the price hike was because "content costs have risen." It added that the rise in fees can help its team ensure "quality of service."

What you need to know

• A discovery within Prime Video's recent build may indicate Amazon's development of a multiview mode like YouTube TV.
• The code suggests users can "set up" their multiview alongside various inabilities regarding rewinding and pausing.
• YouTube TV recently rolled out "build a multiview" for users just before the 2024 NFL season, as well as a basic version for mobile.

Amazon could upgrade its Prime Video streaming service with a feature YouTube TV subscribers will recognize.

Per an APK dive by Android Authority, the Prime Video app's latest build holds signs pointing toward a "multiview." Diving into version 3.0.389 showcased strings in the code like "exit_multiview_text." From the discovered code, it seems Amazon plans for a multiview experience that lets users "set up" their ideal content.

Another piece of code seemingly ties the multiview button to mobile — specifically, Android. Moreover, the code highlights multiview's warnings to users about the inability to rewind, pause, or skip ahead.

Other strings reference the "Android_Player" on its own, potentially indicating that Amazon may roll this out for TVs alongside mobile devices. Unfortunately, the publication discovery was cut short as more detailed information was reportedly unavailable. We're still left wondering how many screens or "views" Amazon's version of multiview will contain.

In mid-2023, YouTube TV started a test for a limited number of users that enabled multiview mode for more than sports games. However, using the mode to watch games from the NFL, WNBA, and College Basketball games was what users typically activated multiview for. Earlier this year, YouTube TV pushed a basic version of multiview to mobile devices, beginning with Apple's iPhone. The mode made a few "pre-determined" options available for users to watch on the go.

Users were unable to choose which pieces of content they wanted to view, which was a function TV sets picked up in January. YouTube TV rolled the feature out as "build a multiview." The customization option debuted right in time for March Madness, letting users pick and choose which games they wanted. This custom multiview arrived for NFL Sunday Ticket holders just before the 2024 season kicked off.

YouTube TV lets users design a multiview with up to four screens (four streams) on game day. It remains to be seen if Amazon's version for Prime Video remains similar or more limited. Additionally, the publication highlighted the company's recent 11-year partnership with the NBA and WNBA for games, which might be a strong catalyst behind this multiview venture.

•  Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+

What you need to know

• YouTube details several new features arriving for the NFL Sunday Ticket this year, such as fantasy team stats, scores, and breakdowns.
• Ticket holders will also have access to YouTube's "build a multiview," where they can create custom experiences of two, three, or four games.
• NFL Sunday Ticket holders watching on a TV should find the new TV UI redesign alongside broadcast delay, spoiler mode, and more.

The later we get in August, the closer opening kickoff is, which is why YouTube TV is detailing some new features.

One of the highlights that YouTube TV discussed today (August 20) is the inclusion of even more fantasy football stats for NFL Sunday Ticket holders. The company states that users can link their Yahoo Fantasy accounts alongside those with NFL Fantasy accounts to their Sunday Ticket.

Users can open the side panel (Scores & Stats) when watching a game to see tabs like Teams, Scores, Stats, Key Plays, and Fantasy. The final tab shows your fantasy team's current matchup, points tallied, and player performance. In-depth player details are available for each team and tapping on each one displays a full breakdown.

The post teases additions, such as the future availability for users to view "key plays and multiview combinations" involving their fantasy lineup.

Those with the NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube TV can find the new Fantasy tab on their TVs and mobile. Those with access through YouTube will pick this feature up later this season on mobile, tablets, and the web. When the season starts, users can connect their fantasy account under the "Sports" tab in your account's settings.

Multiview shifts ahead this upcoming season as users can now "build" their own custom experience. YouTube states Sunday Ticket holders can create two, three, or four-game combinations on gameday. Additionally, YouTube TV's base plan members can choose to view "preferred" multiview configurations, which are chosen based on what's "local."

The Sunday Ticket through YouTube TV will have this upgraded multiview available on TVs, mobile, and tablets. For YouTube, multiview on mobile, tablets, and TVs will be ready at the start of the season.

YouTube then teased a few smaller additions that will join the NFL Sunday Ticket for kickoff. Those additions include a spoiler mode to hide scores, more playback controls (broadcast delay), and a "jump to last channel" shortcut.

The video streaming service reiterated that football enjoyers (should) have access to its new TV UI redesign. The company started rolling out this new dual-column approach earlier this year for YouTube TV subscribers.

Elsewhere, YouTube's "build a multiview" may sound familiar due to its rollout for the NBA League Pass and NCAA basketball in February. During its debut, YouTube stated users could browse and select from "four pre-selected games." The company explained that its custom multiview will try and have games available for you based on "expected" popularity.

This customizable multiview experience was said to grab additional live sports and it seems that's getting underway with the NFL in 2024. Sunday football starts September 8.

What you need to know

• YouTube TV is offering a new deal for new users who bundle it with the NFL Sunday Ticker.
• Users can save $170 on the Sunday Ticket and see their monthly bill drop by $15 for the first three months.
• The NFL Sunday Ticket rewarded subscribers with unlimited simultaneous streams while at home in 2023 and introduced a monthly payment option for "most states."

YouTube TV is kickstarting a new deal (until May 16) for those interested in grabbing an NFL Sunday Ticket subscription before the 2024 season begins.

The streaming service announced its "lowest price of the year" via the YouTube TV account on X. In celebration of the NFL Draft, the company states new users can bundle the NFL Sunday Ticket with YouTube TV to save up to $215 until May 16.

Bundling the NFL Sunday Ticket will save new users $170. After purchasing, YouTube states users' monthly payments will be reduced by $15. The monthly reduction will last for the first three months.

This means users will pay around $57 for three months before YouTube TV kicks it back up to its standard $72 per month.

The YouTube team took to X to answer some user questions regarding how last year's subscribers could get in on the deal. The post states NFL Sunday Ticket holders from 2023, who also enabled auto-renew, must cancel the auto-renewed purchase. After, users must re-purchase the subscription to take part in the deal before the May 16 cut-off.

YouTube's deal card reiterates that the Sunday Ticket is what gives users access to over 160 out-of-market games "per season." The YouTube TV side is how football lovers can get locally televised games every Sunday. Moreover, viewers can watch every Sunday and Monday night game, the 2024 preseason, playoffs, and Super Bowl.

Before 2023's kickoff, YouTube highlighted the addition of unlimited simultaneous streams for NFL Sunday Ticket holders. The ability to do so pertained to those watching games from home. However, those on the go gained two additional streams to tack onto their Sunday content.

It's also worth remembering that, due to user feedback, YouTube TV subscribers can set up a monthly payment plan for the NFL subscription. This allows folks to pay at their own cadence and hop out if the price becomes overbearing. Unfortunately, the company rolled out support for monthly payments in "most states," which left a few others out of the useful option.

What you need to know

• YouTube confirms that it has started rolling out multiview on iOS devices, leaving Android users waiting for the "coming months."
• The YouTube TV app's version of multiview is quite basic, only providing a set of pre-determined options instead of letting users customize it.
• YouTube TV picked up "Custom Multiviews" on TVs in February, just in time for March Madness as it supports NCAA basketball games and the NBA League Pass.

Users have started noticing multiview appear on YouTube TV's iOS app, leaving Android users twiddling their thumbs.

As spotted by 9to5Google, YouTube has confirmed on Reddit that multiview is rolling out now (Mar. 20) via version 8.11 of its TV app. Thus far, the feature has only been spotted on Apple's iPhone and iPad. It appears that multiview is accessed via the "Home" tab and only works with a few "select" games.

A user on Reddit stated that multiview's rollout on mobile comes without its custom builder. Those who've received the update can only choose between a few pre-determined four-game selections. Another post on Reddit showcased what multiview looks like on an iPhone, giving users a clear look at what to expect when it comes to Android.

Curiously, a user commented stating they've received a pop-up in the YouTube TV app on Android detailing mulitview's arrival. Further digging showed it's not there, and we likely shouldn't expect it for a while.

A member of the YouTube TV team stated "we'll be launching multiview on Android in the coming months."

YouTube TV's "build a multiview" was first spotted in a limited fashion at the end of January for smart TVs. The feature has since officially rolled out, just in time for March Madness. Users will find initial support for the NBA League Pass and NCAA basketball games. However, the feature is still quite limited, as users can only choose games belonging to a singular genre.

If you're watching the NBA, you'll only find NBA games to customize your multiview. It's disappointing that multiview's arrival on mobile lacks this customization, but there's always a chance it will arrive in the future.

Other YouTube TV news involves the app picking up a "last channel" shortcut for easier channel switching. To utilize the new switcher, users will need to long-press the "select" or "OK" buttons on their remote. The app's shortcut is said to work with Live TV, videos on demand, and DVR content.

•  Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+

What you need to know

• YouTube TV gets a new shortcut to make its users switch between channels easily.
• It is dubbed “Last Channel Shortcut” and can be triggered by pressing the “Start or OK” button on your TV remote.
• The YouTube TV app on the necessary animation when triggered, and it works across Live TV, videos on demand, and DVR content.

Starting today (Feb. 16), YouTube TV is adding a new shortcut for its viewers to make it easy for them to access the previous channel they were watching. It is dubbed “Last Channel Shortcut” and has started rolling out to all YouTube TV subscribers. 

In a Reddit community post, the feature and its corresponding rollout (via 9to5Google) have been announced. The feature is said to have been in the works for quite some time now. The Last Channel Shortcut, as the name suggests, helps users to switch back to the channel they were watching on YouTube TV.

The feature works quite similarly to what we are accustomed to with our TV remotes when we usually switch back and forth between the channels. While there is a dedicated button on the traditional TV remote to watch the previously watched channel, YouTube TV viewers must long press (press and hold) the “Select/OK” buttons on their remote to utilize the feature.

Users have to bear in mind that they should’ve played at least one or two videos to switch between them with the new shortcut, explains the community manager in the above Reddit post. 

The Last Channel Shortcut will work not just for channels on YouTube TV but also for Live videos, video on demand, and DVR content. 9to5 notes that when users press the new shortcut, the screen showcases an animation accompanied by a message indicating how the button works and displays a “You went back to your last channel.” 

The feature was initially tested in December 2023 and disappeared weeks later, only to appear again on some Roku devices, notes 9to5Google. Regardless, the feature is now rolling out across all YouTube TV apps, and we recommend you stay up to date by installing the latest version of the app. 

In other news, YouTube TV just crossed eight million subscribers early this month. YouTube also achieved one billion hours of average viewership on TV.

• Streaming deals: Disney+ | Max | Sling | Fubo | Peacock | Paramount+

What you need to know

• Multiviews in YouTube TV let users watch multiple sports games at once, similar to options like the NFL's RedZone.
• Since their inception, YouTube Multiviews have only been available in pre-set configurations.
• Now, Google is letting users pick from a selection of games to "Build a Multiview," but the feature is still limited. 

YouTube TV is adding more customization to Multiviews, which allows users to watch multiple sports games at once in a split-screen environment. In a post on X today, YouTube TV announced that Build a Multiview is rolling out now and will let users pick the specific games that a Multiview will include. It was spotted in limited testing last month. 

The feature will be appreciated by YouTube TV subscribers, who have long desired a way to customize the Multiview experience. However, it is still quite limited. Build a Multiview only works with NBA League Pass, which is a $50 add-on for YouTube TV. That means users will be limited to NBA games for the custom Multiviews, as well as NCAA college basketball games. 

Plus, not all NBA games will be available for use in custom Multiviews, according to Google. The company says that you can choose "up to four pre-selected games." So, not only will YouTube TV users be limited to NBA games, but they might not even get everyone. 

Multiview will likely support national NBA broadcasts first and foremost if Google's prior comments are any indication. It's possible that local telecasts could pose an issue for custom Multiviews on YouTube TV. 

"Because each region has unique, local content, we are especially constrained on the number of combinations we can create that include local feeds," Google explains in a support document. "We try to select the best combinations based on expected popularity and are always improving our processes."

To use Build a Multiview, start by going to the home view in YouTube TV. Then, select one of the live games you'd like to watch in a custom Multiview. After that, choose Watch in Multiview and then Build a Multiview. Finally, you can choose up to four of the available NBA games for your custom Multiview. 

While the official YouTube TV post only lists NBA games as an option for Build a Multiview, the Team YouTube account clarified that it will also support NCAA college basketball games. That could be a major development as March Madness is just around the corner. 

In the future, Google says it hopes to support more live sports "over the next few months." While the extra customizability is a step in the right direction, Build a Multiview is still extremely limited in its current state. 

What you need to know

• YouTube TV celebrates reaching 8 million subscribers, with the platform hoping to continue to bring meaningful subscriptions in 2024.
• YouTube announced it had achieved 1 billion hours of average user viewership on a TV, which is a new focus for the platform this year.
• Creators and their economic value has become a talking point for YouTube, as well.

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan detailed the platform's plans for 2024, beginning with its stronger efforts in AI, according to a blog post. Mohan states AI "should empower human creativity, not replace it." Additionally, there are hopes that AI will become accessible to everyone and that it will continue to "push the boundaries" of creativity.

Mohan adds how AI is helping users create Shorts directly from their phones. While Shorts is short-form video content, Mohan states that YouTube wants to push more AI tools to help new users start their journeys. Moreover, the platform reports Shorts now average around 70 billion daily views, and the number of channels uploading Shorts has grown by 50% YoY.

Next, YouTube is looking toward users' living rooms as its next big project. The company announced YouTube TV has reached 8 million subscribers. Alongside this, viewers around the world watch an average of 1 billion hours of YouTube on their televisions.

Mohan reiterates YouTube TV's strides for more viewership, such as its introduction of the NFL Sunday Ticket during kickoff in September 2023. Moving into 2024, YouTube stated it will "continue to deliver a best-in-class experience for subscriptions and YouTube in the living room."

Creators are the other side of YouTube's 2024 outlook, as it states that world leaders have started engaging with that area. This year, the service states it will aid policymakers and partners "across the country" to see the value its creators bring economically. Speaking of the economy, Mohan adds YouTube's "number one commitment" is to the protection of its community.

It will continue to bring high-quality information to users who visit the platform while also focusing on reducing harmful content and more on YouTube.

With the company's CEO Neal Mohan placing more effort into AI, YouTube has already teased new additions like its conversational AI. The feature is in testing, but upon arrival, it would give users access to an AI chatbot that answers questions about the current video. The AI could also suggest more videos with a similar topic and more.

Meanwhile, YouTube Music started testing "Dream Track," a method creators can use to create music through AI. The bot would mimic the linguistic capabilities of some of the world's top artists like Charlie Puth, Demi Lovato, John Legend, and Sia.

YouTube Music and Premium celebrated 100 million subscribers nearly a week ago. AI was made apparent during its celebration, as well, as the company brought both services to more than 100 regions around the world. Alphabet's CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted YouTube Music and Premium as "key drivers" in its subscription revenue for Q4 2023.