What Is Included With the YouTube TV Base Plan?

YouTube TV launched in 2017 as a single-plan service and grew into one of the most popular cable TV replacements in America. As of April 2026, the main plan remains the most comprehensive option — covering local channels, sports, news, entertainment, and family programming in a single subscription with no contracts, no equipment fees, and no hidden costs. In February 2026, YouTube TV launched more than 10 cheaper genre-specific plans — but the main plan keeps every channel from all those genres in one place. Here is what every subscriber and potential subscriber needs to know.

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  How much does the YouTube TV main plan cost? $82.99/month standard · New subscribers: $67.99/month for first 3 months (saves $45) through June 30, 2026 · No annual contract · No equipment fees · No hidden fees · Cancel anytime

  The YouTube TV main plan costs $82.99 per month on an ongoing basis. New subscribers currently pay a promotional rate of $67.99/month for the first three months before the standard rate takes over — a savings of $15/month or $45 total. This offer runs through June 30, 2026. Unlike traditional cable providers, YouTube TV has no annual contracts, no installation appointment, no equipment rental fee (there is no cable box), no DVR fee, no broadcast surcharge buried in fine print, and no early termination penalty. The price you sign up for is the price you pay, with no promotional rate that doubles after a year. You can cancel, pause, or switch plans at any time. YouTube TV launched at $35/month in 2017 — the current $82.99 price reflects years of channel additions and rights expansions. At full price, YouTube TV costs $995.88 per year.
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  How many channels are included in the YouTube TV main plan? 100+ channels officially · Independent analyses count 130–148 live channels depending on location · Includes local, sports, news, entertainment, lifestyle, and kids channels · Exact count varies by ZIP code

  YouTube TV officially describes its main plan as including “100+ channels,” but multiple independent channel audits for 2026 count between 130 and 148 live channels depending on the subscriber’s location and regional availability. The channel count has grown significantly — Bloomberg TV+ was added in October 2025, C-SPAN joined the lineup, and local CW affiliate coverage now reaches approximately 99.5% of U.S. households following several regional additions in late 2025. The exact number of channels you receive depends on your ZIP code — local network affiliates (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, CW) vary by market. The best way to see the exact channel list for your address is to enter your ZIP code at tv.youtube.com — you will see the full lineup before signing up or providing payment information.
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  What local channels are included — can I watch local news and weather? Yes — ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, CW, Telemundo, and Univision in most markets · Local coverage in over 98% of U.S. TV households · Check your exact ZIP code at tv.youtube.com for local availability

  Local channels are one of the strongest features of the YouTube TV main plan. YouTube TV carries live local ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and PBS affiliates in over 98% of U.S. TV households — meaning you get your local news, local weather, and local programming live, in real time, just as you would with a cable or satellite subscription. Many markets also receive CW, Telemundo, and Univision affiliates. After years of aggressive expansion, YouTube TV now covers approximately 99.5% of U.S. households with at least some local CW coverage. This is a meaningful advantage over many competing streaming services — some lack local channels entirely. Local channels in the YouTube TV main plan are the same channels included in all genre-specific plans as well, since every YouTube TV plan regardless of tier includes local network affiliates.
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  What sports channels are included with the main plan? ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU · FS1, FS2 · NBC Sports · NFL Network · TBS, TNT, truTV · Big Ten Network · SEC Network · ACC Network · Golf Channel · NBA TV · CBS Sports Network · USA Network · Plus local sports on CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC

  The YouTube TV main plan includes one of the most complete sports channel lineups of any streaming service. For football: NFL Network, CBS (for AFC games), FOX (for NFC games), NBC (Sunday Night Football), ESPN/ABC (Monday Night Football), and ESPN2/ESPN News for additional coverage. For basketball: TNT, TBS, and ESPN for NBA; CBS Sports Network; truTV for March Madness. For college sports: all Power Five conference networks — Big Ten Network, SEC Network, ACC Network, and more. For golf: Golf Channel and tournament coverage on CBS and NBC. For soccer: coverage through major broadcast networks and FS1/FS2. ESPN Unlimited is expected to be integrated into ESPN-inclusive plans (including the main plan) by fall 2026 at no extra cost, adding thousands of additional sporting events through the same ESPN apps.
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  What entertainment channels are included — what about Hallmark, HGTV, and lifestyle channels? Yes — HGTV, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Food Network, Discovery, TLC, Bravo, OWN, FX, FXM, FXX, Syfy, Comedy Central, MTV, A&E, History, Lifetime, BET, Paramount Network, E!, TCM, Freeform, and many more

  The entertainment and lifestyle channel lineup in the main plan is comprehensive — this is what the newer $54.99/month Entertainment Plan provides on its own, but all those channels are bundled into the main plan alongside sports and news. Lifestyle and home: HGTV, Magnolia Network, Food Network, Discovery. Mystery and reality: ID (Investigation Discovery), Oxygen True Crime, A&E. Classic film and entertainment: TCM (Turner Classic Movies), FX, FXM, FXX. Family entertainment: Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Hallmark Family, Freeform. Reality and pop culture: Bravo, E!, MTV, VH1, TLC. Comedy: Comedy Central, Adult Swim (Cartoon Network overnight), TV Land, Pop. Lifestyle shopping: HSN, QVC. African-American programming: BET, OWN. Premium drama: AMC, Game Show Network, Syfy, Sci, USA Network.
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  What news channels are included? CNN · Fox News · MSNBC · CNBC · Fox Business · Bloomberg TV+ (added Oct 2025) · C-SPAN · ABC News Live · NBC News NOW · Fox Weather · NewsNation · Newsmax · LiveNOW from FOX · Plus local news on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX affiliates

  The main plan includes what amounts to a cable news subscriber’s complete lineup. National cable news: CNN, Fox News, MSNBC. Business news: CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg TV+ (added October 2025 — available in 4K through the 4K Plus add-on). Government and public affairs: C-SPAN. Streaming news channels: ABC News Live, NBC News NOW, Fox Weather, LiveNOW from FOX, Newsmax, NewsNation. Plus all local ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX news programs are available through your local affiliate channels. This comprehensive news lineup is one of the most significant advantages of the main plan over the newer Sports Plan or Entertainment Plan — news channels are split into separate add-on tiers in the genre plans, but all are included together in the main plan. If you watch both sports and news regularly, the main plan may be more cost-effective than combining genre plans.
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  How does the unlimited cloud DVR work — and how long are recordings kept? Unlimited storage — record everything, no storage cap · Recordings kept for 9 months · Fast-forward through commercials on most recorded shows · Each of 6 household members has their own personal DVR library · No extra DVR fee

  The unlimited cloud DVR is one of YouTube TV’s most distinctive and valuable features — and it is included at no extra charge with the main plan. Unlike traditional cable DVR boxes (which often charge $10–$20/month extra and limit recording to a set number of hours), YouTube TV’s cloud DVR has no storage cap — you can record as many shows, games, and movies as you want, simultaneously, and keep them for up to 9 months. Each of the 6 household account members has their own completely separate, private DVR library — your recordings, your watchlist, and your viewing history are completely separate from other members of your household. You can fast-forward through commercials on most recorded programs (some live events have restrictions). The DVR works on all supported devices. To record a show: find it in the guide, press the plus button, and it records every future episode automatically — just like a traditional DVR season pass.
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  How many people can watch at the same time — and how many accounts can I share? 3 simultaneous streams from any supported device · 6 separate household accounts per subscription · Each account has personal DVR library and recommendations · Upgrade to 4K Plus ($9.99/mo) for unlimited home streams

  The YouTube TV main plan allows up to 3 simultaneous streams — meaning three different people in your household can watch three completely different channels at the same time on three separate devices. The plan also includes 6 individual household accounts — each person gets their own Google account sign-in, their own personal DVR library, their own watch history, and their own personalized recommendations. This is significantly more generous than most competitors. Importantly, the 3-stream limit applies simultaneously — more than 3 people cannot watch at the exact same time on the standard plan. If your household needs more simultaneous streams (for example, a busy sports Sunday with multiple games), the 4K Plus add-on ($9.99/month) upgrades you to unlimited simultaneous streams on home Wi-Fi in addition to enabling 4K streaming and offline downloads. NFL Sunday Ticket streams, when active, do not count against the 3-stream limit.
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  What devices can I use to watch YouTube TV? Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, TCL) · Roku · Amazon Fire TV · Apple TV · Chromecast/Google TV · PlayStation 4 and 5 · Xbox One and Series X/S · iPhone and iPad (iOS 12+) · Android phones and tablets · Any computer via tv.youtube.com

  YouTube TV works on virtually every modern screen in your home — no cable box, no satellite dish, no equipment installation appointment needed. Smart TVs with built-in YouTube TV apps include Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, and TCL. Streaming sticks and devices: Roku (all models), Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV (4th generation or later), and Chromecast/Google TV. Game consoles: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Mobile devices: iPhone and iPad running iOS 12 or later; Android phones and tablets running Android L or later. Computers: any web browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — at tv.youtube.com. No additional hardware or subscription to any other service is required. You can also preview YouTube TV content for up to 20 minutes without signing up or providing payment information by visiting tv.youtube.com.
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  Should I choose the main plan or one of the cheaper genre-specific plans? Main plan ($82.99/mo): Best if you watch sports AND news AND entertainment regularly · Genre plans ($54.99–$71.99/mo): Best if you primarily watch one category · Savings: up to $28/month with genre plans · Main plan avoids paying for multiple separate genre plans

  In February 2026, YouTube TV launched 10+ genre-specific plans — the first time in the service’s history that subscribers could choose a lower-cost subset of channels. The decision comes down to your viewing habits. Choose the main plan ($82.99/month) if: you regularly watch both sports (ESPN, NFL Network) and news (CNN, Fox News, MSNBC) and entertainment (HGTV, Hallmark, TLC) and family channels (Disney, Nickelodeon) — all in one household. The math works in the main plan’s favor if you’d otherwise need to combine two or more genre plans. Choose a genre plan if: you primarily watch one category. The Entertainment Plan ($54.99/month) includes Hallmark, HGTV, Food Network, FX, and more — saving $28/month. The Sports Plan ($64.99/month) covers all ESPN channels, FOX Sports, NFL Network — saving $18/month. Combining Sports + Entertainment costs $72/month — still $11 less than the main plan, but you lose news channels. Every genre plan shares the same features as the main plan: unlimited DVR, 3 streams, and 6 profiles.

Sources: tv.youtube.com/welcome Apr 2026 (official: main plan $82.99/mo; new $67.99 3mo ends 6/30/26; 100+ channels; CBS/FOX/NBC/HGTV/TNT; 98%+ local coverage; no contracts/fees; cancel pause switch; 3 streams; 6 accounts; unlimited DVR; 4K Plus add-on unlimited home streams); blog.youtube Feb 2026 (main plan $82.99 most comprehensive; renamed from base plan; unlimited DVR; 6 members; key plays multiview; NFL Sunday Ticket/RedZone/HBO Max/4K Plus add-ons); cordcuttersnews.com Jan 2026 ($82.99/mo; 100+ channels; DVR 9 months; Key Play Views; 6 accounts; 3 streams); evoca.tv Mar 2026 (148 live channels; unlimited DVR; 3 devices; 6 accounts; Key Plays; add-ons); soft4led.com Jan 2026 (130-148 channels; C-SPAN Bloomberg added; local 99.5% US; all devices listed; 50+ add-ons); cabletv.com Feb 2026 (all genre plans unlimited DVR 9mo 3 streams 6 profiles; ESPN Unlimited fall 2026 no extra cost); pcworld.com Apr 2026 (complete entertainment/sports/family/local channel lists; genre plans same features as main)

Sources: tv.youtube.com Apr 2026; cordcuttersnews.com Jan 2026; evoca.tv Mar 2026; soft4led.com Jan 2026

Sources: pcworld.com Apr 2026 (complete entertainment/sports/family/local channel lists for all plans); evoca.tv Mar 2026 (148 channels; full base plan list); soft4led.com Jan 2026 (comprehensive channel listing; regional variations; C-SPAN and Bloomberg added 2025); tv.youtube.com (official channel check by ZIP code); blog.youtube Feb 2026 (main plan channels context vs genre plans)

These features come standard with the main plan and every genre-specific plan — no matter which YouTube TV subscription you choose. There is no extra charge for any of these.

Sources: tv.youtube.com/welcome (no contracts/fees; cancel pause switch; 3 streams; 6 accounts; unlimited DVR); blog.youtube Feb 2026 (unlimited DVR; 6 members; key plays; multiview; features included all plans); cabletv.com Feb 2026 (all genre plans same features unlimited DVR 9mo 3 streams 6 profiles); cordcuttersnews.com Jan 2026 (Key Play Views; 6 accounts; 3 streams; DVR 9 months)

Sources: blog.youtube Feb 2026 (main plan $82.99 most comprehensive; genre plans launched; Sports $64.99; Entertainment $54.99; Sports+News $71.99; all plans same features); androidauthority.com Feb 2026 (DVR library update on switch; 21-day window to switch back; mix-and-match genre plans); cabletv.com add-ons Apr 2026 (4K Plus $9.99; Sports Plus RedZone $10.99; Entertainment Plus $29.99; HBO Max $10.99-$22.99; Spanish Plus $14.99); tv.youtube.com (4K Plus unlimited home streams offline downloads; no contracts; cancel anytime); cabletv.com Feb 2026 (all genre plans same DVR 3 streams 6 profiles as main plan)

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