YouTube today announced a few new channels that are being added to the service. The cord-cutting platform is also revising its monthly subscription to $64.99, with the changes coming into effect for new subscribers starting today. The company raised its monthly subscription fee to $49.99 last year, and also added new channels to the service along with it.
This time, the search giant is citing the “rising cost of content” and the increased catalog of channels that the service provides as the reason behind the price hike. The firm states that it realizes “how hard this is” for its customers, adding that YouTube TV is the only provider that allows for DVR with unlimited storage, six accounts per household - each with its own unique recommendations -, and three concurrent streams.
While the change in subscription fee is effective today for new customers, existing customers will see the change reflected if their billing cycle ends on or after July 30. To make up for the increase in price, the company has announced that it is launching eight new ViacomCBS channels which were promised to be made available back in May. Those channels include BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, TV Land, and VH1. Six more channels - BET Her, MTV2, MTV Classic, Nick Jr., NickToons, and TeenNick - will make it to the service at a later date.
Google also listed the recent improvements that have been made to YouTube TV, such as a dark mode experience, the ability to pause, rewind, and fast forward recorded DVR content, a new look for the Live Guide, and more.
Lastly, the company says that it understands that some users may want to pause or cancel their subscription owing to the increase in monthly billings. It adds that it is working to build “new flexible models” for the service, hinting at the possibility of more affordable tiers in the future.