Several streamers are furious and canceling their YouTube TV accounts following an unexpected $10 price hike.
YouTube TV customers quickly expressed their anger on social media after the streaming service sent emails informing viewers of the change on December 12.
‘Congrats to YouTube TV for evolving into the very thing it swore to destroy. $82.99 a month? At this rate, the next big innovation will be… cable TV reinvented as disruptive tech,’ an X user wrote.
YouTube TV also made the announcement on social media platforms and confirmed existing account holders would see the price hike starting January 13.
However, the raised $82.99 full subscription price tag currently in effect applies to any prospective YouTube TV users who don’t have an account yet.
‘We don’t make these decisions lightly, and we realize this impacts our members,’ YouTube TV tweeted on X.
‘With many exciting shows and live events coming up in 2025, we remain committed to bringing you the best of TV, all in one place.’
Social media users’ frustration has been high since the announcement and more than one person didn’t approve of YouTube TV’s surprising email.
YouTube TV announced it would increase its monthly price by $10 to $82.99 a month
‘I’m canceling YouTube TV when the price increase hits. $84 + $90 for high speed WIFI is no longer cheaper than just a normal cable/internet bundle. I’m out,’ an X user wrote.
Another person tweeted: ‘D**n…feels like is raising prices daily $10 jump! This might be my last straw.’
One X user noted that other streaming platforms like Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Paramount+ will provide sports games a fan may want to watch on YouTube TV.
Piling on, several people suggested YouTube TV account holders use other types of streaming platforms that are more affordable.
‘Just join me in the Sling gang, folks. It’s (slightly to significantly, depending on how much sports you want) cheaper than YouTube TV,’ a tweeter wrote, while one person told @TeamYouTube that the company ‘no more value’ due to its frequent price hikes.
Before its current controversy, YouTube TV was a commercial success after it launched back in 2017.
Back then, customers could watch television shows and movies with YouTube TV for only $35 a month.
The company increased its price to $50 a month in 2019, and by March 2023, the YouTube TV base price was $72.99 a month.
YouTube TV announced the news in an email to the streaming platform’s account holders on December 12
Social media users were furious over the new price and more than one person claimed they would cancel their YouTube TV accounts
Various factors that have resulted in the streaming service’s price increases include the streaming service’s channel additions and the ‘rising cost of content.’
The platform currently has nearly 10 million active members and over 100 channels from broadcast, cable and regional sports networks.
It also has a DVR with unlimited storage and the ability to share six accounts in one household with three concurrent streams.
However, YouTube TV is not the only streaming platform that’s angered watchers by hiking up prices.
Disney made headlines in October after announcing it would raise Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ account prices.
Disney+ with ads rose from $7.99 to $9.99 a month, and the ad-free version is now $15.99 – $2 more than what it used to be.
Hulu’s ad-supported plan increased by $2 to $9.99, and the ad-free option rose $1 to $18.99.
ESPN+’s ads option also rose by $1, making it $11.99 a month.
The YouTube TV price hike is one of multiple membership fee raises announced by streaming platforms in 2024
The price hikes sparked frustration from social media users, and a Reddit user called Disney a ‘greedy platform’ after unsubscribing.
Peacock also made headlines for its price hike, which the streaming platform implemented to improve its profits.
The streaming platform increased its Premium monthly subscription by $2, making the total $7.99 a month.
Peacock also increased its Premium annual subscription price by $20 for a whopping total of $79.99 a year.
Some of the highly publicized price hikes were made by Netflix in 2023 after increasing the costs of its Premium and Basic plans.
On top of that, Netflix later triggered social media users after removing its basic ad-free plan in the US and France in July 2024.
