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Ah, YouTube TV. If you’ve been curious about cord-cutting or keeping up with live television without the hassle of cable, you’ve probably heard of it. For the last year, my family gave it a go. If you’re unfamiliar,YouTube TVis a streaming service that mimics traditional cable by offering live TV channels, sports, and DVR capabilities – all for $83 a month.
After the football season ended in December, I canceled YouTube TV.
Here’s why – and what I learned from the experience.
YouTube TV
What I learned when I canceled YouTube Premium
The YouTube Premium features it’s impossible to live without
1Live TV just isn’t my thing
Unless it’s for sports, I don’t watch live TV. Period.
My family only really opened the YouTube TV app during college football season. But, before subscribing, my husband had always found ways to watch the Miami Hurricanes, whether through ESPN, network apps, or some streaming hack. While YouTube TV consolidated everything in one place, I couldn’t help but feel like it wasn’t worth the cost.
I might never go back to YouTube TV after trying out Fubo
I tested Fubo TV for a month, and I might have a new favorite service.
2DVR is a feature I never use
Does anyone?
DVR might be a selling point for others, but it’s not for us. It feels like an outdated feature – something from a bygone era.
Try this trick to avoid the YouTube TV $10 price hike
See if you’re able to save yourself from the YouTube TV price increase.
3Trying new streaming services is more fun
Shudder, AMC+, oh my!
I wish I knew about this YouTube TV feature way earlier
This one quick tip made my YouTube TV experience infinitely better.
4I already have access to live news
Thank you, Roku.
YouTube TV offers local channels likeABC, FOX, and NBC. But guess what? So does my Roku. As a Roku user, I get a built-in Live TV channel guide that includes ABC News Live, NBC News Now, Fox Live Now, and more. If I ever feel nostalgic for that classic “channel surfing” experience, I just fire up the Roku. It’s free, easy, and scratches that cable-like itch without the cost.
The best live TV streaming services for ditching cable
I found the top six live TV streaming services available and broke down their features and costs, so you can choose one and finally ditch cable.
5YouTube TV is just too expensive
It went up $10 in December
At $83 a month, YouTube TV costs more than all my other streaming subscriptions combined. That’s a tough pill to swallow in today’s economy. Outside of football season, the service just didn’t hold enough value for my family.
YouTube TV’s price recently went up from $72.99 to $82.99,starting Aug 08, 2025.
While YouTube TV has its perks – flexiblility to cancel at any time, live sports, and a familiar TV experience – it ultimately wasn’t the right fit for us year-round. It taught me to think critically about what I value most in my streaming services: affordability, on-demand content, and the freedom to watch on my schedule.
If you’re someone who is addicted to live TV or loves having sports and cable channels all in one place, YouTube TV might be worth it. But for us, it’s now a fall-only affair. When football season rolls around, we might be back. Maybe.
I compared YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV – here’s which one I’d ditch cable for
In the world of cable alternatives, Hulu and YouTube reign supreme, but one may be better for you.
