Friday, July 21, 2017

YouTube TV Expands To Ten More Markets

YouTube TV, Google’s entry in the crowded market of live TV streaming services, is now available in ten more U.S. metros, the company announced this morning. In nine of the ten markets, the service will include the live local feeds from all four major broadcasters – ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC.

According to TechCrunch, the ability to watch live television from major broadcasters has been one of YouTube TV’s differentiated features since its debut, as it chose to go forgo nationwide availability in favor of a promise to deliver broadcast channels in the markets it serves.

Initially, the service was available only in top U.S. metros including L.A., New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and the San Francisco Bay area.

As YouTube Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl explained in February when the service was first unveiled, the goal is to offer “comprehensive national coverage with ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox all included” on YouTube TV, so users wouldn’t have to miss out on those “can’t miss” live TV moments, he said.

The company in June said at the VidCon industry conference that it would soon triple its footprint with launches in 10 more metros. Those are the same markets that are actually going live today.

This includes: Washington, D.C., Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Charlotte, and Dallas-Fort Worth.

In all of the markets except Dallas-Fort Worth, streamers will be able to watch live TV from ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. The Dallas-Fort Worth market has CBS, FOX and NBC, but only on-demand prime-time programming from ABC. (It’s still possible that this could change in the future, as new deals are forged).

In total, YouTube TV now offers nearly 50 networks, including also sports from ESPN, NBC Sports and Fox Sports.

No comments:

Post a Comment