Major TV streaming service abruptly hikes prices by $10 and furious customers blast: ‘Canceling right now’
Several streamers are outraged and canceling their YouTube TV accounts after an unexpected $10 price hike.
YouTube TV customers quickly expressed their anger on social media after the streaming service sent out emails on December 12 notifying viewers of the change.
“Congratulations to YouTube TV for evolving into the very thing it vowed to destroy. $82.99 a month? At this rate, the next big innovation will be… cable TV reinvented as a disruptive technology,” says an X user wrote.
YouTube TV also made the announcement on social media platforms, confirming that existing account holders would see the price increase from January 13.
However, the increased price tag of $82.99 for the full subscription currently in effect applies to potential YouTube TV users who do not yet have an account.
“We do not make these decisions lightly and we realize this will impact our members,” YouTube TV said tweeted on X.
‘With many exciting shows and live events on the horizon in 2025, we remain committed to bringing you the best of TV, all in one place.’
Frustration from social media users has been high since the announcement, with more than one person disapproving of YouTube TV’s surprise email.
YouTube TV announced it would increase its monthly price by $10 to $82.99 per month
“I will cancel YouTube TV if the price increase hits. $84 + $90 for high-speed WiFi is no longer cheaper than just a regular cable/internet bundle. I’m gone’, an X user wrote.
Another person tweeted: ‘D**n…feels like prices are going up $10 daily! This could be my last straw.”
One X user noted that other streaming platforms like Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and Paramount+ will also offer this sports games a fan may want to watch on YouTube TV.
Several people suggested that YouTube TV account holders use other types of streaming platforms that are more affordable.
“Come join the Sling gang, folks. It’s (slightly to significantly, depending on how much sports you want) cheaper than YouTube TV,’a Twitterer wrotewhile one person told @TeamYouTube that the company ‘no more value‘ because of the frequent price increases.
Before the current controversy, YouTube TV was a commercial success after it launched in 2017.
At the time, customers could watch television shows and movies with YouTube TV for as little as $35 a month.
The company increased its price to $50 per month in 2019, and in March 2023, YouTube TV’s base price was $72.99 per month.
YouTube TV announced the news on December 12 in an email to the streaming platform’s account holders
Social media users were outraged by the new price, with more than one person claiming they would be canceling their YouTube TV accounts
Several factors that led to 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 more than 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 simultaneous streams.
However, YouTube TV isn’t the only streaming platform to anger viewers by raising prices.
Disney made headlines in October after announcing it would increase prices for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ accounts.
Disney+ with ads rose from $7.99 to $9.99 per month, and the ad-free version now costs $15.99 – $2 more than before.
Hulu’s ad-supported plan rose by $2 to $9.99, and the ad-free option rose by $1 to $18.99.
ESPN+’s advertising option also increased by $1, making it $11.99 per month.
The YouTube TV price hike is one of several membership rate hikes announced by streaming platforms in 2024
The price hikes sparked frustration among social media users, with one Reddit user calling Disney a “greedy platform” after opting out.
Peacock also made headlines for its price hike, which the streaming platform implemented to improve its bottom line.
The streaming platform increased its Premium monthly subscription by $2, bringing the total to $7.99 per month.
Peacock also increased the annual Premium subscription price by $20, for a total of $79.99 per year.
Some of the much-discussed price increases were implemented by Netflix in 2023 after raising the cost of its Premium and Basic subscriptions.
Moreover, Netflix later triggered social media users after it removed the basic ad-free plan in the US and France in July 2024.