Published Feb 9, 2026, 1:46 PM EST
Joe Fedewa has been writing about technology for over a decade. Android and the rest of the Google ecosystem have been a focus for years, as well as reviewing devices, hosting podcasts, filming videos, and writing tutorials.
Joe loves all things technology and is also an avid DIYer and food blogger. He has written thousands of articles, hundreds of tutorials, and dozens of reviews.
Before joining How-To Geek, Joe worked at XDA-Developers as Managing Editor and covered news from the Google ecosystem. He got his start in the industry covering Windows Phone on a small blog, and later moved to Phandroid where he covered Android news, reviewed devices, wrote tutorials, created YouTube videos, and hosted a podcast.
From smartphones to Bluetooth earbuds to Z-Wave switches, Joe is interested in all kinds of technology. After several years of jailbreaking and heavily modifying an iPod Touch, he moved on to his first smartphone, the HTC DROID Eris. He’s been hooked ever since.
Last month, YouTube TV announced that cheaper “genre-specific” packages would be coming soon. However, it didn’t share the pricing or any information about the actual channel bundles. The first batch of packages has finally been revealed, and they might not be as cheap as you expected.
Currently, the full YouTube TV base plan costs an astounding $83 per month. That’s a tough pill to swallow if you’re only interested in a handful of channels. The original excitement for streaming live TV services was for the idea that they could offer fewer channels for a lower price than cable. At this point, that dream has essentially fully eroded away. But that’s why YouTube TV’s smaller packages sounded promising.
The first batch of four genre-specific packages includes: Sports Plan, Sports + News Plan, Entertainment Plan, and News + Entertainment + Family Plan. Here’s how the channels and pricing break down.
Sports Plan ($64.99/month, or $54.99/month for new users): FS1, NBC Sports Network, all of the ESPN networks, ESPN Unlimited (coming this fall), and more.
Sports + News Plan ($71.99/month, or $56.99/month for new users): CNBC, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, in addition to CSPAN, Bloomberg, Fox Business, and more.
Entertainment Plan ($54.99/month, or $44.99/month for new users): Comedy Central, Bravo, Paramount, Food Network, HGTV, and more.
News + Entertainment + Family Plan ($69.99/month, or $59.99/month for new users): Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, National Geographic, Cartoon Network, PBS Kids, and more.
Credit: YouTube TV
As mentioned, the full base plan costs $83 per month, so the biggest discount is the Entertainment Plan with a $28 savings. The new user prices are significantly better; however, they come with some fine print. The new user price for the Sports Plan is valid for the first year, but the other plans only get the new user pricing for three months.
It should also be mentioned that the standard YouTube TV features are also included with these packages. Multiview, unlimited DVR, multiple members on your account, etc. Also, you can still purchase the optional add-ons to add a few more channels to your package.
YouTube TV says these plans are launching this week, but it’s just the beginning. It will be rolling out over 10 genre-specific plans over the next several weeks. So, if this first crop doesn’t interest you, keep an eye out.
Source: YouTube TV
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After YouTube TVs Latest Price Hike, It Needs to Make This Change
Like many others, I use streaming services as a lower-cost solution to cable TV. After enjoying YouTube TV for nearly five years and dealing with countless price increases, I’m looking for other options. And for me, the best option would be a cheaper YouTube TV tier.
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