YouTube TV simply copied DirecTV and it might be a win in your pockets

YouTube TV is arguably one of the crucial widespread dwell TV streaming platforms within the US, with an estimated 9.4 million subscribers. Nonetheless, though many individuals are eager about turning into cord-cutters and utilizing a service like YouTube TV, value stays a major barrier. When it launched in 2017, YouTube TV value $35 per thirty days. In 2025, that value has increased to $83 per thirty days. Now, it appears YouTube TV is able to partially sort out this difficulty.

In a latest blog post, YouTube TV introduced it’s going to launch “YouTube TV Plans” in early 2026, permitting customers to subscribe to channel packages primarily based on totally different genres. The Google-owned streaming service did not share pricing particulars, and total, the announcement was fairly obscure, however YouTube TV did verify it’s going to supply greater than 10 genre-specific packages.

“TV needs to be simple, giving viewers higher management over what they wish to watch. Our objective is to allow you to tailor your subscription with extra choices,” YouTube TV mentioned in a weblog publish. “Whether or not you follow our primary YouTube TV plan with 100+ channels, give attention to sports activities, mix sports activities and information, or choose a plan centered on household and leisure content material, subscribers will have the ability to simply select the plan that works greatest for them.”

YouTube TV is taking a web page from DirecTV’s playbook

One in every of YouTube TV’s packages will focus solely on sports activities

Credit score: DirecTV / Pocket-lint

Whereas YouTube TV’s announcement is skinny on particulars, it did verify that it’s going to launch a “YouTube TV Sports activities Plan” within the new 12 months, that includes sports activities networks like FS1, NBC Sports activities Community, all ESPN channels, and ESPN Limitless.

As somebody who follows the TV scene fairly extensively, YouTube TV’s future genre-specific plans remind me of what DirecTV already gives. Earlier this 12 months, DirecTV launched what it calls Genre Packs, which let customers join channel bundles primarily based on particular genres at a decrease value than subscribing to one among its primary signature package deal plans, which embody a bunch extra channels.

DirecTV gives a number of totally different Style Packs, with the large three being MyEntertainment, MyNews, and MySports. For instance, its MySports bundle gives over 20 sports-focused channels, together with ESPN, CBS Sports activities, Fox Sports activities, TNT, and TBS, and prices $70 a month. That is $13 cheaper than YouTube TV’s present base plan.

At present, while you join YouTube TV, you are subscribing to its all-in-one package deal, which incorporates each channel the service gives. Meaning even should you solely desire a handful of channels, you continue to pay for a lot of you may by no means watch. YouTube TV’s new genre-specific plans appear designed to repair this. But it is exhausting to not discover the irony: YouTube TV is beginning to resemble the standard cable mannequin it was initially meant to switch.

In fact, the large query right here is worth. YouTube TV did not reveal how a lot these new plans will value, saying solely that it goals to supply “extra selection and adaptability.” If these plans find yourself being considerably cheaper than the present $83-per-month primary plan, lots of people may very well have an interest. I do know loads of individuals who watch solely leisure channels on TV and have zero curiosity in sports activities. Conversely, I do know different individuals who watch nothing however sports activities on conventional TV and depend on Netflix or Disney+ for all the pieces else — which is why I feel these new genre-based plans might entice actual curiosity.

YouTube TV says its new genre-specific plans will launch “early subsequent 12 months,” so full particulars on the packages, genres, and pricing will possible be revealed then.