Experience live sports with 4K Plus and other new features on YouTube TV
Jun 28, 2021 – minute read
Editor's note by Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer: As a sports fan myself, I’ve been really excited about YouTube TV since we launched it a few years ago. YouTube TV not only offers all the content I love, but the team has continued to build new experiences that are changing the way people watch live TV. In the latest installment of our Innovation Series, we give a behind-the-scenes look at our next step to innovate on YouTube TV for live sports.
We built YouTube TV for the YouTube generation - those who want to watch what they want, when they want, how they want - without the commitments of cable. Since we launched in 2017, we’ve continued to build experiences that redefine how you watch live TV - from our unlimited DVR or option to avoid spoilers, to the ability to add your fantasy football team directly to YouTube TV to see how you’re stacking up against the competition.
And today, we’re taking this a step further. We’re excited to share more innovative features we’re bringing to YouTube TV - from new experiences to help you feel like you’re actually there, to navigation tools that help you quickly find your favorite events.
Watch like you’re there
With many exciting events coming this summer, we wanted to make sure YouTube TV brings the best viewing experience across all live content. Earlier this year, we previewed a new add-on feature for our members, and we’re happy to introduce it starting today: 4K Plus.
4K Plus will bring some of the most highly requested features to YouTube TV, including the ability to watch 4K content on YouTube TV for the first time. With a compatible 4K enabled TV and/or streaming device, you can enjoy watching content in one of the best, most crisp resolutions.
With 4K Plus, you’ll have access to watch major sports events this summer in 4K, plus live content from networks like NBC and ESPN, sports like college football and basketball later this year and on-demand content from FX, Discovery Networks, Tastemade and more.
Not only that, but the 4K Plus add-on package also includes:
Download shows to watch offline: Take your DVR with you and never worry about missing your favorite shows while you’re without data or traveling on the go. With 4K Plus, we’re introducing the ability to save recordings from your library to your phone or tablet to watch offline.
Unlimited streams at home: The YouTube TV base package includes three simultaneous streams, but with 4K Plus, you get unlimited streams on your home wifi. That means everyone in the family can catch up on their latest TV episodes, watch a movie on demand, watch their home team, and more - all at the same time!
4K Plus will be available at an additional $19.99/month, but right now, new users can get a one-month free trial and then a price of just $9.99/month for one year*.
Last, but not least: We’re adding 5.1 Dolby audio capabilities for all YouTube TV members, which has been one of your biggest requests. This will start rolling out to select devices over the coming weeks, so you can soon watch movies as if you were in the theater, and enhance your watch experience even more with surround-sound audio.
Live sports made for you
We’ve been spending time building features that change how you watch live sports, from our key plays view to catching up with scores from around the league. We want to continue to innovate to make YouTube TV the best place to watch live sports, so here are some new features we’re introducing soon:
- Jump to what you care most about: Last year, we introduced a new feature that allows you to jump to various segments within news programs on YouTube TV, and are excited to bring this to sports this year. Similar to our key plays view, for some events you’ll be able to jump to specific moments while you catch up live or when watching a DVR recording. That means if you’re looking to catch up on the tennis women’s singles event, you can get right into the action.
- Search for any sport to add to your DVR: YouTube TV makes it easy to search for exactly what you’re looking for and add to your DVR with no storage space limits. Sports superfans can search for an entire league, just their favorite team, or record individual games or even tournaments. We’ve also recently added key plays directly to search on mobile, so if you want to find all the 3-pointers in your library, you can find them with one click
- Check out our Medal count view: Similar to our stats view that lets you check out scores from around the league, we’re introducing a medal count view for the events this summer. As you’re watching on YouTube TV, you can quickly see how many gold, silver, and bronze medals each country has overall.
We’re excited for you to try out 4K Plus for yourself as we roll this option out to our members starting today, and can’t wait for you to experience the new features we’re building for sports fans. Let us know your feedback!
*Beginning June 28, 2021, eligible YouTube TV Family Managers can go to membership settings on any browser to add 4K Plus features for a free trial for 30 days, and for $9.99 per month for 12 months thereafter. After 12 months at the $9.99 rate, the 4K Plus add-on cost will increase to $19.99 per month.
Eligibility is for new 4K Plus signups only and is only open to participants in the United States who have an active YouTube TV subscription. At the conclusion of the 12 month discounted period, the account will be automatically charged the monthly subscription price of $19.99. YouTube TV Family Managers can cancel the 4K Plus add-on at any time. The $9.99 offer rate is only eligible for first time subscribers of the 4K Plus add-on. If the YouTube TV membership is canceled or paused any time during the 12 month period, the 4K Plus add-on will no longer be valid. YouTube TV reserves the right to change or cancel the offer at any time.
The features of the add-on are subject to change. Device and content restrictions apply.