YouTube TV, which costs $73 a month, agrees to end “$600 less than cable” ads::Google to “modify or cease” ads after industry review board rejects appeal.

  • @[email protected]
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    2 years ago

    Remember when it was $35/month? Dropped them like a bad habbit when it went to $60 something. No ala carte and adding channels I never wanted were also contributing factors.

    • Midnight Wolf
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      162 years ago

      Same. I moved my parents from directv to ytv, saving them like $150+ a month (maybe more, it was a huge deal). When ytv was like ‘puts on the proctology gloves’ with that first price hike, I pitched an ota antenna + TV tuner, hooked up to my already-paid plex server running on my nas. We dropped ytv a few days later and now pay $0.

      Smart move, G. Helping my family save so much money <3

    • @[email protected]
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      132 years ago

      I dropped around the same time. I really only had it for local channels, but the stuff I was watching ended up on other streaming apps day or two later anyway.

      • @[email protected]
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        92 years ago

        It was a great delivery mechanism for live sports for me. I went back to sling and put up a TV antenna. Too bad none of my local channels come in great past 15 miles, but I’d be a fool to pay that premium for locals.

    • @[email protected]
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      42 years ago

      I split YTTV with a couple friends. We have the 4K package which comes with unlimited screens. Only downsides are you need to link your Google accounts into a family and you have to be in the same general vicinity or YouTube will eventually lock you out for being outside of your home market. Still, I rather enjoy using the service for less than 30 a month.

    • @[email protected]
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      722 years ago

      Nit: It’s “à la carte” meaning “by the card” or “according to the menu”. Often the accent is dropped in English writing, but it’s always written as three words.

      This is just a stupid, meaningless nit-pick. I totally understood what you were saying, so it’s really not important. It’s just, the more you know, ya know?

      • Midnight Wolf
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        112 years ago

        by the card

        G: yeah, we are charging you by the (payment) card, what is the issue here? Can’t please anyone these days…

      • @[email protected]
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        2 years ago

        Card is the literal translation; however a more correct translation would be “menu” or, traditionally, “bill of fare.”

    • JJROKCZ
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      42 years ago

      I still pay them, I record F1 races, hgtv, cooking shows, and playoffs of a couple American sports. Then I can watch/rewatch whenever I want. I’m still ok at the current price but only because I don’t think I could reliably obtain the hgtv and cooking stuff on the seas that my wife and I enjoy

  • @[email protected]
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    592 years ago

    You can stream pretty much anything for free here: https://fmoviesz.to/

    Just make sure you have uBlock Origin installed.

    If you have any issues, try searching ‘free streaming sites reddit’ and go from there.

    Your wallets will thank me later.

  • @[email protected]
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    122 years ago

    I don’t get it I thought I pay like $5 a month for my 1/6 portion of YouTube premium family account which included YouTube TV (which i never use)

  • @[email protected]
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    212 years ago

    I’ve had Comcast offer me cable TV services for $1/month and -$1/month on two separate occasions. That’s much less than $73/month.

    Fuck Comcast, but it seems this stuff doesn’t have to cost near as much as they’re all charging.

  • WuTang
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    2 years ago

    paying a subs to let these douche of MrBeast pollute my timeline directly or indirectly? paying for having the nth tech groupie talking about Apple last shit? oh and i forgot about Isreali propaganda.

  • @[email protected]
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    232 years ago

    Relevant bits

    YouTube TV launched in 2017 for $35 a month, but the base package is $72.99 after the latest price hike in March 2023. Google’s “$600 less than cable” claim was challenged by Charter, which uses the brand name Spectrum and is the second-biggest cable company after Comcast. The National Advertising Division (NAD) previously ruled in Charter’s favor but Google appealed the decision to the NARB in August.

    “Charter contended the $600 figure was inaccurate, arguing that its Spectrum TV Select service in Los Angeles only cost around $219 a year more than Google’s YouTube TV service,” according to a MediaPost article in August.

    A Google ad claimed that YouTube TV provided $600 in “annual average savings” compared to cable as of January 2023. A disclosure on the ad said the price was for “new users only” and that the $600 annual savings was “based on a study by SmithGeiger of the published cost of comparable standalone cable in the top 50 Nielsen DMAs, including all fees, taxes, promotion pricing, DVR box rental and service fees, and a 2nd cable box.”

    • 1024_Kibibytes
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      182 years ago

      Well, you need a router or access points instead of a cable box. And you can stream it over Wi-Fi. Yeah, you can stream it over Wi-Fi. That’s why this is vaguely better than regular cable TV.

      • calewerks
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        32 years ago

        I went back to cable and got an old cablecard and networked tuner. No rental fees for a box, and I can stream it wherever without checking in or dealing with location restrictions, and my DVR is still mine even if I leave and subscribe to something else.

      • @[email protected]
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        182 years ago

        So, it costs more because it requires less dedicated hardware?

        Of course, how did I not see it before

      • @[email protected]
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        62 years ago

        Back a few years ago when I had Verizon, I was able to stream via the Verizon app. But then sling came along and gave me the option to choose channels that I wanted AND have DVR for only $50. If it starts creeping back up then I will probably just go back to cable. I already have internet through them anyway 🤷🏿‍♂️

    • @[email protected]
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      22 years ago

      One part of it is retransmission fees. Cable channels charge an arm and a leg because they can and broadcast OTA TV networks charge a fee as well even though their signal is free with an antenna. It just gets more and more expensive as a result as long as there are customers who can tolerate it.

    • @[email protected]
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      172 years ago

      I canceled that shit and got a homerun for football. If you’re going to just make me stream cable for the price of cable, you can go suck on a tailpipe if you think I’m paying over 850 a year. Fuck google. Fuck cable companies. And fuck these studios for thinking they can keep doing this to people.

    • @[email protected]
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      2 years ago

      “It’s just the price of your daily coffee”

      I self brew my own value pack coffee because I’m poor. I even have a reusable metal mesh coffee filter insert so I don’t have to buy coffee filters, that’s how cheap I am.

      • @[email protected]
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        252 years ago

        Is this another one of those Silicon Valley syndrome where paying for an overpriced latte/chai/kombucha every day is the expected routine?

        • @[email protected]
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          152 years ago

          Yes.

          It’s sad how much we’ve normalized overpaying for brown shitwater so we can work harder for peanuts.

        • @[email protected]
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          62 years ago

          I have an aeropress and have only ever used a metal filter with it! I’ve had normal paper filtered aeropress coffee and I can’t taste the difference

        • @[email protected]
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          2 years ago

          Using a metal mesh filter will make your coffee have more flavor but also more oily. I don’t mind this because a lot of coffee I drink don’t use paper filters.

          Using a paper filter gives you a cleaner cup since the paper filter helps filter out the oils. It’s nice when I’m making something like Japanese Iced Coffee in a V60

          The aeropress has a couple metal mesh options.

      • @[email protected]
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        22 years ago

        I have an expensive super automatic that I just pour beans in. No filters or disposable parts, just gotta pull the brew group out to rinse every week and clean it out occasionally.

        I paid $700 for the machine but have probably saved more than that between the k cups I was using before and going out for coffee way less (it’s not as good but it hits that espresso craving well enough for me), not to mention way more environmentally friendly while still retaining push button coffee. I now spend about $10/month on coffee.

        • @[email protected]
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          32 years ago

          I did the same but I bought a cheap IKEA French press that I’ve had for 10 years. I think it was like $15. My coffee bean grinder was an old Krupp that I found in my parents basement from the 1970s, made in West Germany.

          • @[email protected]
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            12 years ago

            I tried doing that but found myself just not using it. With coffee machines I kept putting off cleaning them until the grounds got moldy.

            For whatever reason (thinking executive dysfunction now that I have an ADHD diagnosis and am learning more about it) I was never able to manage using those tools regularly. Then came the Keurig and I immediately went from going to Starbucks 4-6 times a week to 3-4 times a month. Saved me loads, but never liked the waste of the k cups. I tried a reusable cup but had the same problem as the coffee machine and French press. Once income came up enough and it was within budget, bought the super automatic and I’ll be sticking with it until it breaks irrevocably because there’s no way in hell I can afford to replace it again since going from being a dink to a single income.

      • Phoenixz
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        82 years ago

        I too drink coffee laced with platinum and gold, sprinkled with diamonds

      • @[email protected]
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        132 years ago

        Just use normal coffee filters, they are better for your health and are cheap af. The paper filters block some carcinogens that the metal ones do not. Your call, cheers

        • @[email protected]
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          42 years ago

          all espresso is poured using metal/without a paper filter. I highly doubt the entire nation of Italy is going to fall over dead because they’ve never had a coffee run through a paper filter.

          Its coffee. Not cyanide. Just drink it.

          • @[email protected]
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            22 years ago

            Do whatever you want, i drink coffee everyday, for me the cumulative risk isn’t worth it. its easy to remove the carcinogens and it makes the coffee better tasting anyways. Some people don’t know about the carcinogens and I like to inform them so they can make their own best decisions. You can huff glue for all i care bro

              • @[email protected]
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                12 years ago

                Right, I dunno why some people are so obsessed with taking dumb risks. Like yea sure you probably wont get cancer or whatever but what if you did and what if there was a simple mindless way to reduce that risk? So silly

            • @[email protected]
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              22 years ago

              This is a great example of a “micro optimization.” It feels good but ultimately does jack shit to help you.

              There are studies suggesting adding paper filters to coffee increases bad cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease kills more people than cancer every year. Whoops? Brussel sprouts ever so slightly elevate your chances of getting cancer. Anything with an ethyl in it does too.

              All of this to say, pick better risks to worry about. Everything is a tradeoff. Better chance you die in a freak car accident rather than developing cancer from drinking coffee that was filtered without paper. It is not worth the fuss.

              • @[email protected]
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                12 years ago

                What tf are you on about, I use paper filters and I literally never think or worry about it. Jesus christ what is the trade off in this hypothetical situation you’re creating. Debate lords just need to argue something i swear to god.

                • @[email protected]
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                  12 years ago

                  Taste, environmental friendliness. Just to name a few. Feel free to ignore my comments if you don’t like them.

    • Pyr
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      22 years ago

      Internet companies will only be cheap until they put cable out of business, then we will see cable company costs for Internet services.

  • redimk
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    682 years ago

    So what is the next step for Google? Raising YT TV to $100/month? $200/month? Raising Youtube Premium to $30/month? Google one to $200/month? Laying off employees?

    I mean they gotta keep hitting that 5% growth every year, right? When does it stop? When there’s nobody else at the company? When people can’t afford anything anymore and go bankrupt?

    When are companies gonna understand that growth for the sake of growth every year is just not feasable?

    • @[email protected]
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      82 years ago

      When are companies gonna understand that growth for the sake of growth every year is just not feasable?

      Depends when we actually enforce and support the SECs market reforms instead of defending them. As it sits once, that 5% target is no longer consistently hitable the naked shorts will start to come from maket makers and hedge funds allowing wall street to make just as much money in the growth stage as in the desth stage of a company plus when Google eventually gets to that point they can buy up all the IP during the bankruptcy process for their next unlimited growth candidate to usurp. Shit is absolutely fucked, plus congress has basically called out in their deals to keep the government running that the SEC can’t use any of the budget to further market reform, so your gonna need to vote in candidates who support Markey reform, and proper reform at that sense baring indivual household shareholders from being able to participate and get accurate disclosures on off market trade data, equity swap data, or just widening the gap between wall street and retail investors access to data is also considered market reform by those corrupt individuals supporting wall streets mess.

    • @[email protected]
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      112 years ago

      It’s not a matter of understanding the failure is systemic.

      Shareholders only buy shares for the expected growth, not so much for the dividends. Dividends are literally pennies on the hundred dollar costs. Single digits percent annually.

      • @[email protected]
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        42 years ago

        At some point prices have to adjust to material reality and someone will lose money. Sometimes expected growth is not possible.

        • @[email protected]
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          12 years ago

          Hence when predatory shorting takes place while long institutions switch to short positions hoping retail joins in on selling shares to allow the stock to crater and delist from the open market thus facilitating cellar boxing to occur, making them even more money then they made on the upside. It’s why wall street actually loves bubbles and helps create them…

      • @[email protected]
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        12 years ago

        Well maybe retail but hedge funds love shorting shit to the ground. Having unrealistic growth goals sets a company up to eventually reach a point where they can switch the narrative to decline in a company because of missed unrealistic growth goals, that’s where the big boys make a lot of fucking money as once a stock gets delisted they can warehouse and never settle failed to deliver trades, or naked shorts that inflated the number of shares available to exponentially grow there position on the downside. It’s a game of siphoning money away from the public.

  • @[email protected]
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    312 years ago

    I used YouTube TV early on when it was a legit alternative to cable. It costs just as much so there is no benefit. I cancelled when the prices were raised to 45 a month. They can fuck straight off at 73 a month

  • YⓄ乙
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    112 years ago

    People pay for watching YouTube ? Lol why don’t they use Firefox and ublock origin ? Or smartnext tube for android TV?, I will never understand human beings.

    • ZeroCool
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      2 years ago

      People pay for watching YouTube ? Lol why don’t they use Firefox and ublock origin ? Or smartnext tube for android TV?, I will never understand human beings.

      Sure, work arounds exist but they require varying degrees of technical competence to use them. A lot of people simply aren’t comfortable doing so even when relatively straight forward guides are available. Plus, when it comes to piracy or even “grey area” solutions, some people just don’t want to “risk” it. Just because a solution exists doesn’t mean people shouldn’t be pissed off that the legal means to enjoy content they want are being priced out of their reach.

      Having said all of that, this article isn’t about YouTube or even YouTube Premium. It’s about YouTube TV, which is their cable alternative. Firefox, uBlock Origin, and SmartTubeNext aren’t relevant to the discussion.

      • @[email protected]
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        42 years ago

        Can you elaborate on what options exist? I’m technically inclined and have yet to find a better cheaper alternative to YouTube TV which my not so inclined wife can use to watch news channel on our Apple TV.

        • ZeroCool
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          Can you elaborate on what options exist? I’m technically inclined and have yet to find a better cheaper alternative to YouTube TV which my not so inclined wife can use to watch news channel on our Apple TV.

          Hey, sorry if there was any confusion, but when I spoke of work arounds I was specifically addressing that OP’s mention of things like SmartTubeNext.

          But YouTube TV is just one “cable alternative” in the US. Off the top of my head there’s SlingTV, FuboTV, Hulu+Live, and Philo. As far as pricing goes, I can’t point you to the cheapest option because I don’t have much use for those services. I do know that Sling TV is pretty cheap. I usually sign up for SlingTV once a year during NHL playoffs and it’s something like $20 bucks with a “one month new-sign up discount”. So I assume the normal base price is $40ish a month.

          • @[email protected]
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            12 years ago

            Thanks for the explanation. I’m desperate to find a cheaper alternative but not to sacrifice my sanity with a solution my wife doesn’t understand. We literally only watch one or two news channels for an hour or so a night. There has to be a better way!

            • ZeroCool
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              Well in that case I’d recommend trying SlingTV. It’s a lot cheaper than YouTube TV and if all you want is access to cable news channels that should cover it. SlingTV’s app is as straight-forward as any other too so your wife shouldn’t have trouble navigating it. Like I said earlier, they also offer the first month at a 50% discount so even if you don’t like it you aren’t gonna be on the hook for too much.

      • YⓄ乙
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        42 years ago

        Ah sorry. I don’t watch too many shows and sports, most news channels are already live on YouTube.

    • @[email protected]
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      12 years ago

      Now that YouTube has started to block adblockers, pretty soon they’ll try to block SmartTube and NewPipe as well.

    • @[email protected]
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      62 years ago

      Lots of people are proud to pay for things they could be getting for free.

      We call them useful idiots where I’m from.

  • Flying Squid
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    152 years ago

    Not just YouTube TV. I was thinking about switching from the Spotify family plan to the YouTube family plan, but the Spotify family plan is $16.99/mo and the YouTube family plan is $22.99/mo. That does include YouTube with no ads, but it’s still too expensive for me. It’s just not worth an additional $6. Especially not while my adblocker still works. It does mean I can’t cast ad-free YouTube to my Chromecast because Google would not allow that, but I can live with it.

    • @[email protected]
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      122 years ago

      Pretty sure your description sold YouTube family plan to a lot of people. I was ready to hate on it but after you describe that’s a pretty sweet deal.

      • Flying Squid
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        82 years ago

        Ok, if it’s a good deal to you and them, fine. $6 extra for no ads is not worth it to me.

    • danque
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      62 years ago

      Install smarttube on your TV connected smart device. I installed it on the Chromecast 4k one with the remote and its a godsend. Even with your own official YouTube history for easy switching

      • Flying Squid
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        82 years ago

        I have the original Chromecast. No apps to install. You just cast to it.

  • @[email protected]
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    252 years ago

    Next advertising campaign: Cable companies sued to keep us from telling you how much money you’d save by switching to YouTube TV. Find out the numbers for yourself at calculate your savings link

  • Tygr
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    722 years ago

    I still cannot understand how anyone decides to have 30% of their programming to be ads AND decide to pay for it.

      • @[email protected]
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        12 years ago

        Literally the only reason we have TV of any type. We dumped YTTV for Hulu, but once they say we can’t share the package with my father in law well dump that too and I’ll go back to streams.

      • thelastknowngod
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        12 years ago

        I don’t think the sports management people are hurting for cash in any way but there has to be some tipping point eventually when the value of the exclusive broadcast contracts is overshadowed by the losses from people just straight up not watching anymore.

        I live in Turkey but if I try to watch a legal MLB stream I am told I’m in a blackout region. What local advertiser or broadcaster is being harmed by me watching baseball from fucking Turkey!? They would rather change the literal rules of the game to drive engagement rather than just allow more people to watch in a convenient way…