YouTube TV app officially goes live on Apple TV

Google has released the YouTube TV app for Apple TV just hours after reports its release would be “very soon.” The app is now available on the Apple TV App Store as a universal app, is free, and works with fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV devices.

The release comes just hours after the company and sources told BESTAppleTV the streaming app’s release was “imminent.”

YouTube TV is a live streaming TV service that launched in April of 2017 and is currently available in 84 U.S. cities (for a full list of cities, click here). According to a recent report by CNBC, the service has “just over” 300,000 subscribers.

The service offers 52 channels including Fox News, MSNBC, ESPN, Bravo, National Geographic, FX, and USA to name a few for a flat fee of $35 a month with no contract. Its main features include a cloud-based DVR with no storage limits for up to nine months at no additional charge. Customers are allowed six accounts per household.

https://twitter.com/YouTubeTV/status/959205614873468928



Memberships are on a month-to-month basis that begins at sign up. Users can cancel anytime online and there are no long-term contracts or cancellation fees.

The service also broadcasts 302 local NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox network affiliates in various U.S. markets, according to Streambuzz.net and its local affiliate chart. That makes YouTube TV the second largest live streaming service of local affiliates behind Hulu with Live TV which has 520.

Additional channels such as Showtime and Fox Soccer Plus are also available for additional monthly fees ranging from $11 to $15 a month.

Channels like HBO, CNN, TBS, Comedy Central, MTV, and Food Network are not available on YouTube TV. Among the top five networks in primetime and total day viewers that are not available on the service include TNT, HGTV, Nickelodeon, and the Discovery networks.

The company first announced its intentions to launch the service on Apple TV back in October of 2017. It then said in December of last year that the launch was being delayed until the first quarter of 2018. At that time, the company did not offer an explanation for the delay.

YouTube TV is owned by Google. Its competitors, including Hulu with Live TV, DirecTV Now, PlayStation Vue, and Sling TV are all currently available as apps on the Apple TV App Store.

(A BIG thank you to reader and fellow journalist Sebastain Szwarc (@Behinder) for his help in obtaining screenshots and videos for this story.)