YouTube TV will launch 10 genre-specific packages, including a YouTube TV Sports Plan in early 2026, the company announced on Wednesday.
The plan will offer fans access to all the major broadcasters as well as popular sports networks such as NBC Sports Network, FS1 and all ESPN networks, including ESPN Unlimited. The announcement for a sports bundle comes after a contract dispute with Disney ended last month.
Fans will be able to add on NFL Sunday Ticket and RedZone while maintaining features such as multiview, unlimited DVR, fantasy view and key plays.
It’s an effort from YouTube TV to allow further specialization in the plans fans are paying for, especially those who want to stream live sporting events. YouTube TV, owned by Google, isn’t the first to offer this form of “skinny bundle.” Comcast, Spectrum and DirecTV have all offered something similar.
The price for the YouTube TV sports bundle won’t be unveiled until a later date. YouTube TV subscribers currently pay a little more than $80 per month for the base plan.
What does the Sports Plan mean for fans?
YouTube TV is attempting to make watching sports easier and cheaper. They are not alone as Spectrum, DirecTV and Comcast have all touted similar skinny sports bundles ideas. But YouTube TV is ascending with around 10 million subscribers putting it in striking distance to soon move past Spectrum and Comcast’s 12 million.
This plan will provide another reason for people to either switch or stay with the YouTube TV service. It may help the increasingly frustrated fan experience.
The big question is pricing. My informed speculation is that it will probably end up in the $55-60 range with an introductory three-month trial that might be slightly cheaper. Though I have a feel for it, the exact numbers are not yet known.
With ESPN Unlimited, Fox, FS1, NBC, NBC Sports Network, CBS Sports/Paramount, TNT Sports and USA Network, it will give you nearly all your national sports, except Prime Video and Netflix. It will not have regional sports, except for a couple of Comcast RSNs in those markets.
With Sunday Ticket, the NFL’s out-of-market package, exclusively licensed to YouTube, it will make the add-on easy. ESPN Unlimited, which was included as part of the deal after the recent dust-up between Disney and Google, will be integrated into the app next year, with the hope being earlier than later.
Last year, there was so much talk about Venu Sports — the failed confab between ESPN, Fox Sports and TNT — but this YouTube TV alignment seems like a more comprehensive package. Venu was going to be $43 a month and was always a bit overrated as it didn’t fully satisfy many fans’ sports needs.
This YouTube TV “skinny bundle” — which is what the cool media kids call these mash-ups — just might work to make life a little easier for sports viewers. — Andrew Marchand
