YouTube TV going nationwide, adding 95 new markets

Google’s streaming TV service YouTube TV is undertaking a major nationwide expansion today by adding another 95 markets and growing its coverage to 98% of the U.S.

The newly added markets include Anchorage, Boise, Columbus-Tupelo, Duluth-Superior, Erie, Fargo, Gainesville, Jonesboro, Lafayette, IN; Missoula, Palm Springs, Reno, Sioux City, Topeka, Utica, Wichita Falls and Yuma-El Centro.

YouTube TV is priced at $40 per month and includes more than 60 live TV channels, cloud DVR and support for up to six accounts. Channels include ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC along with local affiliate broadcast television from those networks in 90% of markets where YouTube TV is available. The lineup also includes AMC, Cartoon Network, CNN, ESPN, Fox News, FS1, FX, TBS, TNT and several regional sports networks.

“Since YouTube TV’s early days, it’s been important for us to create an experience that brings you the best of your favorite TV content. As part of that effort, we've offered local feeds from broadcasters, allowing you to catch up with the content that matters to you,” YouTube wrote in a blog post.

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When YouTube TV first launched in 2017, it was priced at $35 per month and was only available in New York, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Chicago and Philadelphia. The company has steadily added more programming and available markets since then.

In March 2018, YouTube TV brought in Turner’s networks including CNN and TBS, and raised its prices by $5 per month. But existing YouTube TV subscribers were grandfathered in at the original price.

YouTube TV, unlike some of its direct virtual MVPD competitors including DirecTV Now and Sling TV, has not disclosed its subscriber numbers. Last year, a report from The Information said the service had about 800,000 subscribers.

Dish Network’s Sling TV ended the third quarter with 2.37 million subscribers and AT&T’s DirecTV Now ended the third quarter with around 1.8 million subscribers.