YouTube TV guide for sports fans: Plans, prices, channels, add-ons and free trial info

YouTube TV guide for sports fans: Plans, prices, channels, add-ons and free trial info originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For sports fans looking to move on from cable without giving up live games, YouTube TV is one of the strongest live TV streaming options available. The service gives subscribers access to local channels, national sports networks, news, entertainment and on-demand programming through one app, without a cable box or long-term contract.

YouTube TV’s biggest strength is that it feels like a cable replacement, but with more flexibility. Depending on your plan and location, subscribers can stream major networks such as ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, FS1, NFL Network, NBA TV and more. That makes it a useful option for fans who want to watch the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, college football, college basketball, soccer, golf, tennis and other live sports throughout the year.

The service also includes unlimited cloud DVR storage, up to six household accounts and multiple simultaneous streams. YouTube TV has also leaned into sports-friendly features such as multiview, Key Plays View and stats features, which can be especially helpful during busy football Saturdays, NFL Sundays, March Madness or playoff nights.

Here is everything sports fans need to know about YouTube TV, including plans, prices, channels, sports coverage, add-ons, free trials and how to decide if it is the right streaming option for you.

What is YouTube TV?

YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service that lets subscribers watch live and on-demand TV from major broadcast and cable networks through the internet. Instead of using a traditional cable or satellite box, viewers can stream through the YouTube TV app on supported smart TVs, streaming devices, phones, tablets and web browsers.

For sports fans, the main appeal is that YouTube TV brings live sports, local channels, national networks, studio shows, news and entertainment into one place. The main YouTube TV plan includes 100-plus channels, while the Sports Plan is a lower-cost option built around live games, sports analysis, news coverage and local channels.

YouTube TV is especially useful for cord-cutters who still want a cable-style sports experience. Depending on your market, the service can help fans watch NFL games on local broadcast networks, NBA and NHL games on national channels, college football and basketball on ESPN networks, MLB coverage, soccer, golf, tennis and more.

One of the biggest perks is unlimited DVR storage. Subscribers can record games, shows and events without worrying about running out of space, and YouTube TV says recordings are kept for nine months. Each household account also gets its own library and recommendations, which makes the service easier to share with family members or roommates.

YouTube TV subscription plans, prices

YouTube TV offers multiple plan options, but most sports fans will start with either the main YouTube TV plan or the Sports Plan. Prices, promotions and free trial offers can change, so viewers should always check the final price before signing up.

YouTube TV Base Plan — $82.99 per month

The main YouTube TV plan is the most complete option. It is built for households that want a full live TV replacement with sports, news, entertainment, local channels and on-demand programming in one subscription.

Includes:

• 100-plus live channels
• Local channels such as ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC in many markets
• Major sports networks, including ESPN and other national sports channels
• Unlimited cloud DVR storage
• Up to six household accounts
• Up to three simultaneous streams
• Sports features such as Multiview and Key Plays View
• Access to add-ons such as NFL Sunday Ticket, Sports Plus, 4K Plus and premium networks

Best for fans who want the most complete YouTube TV experience and do not want to sacrifice news, entertainment or local channels just to get live sports.

YouTube TV Sports Plan — $64.99 per month

The YouTube TV Sports Plan is a lower-cost option designed for fans who mainly care about live sports, local games, sports analysis and sports news. It includes 30-plus channels, with YouTube TV listing local broadcast networks such as ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, along with sports channels such as ESPN, NFL Network, NBA TV, FS1 and more. Additional local channel availability depends on location.

Includes:

• 30-plus sports-focused channels
• Local channels, subject to availability
• ESPN, NFL Network, NBA TV, FS1 and more
• Unlimited DVR space
• Multiview
• Up to six household accounts
• Three simultaneous streams
• Access to add-ons, including NFL Sunday Ticket and Sports Plus

Best for fans who want a sports-first streaming package without paying for the full YouTube TV Base Plan.

YouTube TV has advertised promotional pricing for new Sports Plan subscribers, including $54.99 per month for the first 12 months before the plan returns to $64.99 per month. Promotional offers are subject to eligibility, expiration dates and change.

What sports channels are on YouTube TV?

YouTube TV has a strong sports channel lineup, especially for fans who want access to both local broadcasts and national networks. The exact lineup depends on your plan and location, so fans should enter their ZIP code on YouTube TV before signing up if they need a specific local channel or team broadcast.

Some of the key sports and sports-adjacent channels available through YouTube TV plans can include:

• ABC
• CBS
• FOX
• NBC
• ESPN
• ESPN2
• ESPNU
• ESPNEWS
• ACC Network
• SEC Network
• Big Ten Network
• FS1
• FS2
• CBS Sports Network
• NFL Network
• NBA TV
• Golf Channel
• TNT
• TBS
• truTV
• USA Network
• NBC Sports Network
• Local and regional channels, depending on market

The Sports Plan is built around major broadcast networks and sports networks, while the main YouTube TV plan gives subscribers the broader 100-plus-channel lineup. YouTube TV says the Sports Plan includes 34 channels, including local broadcast networks and sports channels such as ESPN, NFL Network, NBA TV and FS1.

Local broadcast networks are important for the NFL, college football, major golf events, national NBA and NHL games, soccer and other big events. ESPN networks help cover college football, college basketball, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB, tennis, golf and studio programming. TNT, TBS and truTV can also matter for NHL, MLB and March Madness coverage, depending on the season and rights.

The most important thing to remember is that local channels, regional sports coverage and some sports availability can vary by ZIP code. If you are signing up to watch a specific team, check your local YouTube TV lineup before subscribing.

YouTube TV sports add-ons

YouTube TV also gives sports fans a few ways to add more coverage. Add-ons can be helpful for fans who want out-of-market NFL games, NFL RedZone, 4K streaming or extra sports channels.

NFL Sunday Ticket

NFL Sunday Ticket is one of YouTube TV’s biggest sports add-ons. It gives fans access to out-of-market Sunday afternoon regular-season NFL games. That makes it especially valuable for fans who live outside their favorite team’s local market or want to follow multiple teams every week.

NFL Sunday Ticket is not automatically included with the YouTube TV Base Plan or Sports Plan. It is available as an add-on, and fans can also buy NFL Sunday Ticket through YouTube Primetime Channels without a YouTube TV membership.

Best for NFL fans who want access to out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.

NFL RedZone with Sports Plus — $10.99 per month

YouTube TV offers NFL RedZone through its Sports Plus add-on. NFL RedZone is the popular whiparound channel that jumps between Sunday afternoon NFL games for touchdowns, scoring chances and key moments.

The Sports Plus package costs $10.99 per month and adds extra sports channels to a YouTube TV membership.

Best for football fans who want NFL RedZone and extra sports coverage during the season.

4K Plus — $9.99 per month

YouTube TV’s 4K Plus add-on unlocks 4K streaming for select content, unlimited streams at home and the ability to download DVR recordings for offline viewing on supported devices. Not every game or channel is available in 4K, so this add-on is best for fans who care about picture quality and want the extra household streaming flexibility.

Best for fans who want to select 4K sports broadcasts, more home streams and offline viewing.

Entertainment Plus — $29.99 per month

Entertainment Plus is not a sports add-on, but it can matter for households using YouTube TV as a full cable replacement. It bundles HBO Max, STARZ and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME for $29.99 per month.

Best for households that want premium entertainment channels alongside live sports.

Spanish Plus

YouTube TV also offers Spanish-language programming through Spanish Plus or the standalone Spanish Plan. Spanish Plus adds 25-plus Spanish-language networks to a YouTube TV membership, while the Spanish Plan offers 28-plus Spanish-language networks without requiring the main YouTube TV plan.

Best for viewers who want more Spanish-language sports, news and entertainment.

What sports are available to watch on YouTube TV?

YouTube TV covers a wide range of live sports, but what you can watch depends on your plan, location, channel lineup, add-ons and league blackout rules.

Sports fans can use YouTube TV to watch coverage across:

• NFL
• NBA
• WNBA
• MLB
• NHL
• College football
• College basketball
• College baseball and softball
• College volleyball, soccer and other NCAA sports
• Soccer
• Golf
• Tennis
• NASCAR and motorsports
• Combat sports

YouTube TV is especially useful for fans who want national and local sports in the same app. Local broadcast networks help carry many of the biggest events on the sports calendar, including NFL games, college football, major golf tournaments, national soccer broadcasts and select NBA and NHL games. ESPN networks, FS1, CBS Sports Network, NFL Network, NBA TV and other sports channels add more daily coverage across leagues.

For football fans, the combination of local channels, ESPN, NFL Network and optional NFL Sunday Ticket can make YouTube TV one of the more complete NFL streaming options. Local FOX and CBS affiliates carry many Sunday afternoon games, NBC carries “Sunday Night Football,” ESPN carries “Monday Night Football” coverage and NFL Sunday Ticket adds out-of-market Sunday afternoon games as a separate package. Availability depends on location and package.

For college sports fans, YouTube TV can also be useful because of its ESPN networks, conference networks and broadcast channels. That matters during college football season, men’s and women’s college basketball season, conference tournaments, March Madness and other NCAA events.

For NBA, WNBA, NHL and MLB fans, YouTube TV can cover a lot of national games, but regional and local team coverage should be checked carefully. Some games may air on regional sports networks, league packages or local channels that vary by market.

Current YouTube TV offers and promotions

YouTube TV regularly offers promotions for new subscribers, and the exact deal can change by plan, date and eligibility.

New subscribers may be eligible for a free trial. Trial lengths vary by plan, and extra network trials have separate sign-up and billing terms. If a subscriber cancels during the free trial, access continues until the end of the trial period.

YouTube TV has also advertised limited-time discounts, including promotional pricing for the Base Plan and Sports Plan. For example, the Sports Plan has been promoted at $54.99 per month for the first 12 months before returning to $64.99 per month, while the main Base Plan has had new-user discounts before returning to the standard $82.99 monthly price. These offers can change, so new users should check the latest YouTube TV offer before signing up.

YouTube TV does not require a long-term cable contract, and subscribers can cancel, pause or switch plans. That flexibility is helpful for sports fans who want to sign up around football season, March Madness, the NBA playoffs, the NHL playoffs, MLB season or another busy stretch on the calendar.

How do I sign up for YouTube TV?

Signing up for YouTube TV is fairly simple, but sports fans should take a few minutes to check the local channel lineup first. That is especially important if you are subscribing to watch a specific NFL team, local NBA team, local NHL team, MLB team, college team or regional broadcast.

Here is how to sign up for YouTube TV:

1. Go to the YouTube TV website
   Visit YouTube TV and review the available plans. You can enter your ZIP code to see which local channels and networks are available in your area.
2. Choose your plan
   Pick the main YouTube TV Base Plan if you want the full 100-plus-channel lineup. Choose the Sports Plan if you mainly want a lower-cost sports-focused package.
3. Create or sign in with a Google Account
   YouTube TV works through your Google Account, so you will need one to subscribe.
4. Review your local channels
   Check whether ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and other must-have networks are available in your market.
5. Select add-ons
   Add NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL RedZone with Sports Plus, 4K Plus, Spanish Plus or premium networks if they fit your viewing needs.
6. Start your free trial or subscription
   New subscribers may be eligible for a free trial, but trial length and eligibility can vary. Review the billing details before completing signup.
7. Start streaming live sports
   Once your account is active, you can watch on supported devices, including smart TVs, streaming devices, phones, tablets and web browsers.

YouTube TV pros and cons

YouTube TV is one of the better live TV streaming services for sports fans, but it is not perfect for everyone. The best fit depends on your budget, favorite teams, local channel availability and how much live TV you actually watch.

Pros

• Strong all-around sports coverage: YouTube TV carries a useful mix of local broadcast networks, ESPN, FS1, NFL Network, NBA TV and other sports channels, depending on the plan and market. That makes it a strong option for fans who watch multiple leagues instead of just one team.
• Good cable replacement: The Base Plan includes 100-plus channels, which makes it useful for households that want sports, news, entertainment and on-demand content in one app.
• Sports Plan offers a lower-cost option: Fans who mainly want sports can consider the Sports Plan instead of paying for the full Base Plan.
• Unlimited DVR storage: YouTube TV’s unlimited DVR is a major perk for sports fans who want to record overlapping games, late-night events or full broadcasts to watch later.
• Helpful game-day features: Multiview, Key Plays View and stats features can make the viewing experience smoother, especially when several games are on at once.
• NFL Sunday Ticket access: YouTube TV is a major home for NFL Sunday Ticket, giving football fans a way to add out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
• No long-term cable contract: YouTube TV is a month-to-month streaming service, so subscribers can cancel, pause or switch plans.

Cons

• Local channels can vary: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and regional coverage can depend on your ZIP code, so fans need to check availability before signing up.
• NFL Sunday Ticket costs extra: NFL Sunday Ticket is a valuable add-on, but it is not included with the Base Plan or Sports Plan.
• Some sports may still require other services: Depending on the league, team and market, some games may air on regional sports networks, league-specific packages or streaming services outside YouTube TV.

YouTube TV is a strong choice for sports fans who want a cable-like live TV package without a traditional cable subscription. The Base Plan is the better fit for households that want sports, news, entertainment and local channels together, while the Sports Plan is a more focused option for viewers who mainly care about live games and sports coverage.

The biggest selling points are the channel lineup, unlimited DVR, multiview, household accounts and the ability to add NFL Sunday Ticket. The biggest drawbacks are local channel variability and the fact that some sports coverage may still require separate subscriptions or add-ons.

For fans who regularly watch NFL games, college football, college basketball, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB, soccer, golf, tennis and major live events, YouTube TV is one of the most complete live sports streaming options available. Just make sure to check your ZIP code, preferred channels and current promotions before subscribing.