YouTube claims five million milestone after five years

Google says YouTube TV now has over five million paid subscribers and ‘trialers’ in the US after five years of existence.

“When we launched YouTube TV five years ago, we wanted to make watching TV even more enjoyable — featuring a modern product experience without all the commitments, equipment fees and hassle. Today, we’re humbled that five million of you are currently on this journey with us,” said YouTube TV and connected TV VP of product management Christian Oestlien in a blog posting.

YouTube said the milestone had been passed at the end of June, but did not break out the number of free trialists included in the total.

YouTube TV in the US offers about 100 channels and offers additional features such as cloud DVR.

The service includes a Spanish-language offering and offers a family-oriented subscription plan as well as individual subscriptions.

Oestlien highlighted the appeal of unlimited cloud recording and the strength of YouTube TV’s sports offering, pointing to the fact that the platform’s coverage of Formula 1 motorsport had seen a doubling of viewing time for the Monaco Grand Prix between 2021 and this year.

Google last published a paid subscriber figure for YouTube TV in Q3 2020, when Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said the platform had more than three million paid subscribers.

Among US virtual MVPD offerings, YouTube TV vies for poll position with Hulu+ Live TV, ahead of rivals including Sling TV and fuboTV.