5 reasons YouTube TV didn’t work for me (and what I learned after canceling it)

Ah, YouTube television. If you’ve been wondering how to cut the cord or watch live TV without cable, you’ve probably heard of it. My family tried this last year. If you’re unfamiliar YouTube TV is a streaming service that emulates traditional cable TV by offering live TV channels, sports, and DVR capabilities—all for $83 a month.

To give you some background: I haven’t had cable in 20 years. The last time I paid for cable was when I lived at my parents’ house. I’m also a streaming diehard – I remember Netflix sending out DVDs and I’d eagerly watch whatever came in that little red envelope. Today I subscribed to Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+, MaxAnd Prime Video. I love on-demand streaming, which makes sense since I’m a working mom with a full plate. Although my husband? He is a sports fanatic.

This is how we got YouTube TV. In 2024, my husband convinced me to subscribe so he could watch college football, especially Miami Hurricanes games. It sounded like a win-win: he gets live sport, and I once again feel nostalgic for switching channels on live TV like I did as a child. But after football season ended in December, I turned off YouTube TV.

Here’s why—and what I learned from the experience.

1 Live broadcast is not my thing

Unless it’s sports, I don’t watch live TV. Period.

My family only discovered the YouTube TV app during college football season. But before subscribing, my husband always found ways to watch the Miami Hurricanes through ESPN, network apps, or some streaming hack. Even though YouTube TV brought everything together in one place, I couldn’t help but feel like it wasn’t worth it.

My takeaway? If we’re going to subscribe to YouTube TV, it’s a seasonal thing. We will sign up for the football season in August and then cancel in December. Luckily, YouTube TV is flexible, unlike traditional cable TV contracts.

2 DVR is a feature I never use

Anyone?

I thought I would like YouTube TV Unlimited DVR. Instead, I didn’t touch it. I originally envisioned recording shows or movies to watch later. I actually just turned to Hulu or one of the many other services I’m already subscribed to for on-demand viewing. My husband doesn’t understand DVRs either. Sports spoilers from social media make game recordings pointless for him – he will only watch them live or skip them altogether.

DVR may be an advantage for others, but not for us. It feels like a legacy feature, something from a bygone era.

3 Trying new streaming services is more fun

Shudder, AMC+, oh my!

At $83 a month, YouTube TV is expensive. For that price, I could test other niche streaming services I’ve been eyeing, like Shudder for $5 or AMC+ for $7. Honestly, I could subscribe to 10 different services for the cost of one month of YouTube TV – and they would all offer on-demand content, which is how I prefer to watch. For me, live broadcasting seems like a chore. I don’t have the time (or patience) to plan my life around a show or event. I prefer to stream what I want, when I want.

4 I already have access to real-time news

Thank you, Roku.

YouTube TV offers local channels such as ABC, FOX and NBC. But you know what? Just like my Roku. As a Roku user, I get a built-in Live TV channel guide that includes ABC News Live, NBC News Now, Fox Live Now and more. If I ever feel nostalgic for that classic “channel surfing” experience, I’ll just fire up Roku. It’s free, easy, and eliminates the cable itch without any cost.

5 YouTube TV is too expensive

In December the price increased by $10.

YouTube TV costs $83 a month and costs more than all my other streaming subscriptions combined. This is a tough pill to swallow in today’s economy. Outside of football season, this service simply did not provide enough value to my family.

While YouTube TV has its advantages—cancel anytime, live sports, and a familiar TV viewing experience—it ultimately wasn’t a good fit for our year-round use. It taught me to think critically about what I value most about my streaming services: accessibility, on-demand content, and the freedom to watch on my schedule.

If you’re addicted to live TV or like to watch sports and cable channels in one place, YouTube TV may be worth it. But for us this is now only a matter of autumn. When football season comes, we might come back. May be.