YouTube TV Vs Cable TV – Which livestreaming TV is better?

Livestreaming TV products such as YouTube TV have become one of the most convenient ways to access TV channels, series and shows. However, there is still a number of people that still prefer Cable TV.

There is a common belief that YouTube TV is a cheaper alternative for Cable TV. This can be both true and false at the same time depending on your expectations from a TV Service Provider. Choosing the right Service provider can benefit you in more ways than you could imagine. The hugest benefit being getting your most sought after TV channels at the most affordable market price. Therefore, we are going to determine the better TV Service Provider by the end of this article.

When to use Cable TV

Cable TV is a good option when if you want to avoid using the internet especially if you live in more remote areas. This is because for you to watch TV you don’t need to have internet connection. As long as you have your cable box or antenna you will be able to watch your favourite TV channels

When to use YouTube TV

YouTube TV is a cheaper option for cord cutters and if you are a die-hard sport fanatic, I would recommend this live streaming TV service for you. It offers the top four sports channels (all four ESPN’s) as well as local sports channels. However, NFL Live is not in its channels selection. Not only does it offer sports channels but also some other interesting channels such as NBC, FOX, CBS, ABC, Discovery Channel and many more.

YouTube TV vs Cable TV feature Comparison

Features	YouTube TV	Cable TV
Channel Count	85+	220+
Monthly Price	$64.99/mo.	$49.99-$84.99/mo.
Number of Packages	1	4
DVR Storage	Unlimited(Up to 9 months)	60HD Hours or 300SD Hours
Annual Contracts	No	Yes

How we Evaluate YouTube TV and Cable TV

Both YouTube TV and Cable TV are great TV service providers. However, there is a certain criteria that we have followed to properly evaluate these two TV service providers. Some of the features that we looked at include:

• Number of channels– This is the channel count from which you can watch your shows
• Contracts– It is an agreement between the customer and service provider
• DVR Storage– Maximum capacity you have to save your favourite shows.
• Number of packages– These are the options which you have to choose from that will best suit your taste.
• Cost – This is the price you have to pay for to get a selected service.

YouTube TV Vs Cable TV Overview

YouTube TV Review

This livestream service is known for its strong on-demand channel selection that it’s packed with. YouTube TV offers 8 channels in the top 10 most desired channels, 32 in the top 50 and 42 in the top 92.  You can watch all kind of channel genres such as Sports, Comedy, Drama, News, Lifestyle and Entertainment. However, if you are not satisfied with the channel selection offered by YouTube TV, you can always add a few premium channels at an extra cost. In addition to that, this Livestreaming TV Service a very powerful DVR that is packed with some pretty cool features but the one that stands out the most is its ability to store unlimited watching hours for up to 9 months.

YouTube TV is equipped with a user interface that is quite easy to operate. It comes with 3 main tabs which are Home, Live and Library and they are further divided into various sub-sections. This will allow you to navigate through all channels with a few simple steps.With YouTube TV you can also put your subscription on pause for up to six months in case you want take a break from TV. The best part about YouTube TV is that there are no hidden fees or cancellation costs in case you decide to terminate your subscription.

Features
Streaming Quality	1080p
Free Trial Length	7 Days
Number of packages	1
Number of channels	85+
Price	$64.99/mo.
Live Sports Streaming	Yes
Details	Check here

Pros

• Good user interface with easy navigation.
• Free from contracts.
• Equipped with major sports channels.
• Unlimited DVR Storage.

Cons

• Only has one TV package from which you can choose from.

Cable TV Review

Cable TV is great and the best part about it is that you don’t need to have internet connection to watch your TV shows. In addition to that, cable TV also has on-demand contents. Unfortunately, for you to be able to watch such content you will need to livestream which requires internet connection. Cable TV is especially good for the binge watchers. With a whopping 220+ channels, you will barely miss an eye-catching TV show. If you are a huge sports fan however, you will have to pay a hefty amount for the premium TV package for you to get the best sports channels.

Nonetheless, Cable TV comes with a very good DVR that allows you to store quite a number of watching hours. It is also very user friendly and comes equipped with parental control. You therefore don’t have to worry about your kids watching adult content once you activate the parental control feature. What we dislike most about Cable TV is the presence of contracts. This is because contracts normally add unnecessary expenses in the event of cancellation.

Features
Price	$49.99-$84.99/mo.
Channel Count	220+ Channels
Number of Packages	4
Contracts	Yes
DVR Storage Space	60HD hours or 300SD hours
Details	Check Here

Pros

• Has wide coverage.
• Has decent TV packages.
• Offers a wide variety of channels.
• Has a good DVR model.

Cons

• Has a lot of hidden fees.

How does Cable TV and YouTube TV Compare?

Number of channels

Without doubt, Cable TV offers you a wider variety of channels as compared to YouTube TV. This is because it offers 140+ channels in its most basic package and 220+ in its best package. This is a massive difference as compared to YouTube TV which offers 85+ channels

Monthly price

For sure, this is one of the most important to things to consider before you subscribe to a TV service provider. Here, YouTube TV offers you more affordable monthly subscription fees as compared to Cable TV. You’ll be required to pay only $64.99 per month to subscribe to the live streaming services of YouTube TV. Cable TV monthly prices on the other hand range from $49.99- $84.99 per month.

DVR Storage Space

When it comes to storage,YouTube TV’s DVR offers the best storage capacityas compared to Cable TV’s DVR. This is because you will have unlimited storage space for up to 9 months as compared to Cable TV where you have 60hrs of HD storage or 300hrs of SD storage.

Conclusion

Cable TV is still a very good TV service provider to consider for many people because it offers you with a wide variety of channels and packages. However, YouTube TV is the overall winner as compared to Cable TV because it is more affordable and they provide you with a better DVR.

FAQs

Is YouTube TV compatible with all devices?

No, but it is compatible with quite a number of devices. You can check if your device is compatible from here.

Can Cable TV work without Internet?

Yes, it can as long as you have your antenna or cable box.