YouTube TV is making it easier to watch sports in 2026
You'll soon be able to directly subscribe to a "YouTube TV Sports Plan"
š YouTube TV is making it easier to watch your favorite sports
šŗ YouTube has announced itāll roll out 10 new TV packages in 2026
š§āšØ Each package will be designed to cater to certain users and their interests
ā Thereās no word on pricing or when the plans will launch quite yet
After frustrating negotiations between Disney and YouTube led to channels like ESPN disappearing from YouTube TV, it looks like the live TV streaming service is doubling down on keeping sports fans happy. YouTube TV announced today that in 2026, itāll introduce 10 new packages that are all curated to different usersā interests and tastes, with the most notable package being the YouTube TV Sports Plan.
The streaming service says that āall the major broadcasters as well as sports networks like FS1, NBC Sports Network, all of the ESPN networks, as well as ESPN Unlimitedā will be included in the plan. That could give subscribers a direct way to get all the sports they want, with YouTubeās profits used to keep each content provider happy. As the streaming battles continue to heat up, it seems that curated plans like this could be the future of businesses like YouTube TV, especially if conglomerates like Disney will keep getting mad.
Notably, services like NFL Sunday Ticket wonāt be included and require a separate subscription.
The other nine āgenre-specific packagesā have yet to be unveiled. Cable companies have used packages like this to boost subscribers in the wake of cord-cutting and the publicās general avoidance of anything that feels like cable (which is notably ironic given how similar live TV streaming and cable keep getting). DirecTV offers packages taht only give you news, sports, and even Spanish-speaking content, for example. YouTube TV could wind up with a similar structure come next year.
What isnāt clear is how much these plans will cost. YouTube says itāll continue to offer a āmain YouTube TV plan with 100+ channels,ā in addition to plans that focus on things like sports, news, family entertainment, and more. Given the trajectory of YouTube TV over the past few years, itās a safe bet to assume the main planās price will increase from its current $82.99/month rate, but we have yet to hear anything official.
YouTube says itāll have more to say about its new YouTube TV plans in 2026.
Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut. Heās been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.
Solid reporting on the streaming fragmentation loop. The irony is thick, we cut the cable to escape bundles and now we're back to basically the same model with extra steps. The real question is weather the sports-only tier actually saves money or just adds another layer to the subscription juggling game. Streaming companies keep reinventing cable tv and acting surprised when it feels familar.