YouTube TV adds channels and raises prices – you can not escape these changes.

YouTube launched its competitor on cable TV two years ago, priced at $ 35 a month, but the price is now 40% higher.

Google raised the price of YouTube TV to 40 USD in March 2018 and yesterday announced a new price increase, this time to 49.99 USD. In both cases, the Google-owned streaming service has badociated the price increase with additional channels, but subscribers have to pay the new price higher, whether they like it or not.

"To continue to provide you with the best possible service, we are also updating our membership rates," YouTube TV subscribers told an email yesterday. "The price for new and existing members will be $ 49.99 / month."

The new price comes into effect immediately for subscribers to the new YouTube TV service, Google said. Existing subscribers will pay the higher rate "during their billing cycle after May 13".

The price is even higher for customers billed via Apple: they will pay $ 54.99 / month to reflect fees charged by Apple to distributors. But you can order a service on the YouTube website to avoid the $ 5 markup.

Discovery, Oprah among the new channels

New channels added to YouTube TV this week include Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Animal Planet, Travel Channel and MotorTrend. Later this year, the service will add OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

"This means you can follow the adventures of Sig Hansen and Captain Keith Colburn in Deadliest Catch, watch Drew and Jonathan Scott create dream homes on Brothers of the property, and celebrate as Randy Fenoli and Kleinfeld's crew help the wives Say yes to the dress", writes the company's blog.

For $ 6 more per month, customers can add the new EPIX channel available. Other premium channels such as Showtime and Starz were already available as add-ons.

In total, YouTube TV includes more than 70 channels, including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, AMC, ESPN, CNN and BBC America. You can see the complete list on the service's website; enter your zip code to find out which local and sports information channels are included.

TV providers generally attribute higher programming costs to their price increases. Prices continue to increase significantly, whether you subscribe to a cable or satellite plan or streaming equivalent.

This month, AT & T increases the price of its DirecTV Now streaming service by $ 10 a month, with packages starting at $ 50. DirecTV had already raised prices for satellite customers in January.

On January 1, Comcast again increased its "Broadcast TV" and "Regional Sports Network" royalties, increasing the price of cable TV even for contract customers. Charter has also increased its prices for cable television.

YouTube TV still has an advantage over cable and satellite in that it does not include tons of extras that drive up the price well above advertised rates. As Google notes in a support article on the new pricing, "The updated pricing will continue to include DVRs with unlimited storage, up to 6 accounts per household and 3 simultaneous streams", while "No additional charges are required for broadcast, HD, set-top box, digital recorder or other."

Hulu's live television service starts at $ 45 a month. Sling TV, which offers fewer channels in the basic package but more a la carte options, starts at $ 25 a month.