YouTube is testing a new free TV channels hub, According to the report, YouTube is planning to expand into live TV. While YouTube already offers a live TV subscription service through YouTube TV, the standard YouTube application may become another means of watching free live TV channels.
Some other companies in the space have used the concept to make money, as Vizio and Roku have reported that they make more money from advertising and subscription commissions than they do from selling hardware, according to earnings reports. According to the latest reports, Vizio (PDF) makes about $27 per user annually, while Roku generates more than $44.
An unnamed YouTube representative confirmed the tests to the The Wall Street Journal, and the report says the feature could roll out more widely this year. It’s reportedly working with companies like Lionsgate and A&E, with the latter being the owner of channels like History, FYI, and Lifetime.
YouTube has experience with providing premium ad-supported content in 2022, it introduced free television shows that had been supported by ads to its catalog, and for numerous years, it had already been doing the same with movies. In the previous year, the company also added free channels to its Google TV live tab via Pluto TV.
There’s also YouTube TV, a paid service that allows users to have a similar drop-in-and-watch experience to standard television channels. Last summer, YouTube reported that round 5 million people subscribed to . It’s always possible that the free channels could be marketed under the YouTube TV brand.
YouTube already has the biggest share of TV viewing time among streaming services in the US. The tests come as several different streaming services are introducing cheaper or free ad-supported tiers, such as Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus, or Peacock.
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