Basketball fans listen up! March Madness is here and you know what that means: non-stop hoops action buzzer-beaters and maybe your bracket going completely haywire. A bunch of the games are airing on truTV and if you are trying to figure out how to catch all the action you might be wondering if YouTube TV has you covered. Well we have got the answer and a whole lot more about YouTube's big moves in the TV world this year.
TruTV and March Madness: Can You Stream the Games on YouTube TV? Absolutely! Here's How to Watch
Good news hoops heads! Yes YouTube TV definitely offers truTV so you can catch all those crucial March Madness matchups. YouTube TV is one of the main ways to stream truTV live which is awesome. They even have a free trial for eligible new subscribers so you can test it out and see if it works for you. After any trial period YouTube TV costs around $82.99 a month.
But YouTube TV is not the only game in town if you are hunting for truTV. You can also find truTV on other streaming services like Sling TV's Blue Plan Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream. If you are still rocking traditional cable you can probably find truTV on providers like Optimum Spectrum Cox and Xfinity. Just use their channel finder to check for sure.
Here is a quick list of ways to stream truTV and catch March Madness:
- YouTube TV: Offers truTV live streaming with a free trial for eligible users.
- Sling TV Blue Plan: Includes truTV in its channel lineup.
- Hulu + Live TV: Provides access to truTV and many other channels.
- DirecTV Stream: Another streaming option with truTV.
- Cable Providers (Optimum Spectrum Cox Xfinity): Check your local channel listings for truTV.
- Max: You can stream March Madness games airing on TBS TNT and TruTV live on Max but you will still need cable authentication for some content.
- March Madness Live App/Website: Every game will be available to stream here but often requires a cable login.
So take your pick! No matter how you choose to watch get ready for some serious March Madness excitement!
YouTube's Big TV Move: Introducing "Shows" to Organize Creator Content Like Netflix
But hold up YouTube is not just about streaming live TV it is making some HUGE moves to become even more like your go-to TV platform. Get ready for "Shows" a brand new feature coming to YouTube that will totally change how you watch content from your favorite creators.
Think about how you binge-watch series on Netflix or Amazon Prime. You find a show you like you can easily browse seasons and episodes and the next episode plays automatically when you finish one. That is exactly what YouTube is bringing to creator channels with "Shows."
This new feature will let creators organize their videos into proper episodic series with seasons making it way easier for viewers to follow along in order. No more digging through playlists or trying to figure out the right watch order. YouTube is building beautiful show pages with creator-uploaded artwork to make it look and feel like a real TV series. These show pages will be featured throughout the YouTube app and YouTube will even recommend shows to viewers. It is all about making the viewing experience smoother and more like traditional TV but for online creator content.
"The New Hollywood"? YouTube's Ambitious Plan to Dominate TV and Attract Big Ad Dollars
Why is YouTube doing this? Well YouTube's CEO Neal Mohan is not shy about their goals. He straight up said YouTube is planning to become "the new Hollywood". He even stated boldly "When people turn on the TV they’re turning on YouTube. Television really is YouTube.” And he has a point. Stats show people are spending a massive amount of time watching YouTube on TVs over a billion hours per day! That is even beating out some of the major streaming services.
YouTube is taking this whole "new Hollywood" thing seriously. Besides "Shows" they are giving creators tools to dub videos in other languages and add interactive QR codes. They even have a "hype" feature to help smaller creators get more visibility. All this tech is paying off big time. YouTube brought in a WHOPPING $50 billion in revenue last year from ads and subscriptions. Top creators are making millions too. It is becoming a serious entertainment powerhouse.
Creative Freedom and Flexibility: Why YouTube is a Dream for Today's Creators
Creators themselves are loving YouTube's push into TV-style content. At a recent event YouTubers praised the platform for the creative freedom it offers. Sean Evans host of "Hot Ones" pointed out he could never have created his spicy wing interview show on traditional TV. YouTube lets him take risks and try unique ideas that traditional TV execs might never greenlight. Josh Scherer from Mythical Entertainment highlighted YouTube's flexibility allowing creators to be chefs comedians and storytellers all at once. They can follow their own interests and their audience's tastes in ways that are just not possible with traditional formats.
YouTube TV and the Future of TV: Get Ready for a Whole New Entertainment Landscape
So whether you are tuning in for March Madness on truTV or diving into a new "show" from your favorite creator it is clear YouTube is changing the TV game. They are making it easier to watch live TV streaming services and on-demand creator content all in one place. With features like "Shows" and a growing focus on TV advertising YouTube is positioning itself to be not just an online video platform but a true TV destination for the future. Get ready for the "new Hollywood" it might just be YouTube.