YouTube TV launches 4K and offline downloads today, but they don’t come cheap

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YouTube TV launches 4K and offline downloads today, but they don’t come cheap

YouTube TV launches 4K and offline downloads today, but they don’t come cheap

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Plus, Dolby 5.1 surround is rolling out to all subscribers

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YouTube TV is today revealing more details about two anticipated new features: 4K playback and offline downloads. As it turns out, the service will be bundling them together in a new add-on package it’s calling “4K Plus.” There’s no getting one without the other.

4K Plus is available starting today and will cost an extra $19.99 per month on top of the standard $64.99 YouTube TV subscription. That sounds awfully expensive, but at least there’s this: customers will receive a free one-month trial — and if you sign up early, 4K Plus will be discounted to $9.99 each month for the first year. That’s easier to swallow than $20, but you’ll eventually be shifted over to the full price once that initial promotion expires. So for the first year, you’re looking at a $75 monthly bill, and $85 if you keep 4K Plus after that. Add in taxes and fees and, well, ouch.


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Jump to specific moments.
GIF: Google

For now, offline downloads will likely be a bigger deal for many customers than 4K streaming. Outside of select sporting events, there’s still a dearth of 4K content on network and cable TV. (For that reason, some competing services like FuboTV don’t charge extra for 4K streams.) YouTube really isn’t in any position to solve that dilemma, but it’s promising that 4K Plus subscribers will be able to “watch major sports events this summer in 4K, plus live content from networks like NBC, sports like college football and basketball later this year, and on-demand content from FX, Discovery Networks, Tastemade and more.” You can search for “4K” to see all available 4K programs. YouTube TV is also preparing for the Olympics with new features that will let you quickly jump to specific sports or moments of an event without having to manually scrub through.

When asked whether offline downloads will face any channel or content restrictions, YouTube told me that anything recorded to your cloud DVR from the base channel package can be downloaded to YouTube TV’s mobile app. So in theory, you shouldn’t run into any frustrating limitations or channels that block the feature. I’d hope for as much considering the price! However, the company noted that some premium network add-ons might not allow offline downloads.

At least among streaming TV services, offline viewing is a rare convenience. Sling TV doesn’t offer it, and Hulu only supports offline downloads from its on-demand library of shows and movies. In the case of YouTube TV, you’re actually pulling down the entire DVR recording as it originally aired, so this approach is somewhat unique and Tivo-esque. YouTube told me that customers will have full control over playback, and rewind / fast-forward should work without issue.

Adding 4K Plus to your account also enables “unlimited” concurrent streams for any devices that are on your home Wi-Fi network. YouTube TV usually limits customers to three simultaneous streams, and this will still apply for devices that are outside your home.

Dolby 5.1 surround is coming to YouTube TV

In welcome news for all YouTube TV customers, the service will also be introducing support for Dolby 5.1 surround sound “soon.” And this doesn’t require any special plan or add-on. YouTube says 5.1 audio has consistently been among the biggest feature requests from subscribers. It’ll be rolling out to “select devices” over the coming weeks. Smart TVs are first on the list, with other platforms to follow in the near future.


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▲亞洲新媒體高峰會12月19日登場。(圖/亞洲新媒體高峰會)

記者陳俐穎/綜合報導

由新媒體暨影視音發展協會 (NMEA,New Media Entertainment Association)主辦的台灣最大泛內容產業盛會「2023 亞洲新媒體高峰會」,將於12月19日、20日在台北舉行。今年接任的新任理事長、台灣大哥大新媒體服務副總經理李芃君指出,今年高峰會主軸「全面賦能」 (EMPOWERING),不只定位在台灣,而是一個Asia Hub,以亞洲或台灣為中心,和國際接軌。

「2023 亞洲新媒體高峰會」 今年規劃「國際內容趨勢」、「台流加速器」、「台灣人X好萊塢」、「科技X創意」、「跨界X出圈」、「風格至上世代」等6大主題方向,橫跨
新北收購電視、電影、娛樂、科技、網路等領域,高達19場專題演講或對談,與60位國內外重量級內容產業專家與領袖一起剖析內容產業趨勢。

>>限量席次,立即報名 2023 亞洲新媒體高峰會

為強化落實今年高峰會的主題「全面賦能」 (EMPOWERING),今年並擴大舉辦工作坊增加為7場,邀請海外專家與國際媒體集團面對面教學實作。包含三大國際企業集團Netflix、YouTube 、華納兄弟探索集團(Warner Bros. Discovery),與台流加速器的最大推手文策院,聯手舉辦4場系列共7堂課的賦能工作坊,針對內容產業相關的從業人員,從編劇、影視出海行銷、非實境節目格式製作、國際展會參與等不同構面,面對面提供完整的導覽解說,以及互動請益諮詢。

包括國際企業「華納兄弟探索集團 (Warner Bros. Discovery)」、YouTube、Netflix、美國獨立製片公司、好萊塢最新科技開發、Media Partner Asia(MPA)等海外講者來台分享。

開場的第一場關鍵對談「台流軟實力 V.S. 台灣產業升級轉型及全球輸出」邀請LINE台灣董事長暨LINE TV執行長陳立人,從自製的獨家戲劇內容出發,與談國家發展基金管理會副執行秘書蔡宜兼、緯來
新北收購電視台董事長李鍾培、中保科技集團董事長林建涵,切入影視資本市場來探討產業趨勢與轉型的契機。

除此之外,今年號召到知識型 Youtuber 志祺七七、新媒體創作者 HOWHOW 陳孜昊、美學經濟國際董事長李含仁也是插畫家「我是馬克」,出席高峰會現身探討娛樂體驗商機的多重開發。「我是馬克」也為高峰會親自設計兩款便條紙,這兩天報名參加者將可現場體驗 IP 商品化的魅力。

新北收購
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