Blaming the cost of content, Google raises the price of YouTube TV to $73

Google announced a price hike for its YouTube TV subscriptions on Thursday. That’s increased from $65 per month to $73 per month starting in April, according to an email sent to customers on Thursday.

YouTube TV is Google’s cable replacement. It provides access to Live TV and Cable channels through internet connection.

“As material costs have increased and we continue to invest in the quality of our service, we are updating our pricing to provide you with the best possible service,” the company said in an email to customers.

Google’s move to raise the price of its over-the-air subscriptions for cord cutters comes after several competing online streaming services, including those from Disney, Apple and HBO, raised the amount they charge.

In December, YouTube TV secured the rights to the NFL’s “Sunday Ticket” package, which would allow it to sell a bundle of out-of-market NFL games that do not air on local TV to subscribers across the country.

CNBC reported that YouTube would pay about $2 billion per year for the package, with several other bidders including Apple and Disney. Google hasn’t announced pricing for its “Sunday Ticket” bundle, but under its previous owner DirecTV it cost $80 a month.

Google will also reduce the price of add-ons for accessing high-resolution 4K streams from $20 per month to $10 per month, according to the email.