Have you been thinking about cutting the cable TV cord? Sick of paying for channels you never watch or dealing with hidden fees and contracts? YouTube TV lets you break free to stream your favorite cable shows over the internet.
And watching YouTube TV on a Roku device makes getting there easier than you might think.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get YouTube‘s live TV service set up on your Roku streaming player. I‘ll explain exactly what YouTube TV offers compared to old-fashioned cable. And provide step-by-step instructions tailored to Roku with helpful screenshots illustrating each step.
By the end, you’ll unlock 85+ live channels on your TV with just a simple streaming device.
What is YouTube TV – And Why Stream it on Roku?
YouTube TV brings popular live cable TV channels like ESPN, CNN, TBS, Discovery, FX and dozens more, streaming over the internet direct to your screen of choice. Much like Sling TV, Hulu Live or other streaming "skinny bundles”.
For $64.99 a month, you get:
- 85+ top Live TV channels – sports, news, entertainment
- Unlimited cloud DVR storage space
- 6 user profiles per account
- 3 concurrent streams
Unlike old-fashioned cable dressed up as "new", YouTube TV has no contracts, hidden fees or hardware rentals. Stream anywhere on your terms through smart devices, mobile apps and popular streaming platforms like Roku.
And that flexibility makes it easy to ditch cable forever without missing the live channels you love.
Why choose Roku specifically? Roku players, streaming sticks and Roku TVs deliver the simplest way to stream YouTube TV from virtually any TV with an HDMI port. No puzzle of inputs to switch between. Access everything from a single, easy-to-use home screen.
Step 1 – Set Up Your Roku Device
First things first, let‘s get your Roku device powered on and connected if you haven‘t already:
Here’s a quick step list, but Roku hardware offers painless plug-and-play setup:
- Plug Roku power cable into outlet or TV USB port
- Connect Roku player into open HDMI port on TV
- Turn TV input to match Roku HDMI port
- Follow the on-screen setup prompts:
- Select language
- Connect to wifi
- Create/sign into Roku account
- Roku home screen loads once setup completes
Easy enough right? Now Roku just needs a streaming app to access all that YouTube TV goodness.
Step 2 – Install YouTube TV Channel on Roku
From Roku’s home screen with all streaming channel icons, finding and adding YouTube TV takes just seconds:
- Scroll down and click the "Search" icon
- Type in "YouTube TV"
- Select the YouTube TV app from results list
- Click "Add Channel" on YouTube TV page
Once downloaded to your Roku, you can launch the YouTube TV app. But first we need to sign to gain access to all features.
Step 3 – Sign In & Start YouTube TV Free Trial
Launch the newly-added YouTube TV channel from your Roku homepage. The app opens to display sign-in options:
- If you have an existing YouTube TV account, sign in with credentials
- OR start a 1-month free trial by selecting "Start free trial"
- Enter your credit card info (required upfront but easily cancelled)
And that’s it! You now have full access on Roku to YouTube TV’s 85+ live channels plus unlimited cloud DVR.
Step 4 – Start Streaming Live TV on YouTube TV
Once signed in to your YouTube TV membership (paid or on free trial), you‘ll see the service‘s channel guide:
Easily browse through categories like:
- Live
- Sports
- News
- Entertainment
- YouTube TV For You
- Library
Or scroll left/right to view what’s airing later. Click any show tile to instantly start watching that live channel.
Plus your unlimited DVR acts like a supercharged cable box, letting you record as much as you want to stream whenever. And it integrates into the overall guide for one-click access.
With just a couple quick steps, you’ve unlocked a world of streaming entertainment through YouTube TV. Ditch cable contracts and hardware to watch your top channels on one reliable, cost-effective platform.
YouTube vs YouTube TV vs Premium – What’s the Difference?
Now that you have YouTube TV up and running alongside regular YouTube, let’s quickly clear up what each distinct platform offers:
| YouTube | YouTube TV | YouTube Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Free video site and community | Live TV streaming service | Ad-free YouTube experience |
| Price | Free | $64.99/month | $12.99/month |
| Content | User-generated videos | 85+ Live cable channels | Ad-free YouTube videos + Original series |
| Top Features | Video search/browse, creator subscriptions, playlists, cat videos | Live sports, news and entertainment, unlimited Cloud DVR | No ads on YouTube, Premium music option, YouTube Originals shows/movies |
YouTube = The OG video site enjoyed free by billions
YouTube TV = Replace cable TV with 85+ live streamable channels
YouTube Premium = Pay to remove YouTube ads + access original content
Hope that clears up how regular YouTube, YouTube Premium and YouTube TV all differ!
How YouTube TV Compares to Other Live Streaming Services
Although YouTube TV popularized streaming live cable over the internet, plenty of similar services now compete for your dollars. How does it stack up against other top options?
YouTube TV
- Channels: 85+
- Price: $64.99/month
- DVR: Unlimited hours
- Concurrent Streams: 3
Hulu + Live TV
- Channels: 75+ local & cable
- Price: $69.99/month
- DVR: 50 hours (200 hr upgrade available)
- Concurrent Streams: 2
Sling TV
- Channels: 30-50+
- Price: $35-$50/month
- DVR: 50 hours (10 hr base)
- Concurrent Streams: 1-4
fuboTV
- Channels: 100+ with tons of sports
- Price: $69.99/month
- DVR: 250 hours included
- Concurrent Streams: 3
Lots of overlap across the above competitors. But fuboTV offers more robust sports options while Sling TV starts cheaper albeit with fewer channels included.
YouTube TV sits in the middle both price and channel-wise. Unlimited DVR certainly doesn‘t hurt either!
No matter which streaming TV provider you choose, Roku makes it easy try them all out risk-free. Install any or every app to test drive your best option.
Tips & Tricks for Streaming YouTube TV on Roku
Once you dive in, YouTube TV should work and feel just like cable. But optimized for streaming over the internet – no boxes or remotes required!
That said, these pro tips will help ensure the smoothest streaming experience:
- Let YouTube TV adjust streaming quality based on your bandwidth
- Rearrange your channel guide via the Filters icon
- Cast YouTube TV streams from phone to Roku mid-viewing
- Enable auto-sleep to record shows airing later
- Position Roku player closer to router/ethernet for faster speeds
- Upgrade home internet speeds for optimal streaming quality
Follow those suggestions and YouTube TV provides a cable-calibre experience tailored to streaming platforms like Roku. Its intuitive design means near anyone can master it in minutes without needing "cable guy" expertise! 😉
Conclusion
And there you have it! A step-by-step walkthrough detailing exactly how to get YouTube‘s live TV service streaming on your Roku player.
Within about 5 minutes you can open a whole new world of entertainment beyond old-fashioned cable (but with the channels you love). Gain flexibility to stream anytime, anywhere while saving money.
YouTube TV stands tall as a top streaming TV platform. And Roku devices offer the perfect vehicle for accessing its 85+ channels on your terms.
So what are you waiting for? Follow the guide above to add YouTube TV on your Roku today! Then kick back and enjoy live sports, news, comedy and more streamed directly to the convenience of your home screen. 🙌