YouTube TV Review: Great Interface, But Key Sports Missing

Google is the latest company to launch a live-TV streaming service, debuting YouTube TV last week with plenty of fanfare, as the internet giant tries to bring in younger viewers who have largely opted out of linear television — ironically, in favor of services like YouTube, in many cases.

YouTube TV costs $35/month (the first month is free), and includes six accounts to prevent family members with different tastes’ recommendations from cross-contaminating. It offers 40 channels to start, focused on the four major broadcast networks, with more on the way, including “The Walking Dead” home AMC Networks. The service is currently available in five markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and the San Francisco Bay Area, and there are no long-term contracts.

TheWrap has been playing with YouTube TV for a few days now, using the service on a phone, tablet, desktop computer and television. And while it’s not yet a replacement for cable (as it’s still missing some of the most popular channels like CNN), YouTube TV gets high marks for its user experience and reliability.

Also Read: YouTube TV Has Just Gone Live (Video)

First, the good:

Awesome and convenient interface
YouTube TV’s control center might be the most user-friendly one developed yet and has three basic views: “Library,” “Home” and “Live.” Library is pretty self-explanatory, being a place for recorded shows (YouTube’s cloud DVR is easy enough to use — select a show and click a “+” button and all upcoming episodes are recorded and added to the library — and has an effectively limitless capacity).

Home is a Netflix or Hulu-like dashboard that shows popular live programs and suggestions to watch and record, while Live is essentially a much better version of the traditional spreadsheet-like channel guide. It overlays a live feed of the selected channel when toggling through the guide (the Home screen also shows live video in its dashboard), meaning that disappointing feeling of finding something good on and clicking over just in time for a commercial is a thing of the past. The guide is also just plain fun to scroll through

Also Read: Why YouTube TV Needs Time Warner But Not Viacom

Technology appears ready for prime time
AT&T launched its own streaming service, DirecTV Now, late last year, offering a whopping 100-plus channels for an introductory rate of $35 a month (which seems to be the price many of these services are converging around). And while DirecTV Now came to market with an expansive suite of channels and support across multiple devices, its early rollout was plagued by issues connecting and loading channels — which TheWrap also experienced.

People watch 1 billion hours of video on YouTube every day, so the company has some expertise in building a reliable backend, but the service’s smoothness was still impressive. Watching YouTube TV on an iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air and HDTV via Google’s Chromecast dongle, TheWrap experienced nothing but quick and smooth loading when changing channels and moving between devices, and a crisp picture that looked no different from a cable or satellite feed.

Also Read: 5 Things To Know About YouTube TV, From its Reimagined Customer Service to the NFL

Easy to follow your favorite teams — as long as their games are on the right channels
TheWrap immediately set YouTube TV to record all televised games from the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers. The problem with that is the Lakers’ and Dodgers’ main local TV channels aren’t available (yet) on YouTube TV, but fans of teams that have local broadcast partners in the Fox Sports family, for example, would find this incredibly convenient.

Reliable content recommendations, especially with multiple accounts
TheWrap has only been using YouTube TV for a few days, but YouTube’s incisive video recommendation engine is already making suggestions that have led to exploring — and enjoying — new shows. It has also seemed to figure out which sports TheWrap likes better than others. And with other users having the option to have their own accounts under the same master account, those individualized recommendations should continue to improve.

Also Read: YouTube Unveils YouTube TV, $35 Monthly Subscription Service

Now, onto the not so good:

Time Warner channels are sorely missed
The lack of Time Warner channels is a gaping hole — especially given the fact that the service launched on the eve of the NBA playoffs, which promise to be as exciting a tournament as ever. YouTube TV doesn’t have CNN — a significant void in the Trump era — but cable news junkies have alternatives like MSNBC and Fox News. However, passionate basketball fans wouldn’t have been able to catch much of March Madness without TNT, TBS and TruTV — and they’ll miss dozens of NBA playoff games, including all first-round matchups not on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays (and half of the weekend games).

Also Read: YouTube CEO: We Beat Every Network

Good sports, but not good enough
YouTube TV was built around the major broadcast networks and includes the regional sports networks owned by the big four. TheWrap was able to watch the Los Angeles Kings v. Anaheim Ducks hockey game Saturday on Fox Sports West or Fox Sports Prime Ticket, but Spectrum SportsNet — the home of the Lakers and Galaxy — and Spectrum SportsNet LA, which televises Los Angeles Dodgers games, are not available on YouTube TV.

There’s also no league-affiliated networks, which televise numerous games and highlight shows. The NFL Network, NBA TV, MLB Network and NHL Networks are nowhere to be found YouTube TV.

Also Read: YouTube Plans to Sell Cable TV Bundle (Report)

Limited device support for smart TVs
At this point, YouTube TV can only be watched on an actual TV using a Chromecast device, which worked well enough when TheWrap tried it, but requires a smartphone or tablet to “cast” it. There isn’t a standalone Apple TV or Roku app available yet, despite those being among the most popular smart TV hubs. YouTube TVdoesn’t even have an app on Google’s own Android TV at this point.

You can’t fast-forward shows recorded on the DVR if they’re also available on demand
YouTube TV’s DVR works like most others in that it allows users to fast-forward through commercials when watching recorded shows. But there’s one exception: they can’t do that when there’s an on-demand version of the same program available on the service, and are instead re-directed to that version, which has ads. The company attributed this policy to deals with its programming partners, but it’s an unusual feature. Even traditional pay-TV companies, which aren’t exactly known for being consumer friendly, allow customers to watch recorded shows when there are also available versions on demand.

Also Read: Why Streaming NFL Games on Your Phone Is So Complicated - And Why That May Change

The verdict:
YouTube TV offers an interface that borders on delightful and a decent selection of channels for $35 a month. The six included accounts and cloud DVR are nice bonuses, and most importantly, unlike plenty of other streaming services marred by buggy debuts, YouTube TV works really well.

But without the Turner channels, Viacom networks (including MTV and Comedy Central) and the most popular prestige channel, Time Warner’s HBO (although Showtime can be added for $11/month), it’s simply not a replacement for the standard suite of channels Americans are used to. Its channel offerings are more along the lines of what one would find in a decent hotel (minus the ubiquitous CNN).

Like the other live-TV streaming services, including DirecTV Now, Dish Network’s Sling TV and Hulu’s upcoming offering, YouTube TV isn’t going to convince people who value — and can afford — the hundreds of channels they get in a traditional cable or satellite package to downsize. But it should attract cord-cutters — although maybe not ones who are huge NBA fans — and its smart interface and recommendations make it seem like there’s always interesting stuff on even with a limited array of channels. At a time when linear TV has never seemed less cool, maybe that’s its true genius.

26 Streaming TV Shows You Can Binge in a Weekend (Photos)

Labor Day is a great time to hang out with friends and family and do some grilling. It's also a great time to stay in, watch TV, and do absolutely nothing else. Thanks to streaming services like Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu and Amazon Prime, there are a ton of great shows you can stream while you're avoiding sunlight. Here are 26 that you'll be able to wrap up before heading back to work next week.
"Altered Carbon" (Netflix)

A gritty sci-fi murder mystery, "Altered Carbon" takes place in the distant future, where consciousness can be downloaded and people can switch bodies to live forever -- if they can afford it. Action-packed and twisty, "Altered Carbon" is a great 10-episode mystery to work through on your days off.
Netflix
"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" (Amazon Prime)

Amazon's period comedy about a housewife turned stand-up comedian took home Golden Globes this year for best comedy TV series and best actress in a comedy series for star Rachel Brosnahan. The funny, expertly cast comedy with eight hour-long episodes to keep you busy for a couple days.
Netflix
"Lost in Space" (Netflix)

Netflix rebooted the 1960s sci-fi TV show "Lost in Space," creating a more modern version of the Robinson family that feels grounded, while still "out there" in a similar way as the original. Parker Posey is also a standout as the slimy Dr. Smith in the 10-episode first season.
Netflix
"The Runaways" (Hulu)

The first Marvel show to make it to Hulu is a refreshing change from the Netflix takes. It follows a group of teenagers as they realize not only that they're special, but that their conspiratorial parents are not to be trusted. At 10 episodes, it's a quick watch and an interesting take on superhero TV shows.
Hulu
"Jack Ryan" (Amazon Prime)

Amazon gives a new look at Tom Clancy's many-storied spy, with John Krasinski taking on the role of the CIA analyst who quickly finds himself trying to take down terrorists. The eight-episode season is a relatively quick watch but has plenty of action and intrigue to keep viewers engaged.

Netflix
"Wormwood" (Netflix)

Directed by legendary documentarian Errol Morris, the hybrid docu-drama miniseries "Wormwood" digs into the story of a man's death, reportedly as part of a CIA experiment in the 1950s. But as files are declassified and more information comes to light, "Wormwood" tells the story of a possible Cold War conspiracy, reenacted by some top Hollywood talent. If you're looking for a new true crime obsession, the six-part miniseries is perfect.
Netflix
"Future Man" (Hulu)

A guy who finds himself recruited by soldiers from the future to fight genetically enhanced bad guys in "Future Man," because he's awesome at a video game. Turns out, he's not especially good at anything else. Riffing on classics like "Back to the Future," "Future Man" is pretty funny, and pretty smart, too. And with one season out, it's easy to work through in a couple of lazy days.
Hulu
"Dark" (Netflix)

It's easy to get lost in the mystery of "Dark," which centers on a small German town where children keep going missing. Before long, it becomes clear there' sci-fi spookiness afoot, as events start to mirror similar ones that happened 33 years ago. With the first season available, "Dark" is a quick watch that will keep you glued to your seat.
Netflix
"The Orville" (Hulu)

The first season of "The Orville" is all available on Hulu, and anybody itching for a return to old-school "Star Trek" should give it a shot. The show is basically what would happen if regular people served on the U.S.S. Enterprise -- a humorous and accessible take on the "Star Trek" formula, but which still gets what made those series so endearing.
Fox
"The Punisher" (Netflix)

The latest of the Marvel Netflix series follows a former marine who takes down criminals -- and finds himself unwittingly at the center of a conspiracy. "The Punisher" might be the best of the Marvel series so far, balancing the Punisher taking down bad guys and dealing with his own personal demons.
Netflix
“The Night Of” (HBO Go, HBO Now)

HBO’s short miniseries starts with an accusation and a murder, and spirals from there. Naz is a Muslim kid arrested for a murder he can’t remember if he committed, and even before his trial, the situation ripples out to affect everyone even remotely related to him or the crime. It’s a dark and dramatic look into the criminal justice system that goes beyond the usual police procedural.
HBO
“The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” (Netflix)

Looking back into the American zeitgeist of 1994, FX’s drama adaptation of the trial of the century is an enthralling 10 episodes. It’s brilliantly cast and captures the moment, with all its bizarre and upsetting ins and outs, extremely well.
Netflix
“The OA” (Netflix)

Diving deep into the "strange and mysterious serialized show" category is "The OA," about a kidnapped blind woman who returns to her hometown with the ability to see. The series gets even weirder after that, constantly posing mysterious questions about the woman's powers and her kidnapping. The strangeness only escalates, so binge now for a mystery to solve ahead of the show's second season.
Netflix
"Castle Rock" (Hulu)

Part adaptation, part original story, "Castle Rock" takes place in the spooky town that's the setting for many of Stephen King's spookiest stories. "Castle Rock" is still airing new episodes weekly in the first season of the anthology series, but there are enough to make what's available a binge-worthy proposition.
“Black Mirror” (Netflix)

There are actually four seasons' worth of episodes of “Black Mirror” available on Netflix, but at only six episodes each, the series is just contained enough that you can get through the whole thing in a couple of days. It’s worth it, too, as “Black Mirror” puts a “Twilight Zone” twist on modern technology and human relationships.
Netflix
“The Jinx” (HBO Go and HBO Now)

The story of Robert Durst is a strange one, filled with disappearances, murder, dismemberment, and bad disguises. The six-episode documentary miniseries goes through the story of Durst's early life and the disappearance of his wife, through two other deaths, and ends with a possible bombshell break in the case. It's the kind of binge watch material that's hard to pull away from.
HBO
“The Fall” (Netflix)

This British police procedural about a detective hunting a serial killer stars Gillian Anderson of “X-Files” fame and Jamie Dornan of “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Though it covers three total seasons, the shorter series of BBC shows means the grand total is just 17 episodes.
Netflix
“Band of Brothers” (HBO Go and HBO Now)

Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks produced this drama that follows the 101st Airborne through the European Theater in World War II. Intense, personal and powerful, the 10-part series tells the story of the war in a way that few other movies or series have captured.
HBO
“Making a Murderer” (Netflix)

This intensive documentary series covers the story of Steven Avery, who was exonerated of a rape accusation before being arrested for murder. The documentary covers the sorted story of the crime, the investigation, and the prosecution over 10 episodes, raising plenty of questions about whether Avery is guilty along the way.
Netflix
“Crazy Head” (Netflix)

British horror-comedy “Crazy Head” is about two women who can see demons. At first they think they’re crazy — but then they realize the demons are real. Over six episodes, Amy and Raquel battle the forces of evil, making it a funny experience that’s easy to knock out in a hurry.
Netflix
“11.22.63” (Hulu)

Adapting Stephen King’s novel of the same name, “11.22.63” sends James Franco back in time from 2016 to the 1960s. The plan: stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy and rewrite the entire future of America for the better. The entire story is perfect weekend material, covered in just eight episodes.
Hulu
"The Young Pope" (HBO Go, HBO Now)

Jude Law is the first American pope in a dark comedy about religion, authority, politics and backstabbing. "The Young Pope" has its surreal moments as Law's Pius XIII tries to deflect the machinations of the cardinals around him and figure out what to handle being His Holiness.
HBO
"Big Little Lies" (HBO Go, HBO Now)

HBO's scandal- and rumor-fueled dark comedy "Big Little Lies" also became a whodunit as its drama unfolded. With a star-studded cast that includes Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Alexander Skarsgard and Laura Dern, and clocking in at only seven episodes, "Big Little Lies" is a quick, high-quality watch. A second season of the show is on the way, but it probably won't land until 2019, so you've got plenty of time to catch up.
HBO
"The Confession Tapes" (Netflix)

The latest true crime documentary series on Netflix focuses on several cases in which people confessed to crimes they claim they didn't actually commit. Each case will leave viewers wondering if the people in question really are the perpetrators, or if police misconduct, psychological probing and other factors are really to blame for creating false confessions. There are no easy answers, but the questions "The Confession Tapes" raises about the American justice system are definitely interesting ones.
Netflix
"The Keepers" (Netflix)

Another of Netflix's lengthy true crime documentary sets out to try to find the killer of Sister Cathy Cesnick, a Catholic nun and teacher who died in 1969. The show quickly uncovers a sprawling, horrific tale of sexual abuse at a Baltimore Catholic school that might have led to Sister Cathy's murder, and possibly a cover up.
NBC
"The Staircase" (Netflix)

Dig into the story of the murder trial of Michael Peterson, accused of killing his wife Kathleen on the staircase in their house, as the story spans more than a decade. Netflix's new documentary adds three new episodes to the story of the trial, which took place in 2003, and its aftermath, digging into the investigation surrounding Peterson, the trial, and his ultimate fate.
Need more TV to binge? Check out our list of the 20 best Netflix original series that demand your attention.
Or catch up on some of the best shows to ever air on HBO.

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If you’re looking to beat the heat and stay home, settle in with these great streaming shows you can wrap up over the course of a few easy-going days

Labor Day is a great time to hang out with friends and family and do some grilling. It's also a great time to stay in, watch TV, and do absolutely nothing else. Thanks to streaming services like Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu and Amazon Prime, there are a ton of great shows you can stream while you're avoiding sunlight. Here are 26 that you'll be able to wrap up before heading back to work next week.

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26 Streaming TV Shows You Can Binge in a Weekend (Photos)

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