Sunday was a monumental day for football fans as YouTube TV took over from DirecTV as the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket.
The NFL decided to award the rights to out-of-market games to the streaming platform, with a reported cost of $2 billion per year for seven years.
This move marks the first time the package has been taken away from DirecTV since its inception in 1994.
Leading up to the release of Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV, many had questions about how the transition from satellite to streaming would fare.
Concerns were raised about potential latency and delay issues, as well as whether fans would be able to watch multiple games simultaneously.
Additionally, there were worries regarding technical difficulties that have previously plagued other streaming services during large, live productions.
Now, following the first wave of 1 PM E.T. NFL games on the opening Sunday of the season, it is clear that Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV has been a resounding success.
One of the standout features that YouTube TV has introduced is multiview, which allows fans to watch up to four games simultaneously on their home screen.
However, there are a couple of limitations to this feature. Currently, the selection of games available for multiview is curated by YouTube TV itself. Therefore, fans cannot pick their own set of four games at this time.
Additionally, this feature is only accessible on smart TVs or streaming devices and is not available on the web.
Nevertheless, the range of games offered is quite extensive, with most including options alongside the highly sought-after NFL RedZone.
This is particularly beneficial for viewers who want to watch their favorite team play while having the convenience of flipping to another game during commercials.
It took a little while, but I have achieved happiness. pic.twitter.com/ITjqSDQcCu
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) September 10, 2023
Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV is already significantly better than DirecTV.
The video quality is better and the 4-game multi-view is an awesome edition.
Now let us pick the game combinations ourselves and it’ll be a home run.
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) September 10, 2023
It’s amazing. I never expected this. In love. pic.twitter.com/w96QktZDWN
— WFANTrades (@WFANTrades) September 10, 2023
Zero issues outside of wishing we could pick games for quad box.
— Mike Lupole (@MLupole) September 10, 2023
YouTube TV NFL Sunday Ticket multi view looking 💯… pic.twitter.com/as8junCarC
— Jared Hunt (@jaredwv) September 10, 2023
One of the major concerns before the introduction of Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV was the potential for delays in streaming, especially for those who enjoy placing bets on the games.
However, these concerns were largely alleviated following the platform’s debut.
Delays were minimal, except for RedZone, which appeared to be slightly behind when showing highlights of the game being watched.
Moreover, the streaming quality was exceptional, earning high praise from former player and analyst Steve Smith. Overall, the consensus is that Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV has been an overwhelming success.
Top notch work moving NFL Sunday Ticket over. Truly.
EXQUISITE WORK, Y'ALL.
No hassles AT ALL. Logging in has been easy, no delays, no weird "verify your current playback area" messages." Nothing like that in the slightest.
— Sean Orleans, Noted Raconteur (@SeanOrleans) September 10, 2023
Moving forward, it is hoped that no further issues arise throughout the season and that fans will eventually have the option to customize their multiview experience.
Nonetheless, aside from these minor improvements, Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV fulfills the expectations of fans and provides an outstanding viewing experience.
As the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, YouTube TV has firmly established itself as a top-tier streaming platform for football enthusiasts.
