This follows a wider trend toward skinny bundles, with competitors like DirecTV and Fubo launching similar offerings, and Apple TV signaling MLS paywall changes and free Friday Night Baseball in 2026.

A renewed agreement with Disney, reached in late 2025, enables this segmentation by ensuring access to the ESPN ecosystem and incorporating Disney networks into the genre plans.

The shift is framed as a continuation of YouTube TV’s move toward a more cable-like content packaging approach.

The report credits Aisha Malik of TechCrunch for reporting and provides contact details for verification.

Historical context notes that the traditional streaming bundle began in 2017 as a skinny bundle, with price pressures fueling cord-cutting and price hikes over time.

YouTube TV plans to unbundle its basic cable package in 2026 into more than 10 cheaper, genre-specific bundles branded as YouTube TV Plans, giving viewers finer control over what they watch.

There are mentions of additional packages such as news, family, and entertainment, though specifics beyond the Sports Plan and pricing for individual bundles remain undisclosed.

The move follows a year of contentious negotiations with Disney and other partners, including a recent Disney blackout that ended with a carriage deal, signaling a shift in bargaining dynamics.

The move sits within a broader industry shift toward skinnier bundles, alongside industry moves like Disney-Fubo collaboration and the dissolution of the Venu venture.

A central addition is the YouTube TV Sports Plan, which will include programming from FS1, NBC Sports Network, and the ESPN family, along with the ESPN Unlimited app.

Observers view the change as an attempt to recapture price-sensitive viewers who have moved to cheaper ad-supported options or dropped live TV altogether.

The development occurs amid a competitive market for sports streaming bundles as consumers seek flexibility and cost savings amid ongoing negotiations and carriage disputes.