YouTube Looking To Launch Online TV Service Next Year With ESPN, ABC, And CBS

If you're a cable-cutter who's hated to lose some key channels by dropping cable TV, you might just be in luck when YouTube rolls out what's in effect a replacement later this year.

It's been rumored for quite some time that the company has wanted to offer a subscription-based service that would include a number of common channels - it'd benefit not just YouTube, but the channel owners, and of course, consumers, who'd end up getting a better deal than going with a traditional cable TV service.

That price has been pegged at "under" $35/mo, which might seem a bit high, but the value will really come in when what's included is finally revealed. At the moment, it seems extremely likely that ABC, CBS, and ESPN will all be featured, although it'll likely require a lot more than that to justify $35/mo. For most, anything more than $5/mo per channel might seem too high.

One way YouTube is likely to bolster its offerings is by including select exclusive channels on its own service in the package, ones that currently offer their own subscription fees. Ultimately, we could end up seeing different channels that help replace the mainstays on traditional cable. Wouldn't it be great to have a proper music channel since MTV doesn't want to be one anymore?

If all goes according to plan, we could see YouTube's advanced subscription service go live within the next 6 to 9 months. Hopefully, we'll see many more leaks before then, as this truly could become the ultimate cable TV killer.