Following posts on social media last week where some YouTube TV subscribers noticed a $60 credit waiting for them in their account settings, Variety is reporting that YouTube is now sending subscribers an additional $20 credit. The company has not yet made an official statement on the matter, although a YouTube spokesperson confirmed the timetable for the credit’s rollout to TechCrunch . The news follows promises from YouTube to give YouTube TV customers a $20 credit if the blackout of Disney content on the Live TV service continued.
According to the report, emails with instructions on how to claim the credit began sending out yesterday, and “all credits will be issued by Wednesday, Nov. 12.” That would mark a little over ten days since Disney content disappeared from YouTube TV at the end of October.
Variety’s report also iterates that the credit is a one-time offer, answering one of the larger lingering questions about the deal. The prior $60 credit, for instance, was actually made up of six $10 credits spread over half a year.
Subscribers could theoretically use the saved money to purchase a month of the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundle (with ads) , although there’s no obligation to do so. YouTube had previously promised a similar compensation credit matching the cost for a month of Paramount+ when it seemed like Paramount channels might leave the YouTube TV service , although a deal was struck before it became necessary.
The most important thing to know about this credit is that it will not apply automatically, nor is it just free money. It’s instead a discount on your next billing cycle, which means you’ll need to stay subscribed to at least another month of YouTube TV to benefit from it, and you shouldn’t expect a gift card or payout. Currently, YouTube TV costs $73 a month for the first three months, and $83 a month afterwards. With the credit applied, that’ll take the cost down to either $53 or $63, depending on how long you’ve been subscribed.
To apply the credit to your account, keep an eye out on an email, and if you don’t get one by Wednesday, follow up with YouTube TV support . Alternatively, try checking your account settings page in the meantime, specifically under Settings > Membership > Manage. If the new credit is anything like the old one, you’ll be able to apply it here. Just make sure you’re on a desktop computer—the previous credit wasn’t showing up for users on mobile. (Note that if you don’t see a “Manage” button next to the Base Plan under Membership, you’re likely not logged in under the “Family Manager” account; only that account—not other users in the family—can claim the credit.)
