Does Getting YouTube TV Remove Ads? What You Need to Know
Quick Answer: No, YouTube TV does not remove all ads. You will still see commercials on live TV and also on many on-demand shows. YouTube Premium only removes ads from normal YouTube videos not from live or recorded TV on YouTube TV.
YouTube TV lets you watch live channels, record shows, and stream sports or news without a cable box. Many people think paying for it means no ads but that is not true. This is where people get confused.
Many users mix up YouTube TV and YouTube Premium. They sound similar but they are not the same thing. Here I will explain which ads stay and which go away and if YouTube TV is still worth it.
Does YouTube TV Remove Ads?
No, YouTube TV does not remove commercials from live TV or most on-demand shows. The ads come from the channels you watch not from YouTube itself.
So if you get YouTube TV you will still see normal commercial breaks on live TV. You might also see ads on on-demand shows depending on which version you watch.
Why You Still See Ads on YouTube TV
The main reason is simple. YouTube TV shows live and on-demand programs from other networks. Those channels already have ads in them so YouTube TV just streams what they give.
Common reasons you still see ads include:
- You are watching a live TV channel
- You opened a video-on-demand version of a show
- You are watching recorded TV content, not regular YouTube videos
- You do not have YouTube Premium for standard YouTube video playback
Ads on Live TV Stay Part of the Broadcast
Live TV on YouTube TV is almost like cable. If a channel has commercials during a show you will see them too. This happens on local channels, sports, and most cable networks on YouTube TV.
So paying for YouTube TV does not mean you get ad-free sports or news or local shows. You just get the normal channel feed not a special version without ads.
On-Demand Shows Can Have Forced Ads
On-demand shows also confuse people. YouTube TV says you might see ads on these programs. Most of the time these ads come from the network and you cannot always skip them.
This is important because a show can show up in more than one way. One might be a DVR recording and another might be a VOD copy from the network. The VOD version usually has forced ads.
Recorded Shows and DVR Ads Work Differently
YouTube TV gives you unlimited cloud DVR. You can record shows and not worry about storage. Sometimes this changes how ads work.
If you watch a real DVR version you can skip the ads even if you see yellow markers. If you get the VOD version you might have to watch the ads from the network.
So the main thing is not just if the show is recorded. You need to check if you are watching the DVR copy or the on-demand one. This small thing makes a big difference.
Does YouTube Premium Remove YouTube TV Ads?
No, YouTube Premium does not remove TV ads. If you have both you can watch YouTube videos without ads but live and recorded TV will still have commercials.
This is the main thing to remember. YouTube Premium only helps with normal YouTube videos and Shorts. It does not make YouTube TV ad-free for live TV.
YouTube TV vs YouTube Premium
Here is the simple difference
| YouTube TV | Streams live TV, local channels, sports, and on-demand TV | No, live TV and many TV programs still have ads |
| YouTube Premium | Removes ads from regular YouTube videos and adds other YouTube perks | Yes, for regular YouTube videos, but not for live and recorded TV on YouTube TV |
This is why some people get both if they watch a lot of live TV and also normal YouTube videos.
Can You Skip Ads on YouTube TV?
Sometimes you can skip ads sometimes you cannot. It depends on which version you are watching. If it is DVR you can usually fast-forward. If it is VOD you might have to watch the ads.
This is why some people think YouTube TV changed. Most of the time it did not change. They just opened a different version of the show or movie.
How to Reduce Ads on YouTube TV
You cannot remove all ads from YouTube TV but you can make it less annoying with a few tips.
- Record shows you care about so a DVR version may become available later.
- Check whether you are watching DVR or VOD before you assume ads cannot be skipped.
- Add YouTube Premium if you also watch regular YouTube videos on your TV.
- Use “Choose a Version” when available to look for a DVR copy instead of a VOD copy.
These steps will not make YouTube TV fully ad-free but they can help make it better.
Is YouTube TV Still Worth It If It Has Ads?
It depends on what you want. YouTube TV gives live channels, local networks for most people, on-demand TV, and unlimited DVR. For many people these features are more important than removing every ad.
It can still be a good choice if you want:
- live sports and news
- local channels
- cable-style viewing without a cable box
- unlimited DVR for shows and events
My honest opinion is this. If you want YouTube TV to be like ad-free Netflix you will be disappointed. If you want a cable replacement with good DVR then it still makes sense. That is just my view but it matches what YouTube TV offers.
Conclusion
Getting YouTube TV does not remove ads like many people think. You will still see commercials on live TV and many on-demand shows. YouTube Premium helps with normal YouTube videos but does not remove live TV ads on YouTube TV.
My suggestion is to get YouTube TV for live channels, sports, and DVR not for an ad-free experience. If you watch a lot of normal YouTube then maybe add YouTube Premium too.
Leave a comment and tell me this: do you want YouTube TV for live channels, or were you mainly hoping it would remove ads?
