Yes, YouTube TV has ESPN. The main plan carries ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, SEC Network and ACC Network, and so do the Sports and Sports + News plans. The News + Entertainment plan doesn't, so the plan you pick decides whether you get ESPN at all.
That last point is new. YouTube TV used to be one big bundle, so the answer was a simple yes. Now that it sells genre plans, two people paying for YouTube TV can have completely different sports channels. Here's how ESPN fits into each one, using YouTube TV's own lineup and help pages.
Which YouTube TV plans include ESPN
| YouTube TV plan | ESPN networks | Price YouTube TV shows (as of Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV (main plan) | ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, SEC Network, ACC Network, plus ESPN Unlimited in the lineup | $82.99 a month ($59.99 for a new user's first 2 months) |
| Sports + News | ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, SEC Network, ACC Network | $71.99 a month ($49.99 for a new user's first 5 months) |
| Sports | ESPN and the other sports channels from the main plan, plus locals | $64.99 a month |
| News + Entertainment | No ESPN networks in the lineup | Not priced on the sign-up page |
| Spanish Plan | ESPN Deportes | Not priced on the sign-up page |
The intro prices end on 16 November 2026, according to the YouTube TV sign-up page.
ESPN Unlimited on YouTube TV
ESPN Unlimited is ESPN's own streaming service, and YouTube TV lists it in the main plan's lineup. For the Sports Plan, YouTube TV's help centre goes further: it says Sports Plan members will receive ESPN Unlimited at no additional cost later this fall. That's YouTube TV's wording, so if ESPN Unlimited is the reason you're choosing the Sports Plan, check it's live on your account before you cancel any separate ESPN subscription.
If you're weighing ESPN on its own instead, the guide to ESPN Unlimited plans and bundles shows what it costs without a live TV service.
Monday Night Football and college games
Monday Night Football is the big reason people ask this question. It airs on ESPN (rival service Sling lists MNF on ESPN in its own sports schedule), so any YouTube TV plan with ESPN gets it. ABC is one of your local channels on YouTube TV too, depending on your ZIP code, so any game carried on ABC comes through your local station.
College sports fans do well here too. SEC Network and ACC Network sit next to ESPNU in the main and Sports + News lineups, and Big Ten Network is in both as well. That's more conference coverage than many cable packages include as standard.
How to check ESPN is in your YouTube TV lineup
- Go to tv.youtube.com/welcome. You don't need an account.
- Enter your home ZIP code in the channel lookup box and select Submit.
- Pick the plan tab you're considering and look for ESPN, ESPN2 and the conference networks.
- If you already subscribe, open YouTube TV, go to Settings, then Membership, to see which plan you're on.
Switching plans is quick: YouTube TV's help centre says the new plan starts straight away and you're charged the new price minus a credit for unused time. You can't switch plans inside the iOS or Android apps, though, so do it on a computer or TV.
If ESPN is the deciding network, how a rival service lines up is shown in YouTube TV set against Sling.
What you lose if you drop to a plan without ESPN
Two things catch people out. First, any intro price disappears: YouTube TV's help centre says that if you're on a promotional price and switch plans, you lose the promotion. Second, recordings from channels your new plan doesn't carry leave your Library. You get them back if you return to a plan with those channels within 21 days.
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So if you record a season of college football and then drop to News + Entertainment in the off-season, those games vanish from your Library after that window. It's worth knowing before you switch.
ESPN is one network among many, and the rest of the line-up is in every network on YouTube TV, plan by plan.
My verdict
If ESPN matters, YouTube TV is a safe choice, as long as you pick the main plan, the Sports Plan or Sports + News. The cheapest route to ESPN on YouTube TV is the Sports Plan at $64.99 a month, which still includes your locals for ABC games. Avoid News + Entertainment if you watch any ESPN sport, and if you're comparing services for live sport more broadly, my guide to watching sports on YouTube TV covers multiview, key plays and recording games.
For the rest of the series, see the YouTube Help: 30 Guides to Channels, Subscribers, Monetisation, Thumbnails and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Is ESPN included in YouTube TV?
Yes. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, SEC Network and ACC Network are in the main YouTube TV plan and the Sports + News plan, and the Sports Plan includes ESPN. The News + Entertainment plan doesn't include ESPN.
What is the cheapest way to get ESPN on YouTube TV?
The Sports Plan, which YouTube TV lists at $64.99 a month as of Oct 2026. It includes the sports channels from the main plan plus your local channels.
Can I watch Monday Night Football on YouTube TV?
Yes, on any YouTube TV plan that includes ESPN. If a game is shown on ABC, you'll get it through your local ABC station, which depends on your ZIP code.
Does YouTube TV include ESPN Unlimited?
ESPN Unlimited appears in the main plan's lineup, and YouTube TV's help centre says Sports Plan members will receive it at no additional cost later this fall.
