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YouTube TV Removes DVR Restrictions on CBS, Smithsonian Channel, and POP TV

In early 2018, YouTube TV added DVR restrictions which prevented users from skipping ads on recorded shows. Late last year, they removed those from nearly every channel except those owned by CBS. On CBS however, users would have their recorded show replaced with a VOD version with unskippable ads.

Starting today, the final set of holdouts — CBS, Smithsonian Channel, and POP TV — will no longer be DVR restricted. That means those channels will now support the ability to rewind, fast forward, and pause.

With the change, that leaves just Hulu Live TV as the only service that does not offer users the ability to skip ads during recordings — that requires a $9.99 a month upgrade. fuboTV, Philo, Sling TV, and AT&T TV NOW each offer the ability to skip ads on all recordings.


Jason Gurwin has has spent the last 10 years in the technology, media, entertainment industries. For The Streamable, he specializes in all things media like streaming services, devices, and cord cutting.

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