Skip to Content

Add The Streamable as a preferred source on Google to see more streaming news and deals.

YouTube, YouTube TV back online after massive outage

YouTube, YouTube TV back online after massive outage

The two streaming platforms were down for hours on Tuesday night, but have since been restored.

Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.
A widespread outage affected hundreds of thousands of YouTube viewers on Tuesday night.

Google headquarters must have been a somewhat frantic place on Tuesday evening. Starting at around 7:45 p.m. ET on Tuesday night, thousands of YouTube and YouTube TV customers were unable to access the platforms. A widespread outage gripped YouTube services thanks to an internal issue that appears to have been resolved as of Wednesday morning.

Key Details:

  • Many affected: A widespread outage of YouTube and YouTube TV prevented thousands from watching the platforms on Tuesday night.
  • Not so helpful: YouTube officials blamed the site’s recommendation engine for the outage.
  • Back in action: As of Wednesday morning, the problem appears fully resolved.

The website Downdetector registered over 300,000 complaints that YouTube was not functional on Tuesday night. Users reported being unable to watch their subscription feed, Shorts, or even to access the service’s home page, whether on the service’s website or on its mobile app.

Although not as widespread, YouTube TV also suffered an outage on Tuesday night. Subscribers like The Streamable’s own Matt Tamanini report issues logging into YouTube TV; using a mobile device or computer to try to log into YouTube TV on a TV continued to bring up the same error message, as shown in the images below.

Despite allowing customers to log in, YouTube TV would show an error:

Click images to expand.

At around 9:30 p.m. ET, YouTube acknowledged that a problem with its recommendation system was preventing videos from appearing correctly on YouTube and was working on a fix. The company also said that YouTube TV subscribers who weren’t able to log in were experiencing a related issue.

Shortly after 10 p.m. ET, YouTube reported it was fully back online, and reports about continued issues have ceased as of Wednesday morning. Still, that’s of little comfort to viewers who had to miss a chosen program on YouTube TV on Tuesday night, and the streamer is unlikely to offer a credit for such a short outage.

Nevertheless, the issue is resolved, and the most-watched streaming platform in the United States is back online. YouTube engineers are kept busy by the platform’s various idiosyncrasies; in December, YouTube TV customers experienced widespread issues watching their DVR content as well.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $82.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.

…

Sports are a major focus for YouTube TV, with access to national and regional coverage, league networks, and marquee events. The service also serves as the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, available as an add-on, giving fans access to out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. YouTube TV also offers a smaller sports plan, allowing subscribers access to 30+ sports-oriented channels, including local networks in select markets.

YouTube TV includes unlimited cloud DVR storage at no extra cost, allowing subscribers to record as many shows as they want and keep recordings for up to nine months. The service is available across a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, streaming players, mobile devices, and web browsers. New subscribers can typically start with a free trial, though the trial length may vary by promotion.

With its broad channel lineup, strong sports offerings, unlimited DVR, and wide device support, YouTube TV remains one of the most comprehensive live TV streaming services for viewers who want a traditional TV experience without a cable contract.

Free Trial

New customers can save $15 per month for 5 months.


David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.

Add The Streamable as a preferred source on Google to see more streaming news and deals.

DIRECTV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $50 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for DIRECTV STREAM.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Sling TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $25 Uber Eats Gift Card when you sign up for Sling TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Hulu Live TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $35 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for Hulu Live TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.