YouTube TV Adds Discovery+ as an $11.99 Add-On: What Changes for Subscribers
Short answer: As of October 6, 2026, YouTube TV sells Discovery+ as an optional add-on for $11.99 a month. Nothing is taken out of your plan and your base price doesn't change. TNT, TBS, CNN, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Discovery and the other Warner Bros. Discovery networks YouTube TV already carries stay where they are. What the add-on gives you is the Discovery+ on-demand library inside the YouTube TV app: back seasons, Discovery+ originals and two live NASA feeds, all billed on the same YouTube TV invoice.
- New: Discovery+ add-on, $11.99/month, one plan at launch, open to YouTube TV's main plan and its genre plans.
- Unchanged: the live Warner Bros. Discovery channels in your plan and your plan price (the main YouTube TV plan lists at $82.99/month as of October 7, 2026).
- Cost check: buying Discovery+ directly costs $5.99/month with limited ads or $9.99/month ad-free on discoveryplus.com as of October 7, 2026. The YouTube TV add-on costs $2 to $6 more for the convenience of one app and one bill.
Comparing live TV options that carry these channels? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884.
What the YouTube TV Discovery+ add-on includes
According to launch reports from Cord Cutters News and BetaNews, the add-on unlocks the Discovery+ catalog of reality, lifestyle, home, food, true-crime, nature and adventure programming, including:
- Full seasons and library episodes of long-running series such as 90 Day Fiancé, House Hunters, Gold Rush, Chopped, Fixer Upper, Deadliest Catch, Naked and Afraid and Property Brothers.
- Discovery+ originals and specials that don't air on the live channels in YouTube TV's main plan.
- Two live NASA feeds.
Cord Cutters News says the library draws from Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, OWN, Travel Channel and Science Channel. Neither report says whether the YouTube TV version carries ads, so check the description on the Membership screen before you subscribe.
The live channels already let you record current episodes with YouTube TV's unlimited cloud DVR. The add-on is for older seasons and Discovery+ exclusives that live TV doesn't cover.
Who can add it, and how
- Eligible plans: the main YouTube TV plan and YouTube TV's genre-based plans (Sports, News, Entertainment and Family combinations), per the launch reports.
- You need a YouTube TV plan. As of October 7, 2026, YouTube TV's website lists Discovery+ with its add-on networks, not with the networks it sells on their own without a plan.
- How to add it: in the YouTube TV app or at tv.youtube.com, go to your profile photo, then Settings, then Membership, and select Add next to Discovery+. No separate Discovery+ account is needed.
- Billing: YouTube TV's help center says add-ons started mid-cycle are prorated to your next billing date and then billed monthly with your membership. Add-ons carry over if you switch plans, and they're canceled automatically if you cancel YouTube TV.
Is $11.99 worth it? Add-on vs. buying Discovery+ directly
| Option (as of Oct. 7, 2026) | Monthly price | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery+ add-on through YouTube TV | $11.99 | Watch inside the YouTube TV app; on your YouTube TV bill; requires a YouTube TV plan |
| Discovery+ direct, limited ads | $5.99 | Separate Discovery+ app and account |
| Discovery+ direct, ad-free | $9.99 | Separate app and account; Discovery+ says ad-free subscribers can also download episodes |
Our take: if you're mainly price-conscious, buying direct is cheaper by $2 to $6 a month. The YouTube TV add-on makes sense if your household lives in the YouTube TV app, wants one bill to manage, or doesn't want another login on every TV. If you mostly watch the newest episodes of HGTV, TLC or Food Network shows when they air, you probably don't need Discovery+ at all. Those channels and the cloud DVR already cover you.
HBO Max is a separate decision. On YouTube TV it's an add-on network, and YouTube TV's help center lists the Entertainment Plus bundle (HBO Max, STARZ and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME) at $29.99/month. HBO Max has also carried a selection of Discovery programming since 2023, so check whether the shows you want are already there before you pay for both.
Warner Bros. Discovery networks: YouTube TV vs. DIRECTV
We compared YouTube TV's channel page with DIRECTV's published channel lineup. The YouTube TV column reflects YouTube TV's main-plan channel list as of October 7, 2026. DIRECTV channel numbers and lowest packages come from DIRECTV's Signature Packages lineup effective July 29, 2026, and the same numbers appear in DIRECTV's satellite lineup.
| Network | YouTube TV (main plan) | DIRECTV channel | Lowest DIRECTV package |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNN | Included | 202 | Entertainment |
| HLN | Included | 204 | Entertainment |
| HGTV | Included | 229 | Entertainment |
| Magnolia Network | Included | 230 | Ultimate |
| Food Network | Included | 231 | Entertainment |
| TNT | Included | 245 | Entertainment |
| truTV | Included | 246 | Choice |
| TBS | Included | 247 | Entertainment |
| TCM | Included | 256 | Choice |
| Travel Channel | Included | 277 | Choice |
| Discovery | Included | 278 | Entertainment |
| OWN | Included | 279 | Choice |
| TLC | Included | 280 | Entertainment |
| Discovery Turbo (formerly MotorTrend) | Included | 281 | Entertainment |
| Animal Planet | Included | 282 | Entertainment |
| Investigation Discovery | Included | 285 | Entertainment |
| Cartoon Network | Included | 296 | Entertainment |
| Science | Not on YouTube TV's channel list | 284 | Choice |
| Discovery Life | Not on YouTube TV's channel list | 261 | Ultimate |
| Destination America | Not on YouTube TV's channel list | 286 | Ultimate |
| American Heroes Channel | Not on YouTube TV's channel list | 287 | Ultimate |
| Discovery Family | Not on YouTube TV's channel list | 294 | Ultimate |
| HBO / HBO Max | HBO Max is a paid add-on | 501 (HBO East) | Premier |
| Discovery+ | $11.99/month add-on (new Oct. 6, 2026) | Not in DIRECTV's channel lineup | Subscribe directly |
What the table shows:
- The core networks are on both services. CNN, TNT, TBS, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Discovery, ID, Animal Planet and Cartoon Network are in YouTube TV's main plan and in DIRECTV's entry Entertainment package.
- truTV, TCM, Travel Channel, OWN and Science need DIRECTV Choice or higher.
- DIRECTV lists five smaller Discovery networks that we didn't find on YouTube TV's channel list: Science, Discovery Life, Destination America, American Heroes Channel and Discovery Family. All but Science need DIRECTV Ultimate or higher.
- YouTube TV genre plans split these networks up. YouTube TV lists TNT, TBS and truTV in its Sports plan, CNN in Sports + News, and HGTV, Food Network, Discovery and TLC in News + Entertainment. If you're on a genre plan, check your lineup before you assume a channel is included.
Lineups and packages can vary by market and change over time. Confirm channels for your address before you switch. American TV can check DIRECTV packages for your ZIP code at 1-855-690-9884.
What changes now that Paramount owns Warner Bros. Discovery
Paramount completed its purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery on October 6, 2026, the same day the add-on launched. The combined company is called Skydance. Our Paramount–WBD merger guide covers the deal, the settlement and what it means for carriage talks with TV providers, so here is only what matters for this add-on:
- No channel changes have been announced. As of October 7, 2026, neither YouTube TV nor Skydance has announced lineup changes for YouTube TV subscribers because of the merger.
- The streaming apps will eventually be combined. In its closing announcement, Skydance said its direct-to-consumer streaming products "will unify into a single service over time." It didn't say what happens to Discovery+, and there is no timeline. See our explainer on the Paramount+ and HBO Max merger for background.
- Your risk is low. The add-on is billed month to month, so if Discovery+ is folded into another service later, you can drop it at the end of a billing cycle. Watch for emails from YouTube TV about any change to the add-on.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Discovery+ on YouTube TV?
$11.99 a month as an add-on, available since October 6, 2026. It's billed with your YouTube TV membership, and there's one Discovery+ plan at launch.
Do I need Discovery+ to watch HGTV, TLC or Discovery on YouTube TV?
No. HGTV, TLC, Discovery, Food Network, ID and Animal Planet are live channels in YouTube TV's main plan, and you can record them with the cloud DVR. Discovery+ adds the on-demand library, older seasons and Discovery+ originals.
Is Discovery+ cheaper if I buy it directly?
Yes. As of October 7, 2026, discoveryplus.com lists $5.99 a month with limited ads and $9.99 a month ad-free, both less than the $11.99 YouTube TV add-on.
Can I add Discovery+ on a YouTube TV genre plan?
Yes. Launch reports say the add-on is available on the main YouTube TV plan and on YouTube TV's genre-based plans. You do need some YouTube TV plan, because Discovery+ isn't sold there as a standalone network.
Will the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger change my YouTube TV channels?
Nothing has been announced as of October 7, 2026. The merger closed October 6, and Skydance has said its streaming apps will merge over time, but it hasn't announced changes to Discovery+ or to YouTube TV channel carriage.
What channels are TNT, CNN and Discovery on DIRECTV?
TNT is channel 245, CNN is channel 202 and Discovery is channel 278, all in DIRECTV's Entertainment package and above, per DIRECTV's lineup effective July 29, 2026.
Want help comparing YouTube TV with DIRECTV for the channels your household watches? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884.
As of October 7, 2026 (ET). Prices and channel lists were checked against YouTube TV's website and help center, discoveryplus.com and DIRECTV's published channel lineups (Signature Packages lineup effective July 29, 2026; satellite lineup effective January 8, 2026). Add-on details are from October 6, 2026 reporting by Cord Cutters News and BetaNews, and merger details are from Skydance's October 6, 2026 closing announcement. Prices, lineups and add-on terms can change and may vary by location. YouTube TV, Discovery+, HBO Max, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.