YouTube TV has been forced into an embarrassing apology after its live stream of the 2018 World Cup semifinal match between England and Croatia crashed midway through the game.
Subscribers to the $40 a month service took to Twitter to vent their anger as the service crashed.
Earlier in the day YouTube TV had run an ad saying ‘The games are heating up. Don’t miss a minute of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ and watch LIVE on FOX with @YouTubeTV’
Subscribers to the $40 a month service took to Twitter to vent their anger as the service crashed, leaving them unable to watch the key game. YouTube TV’s support team told users to go to the Fox Sports app and website to watch the World Cup match.
In May, the service went down during Game 2 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics.
Today’s service interruption also came in the middle of men’s quarterfinal matches at Wimbledon, which is broadcast in the U.S. on ESPN.
YouTube TV acknowledged the technical problems, saying in a post at noon Pacific, midway through the match, ‘Hey everyone — sincere apologies for streaming issues with YouTube TV. The timing is horrible but we’re working to be up and running again ASAP!’
Earlier in the day YouTube TV had run an ad saying ‘The games are heating up. Don’t miss a minute of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ and watch LIVE on FOX with @YouTubeTV’
Twitter users were quick to reply to the ad when the service went down
YouTube TV’s support team told users to go to the Fox Sports app and website to watch the World Cup match.
At 12:58 p.m. PT, YouTube TV’s Twitter account posted that service had been restored.
‘We are so sorry about the service interruption and we understand your frustration. If you continue to experience issues let @TeamYouTube know,’ YouTube said in the tweet.
Gareth Southgate is pictured comforting his England players in Moscow after the Three Lions were beaten 2-1 by Croatia in the World Cup semi final
Google launched YouTube TV in April 2017, and it now offers a core lineup of over 50 traditional broadcast and cable networks.
The YouTube TV ‘skinny bundle’ was originally priced at $35, then YouTube raised the price to $40 per month for new subscribers this spring after adding Turner’s networks.
YouTube TV — pitched at younger, mobile-oriented consumers — is available across the U.S. in markets representing about 85% of the nation’s TV households.
The YouTube TV ‘skinny bundle’ was originally priced at $35, then YouTube raised the price to $40 per month for new subscribers this spring after adding Turner’s networks.