Yesterday, El Goog released subscriber numbers for YouTube TV, its for-pay cable subscription service.

While cable providers have been losing subscribers, YouTube TV has been growing its subscriber base. The service has 8 million subscribers paying $73 per month. This number pales in comparison to Charter Communications’ 32 million. It’s also a paltry number compared to its $12 a month premium streaming service which has 100 million subscribers.

Cable Cost for Cable Service

YouTube is charging cable prices because you get all of the channels you typically get with cable. ESPN, CNN, and local ABC, NBC, and CBS affiliates. You can also tack on HBO and Cinemax for an upcharge. El Goog will even throw in NFL Sunday Ticket for another $350.

the next frontier for YouTube is living rooms and subscriptions.

Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube

YouTube has expanded its offerings from a free, music-stealing, streaming service. The site has gradually offered premium, ad-free, and exclusive streaming for years. YouTube’s numbers put them in company with Charter Communications, Time Warner, DirectTV, and Dish Network. YouTube claimed the number 4 spot in the latest quarter.

As US cable companies continue losing subscribers, YouTube TV shouldn’t look to absorbing subscribers from other distributors. US content consumers have settled into paying for multiple streaming services augmented by air TV. YTT is looking beyond the US and is bringing YouTube TV to other countries.

We’ll see what happens.