Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

How I added a handful of hidden YouTube TV channels for the Olympics

Olympics channels on YouTube TV.
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

We’re halfway through the Paris Olympics, and something just hadn’t felt right. NBC and Peacock have done pretty well with the Paris Games. You can watch pretty much everything live, or catch up later in the day in the U.S. But this is 2024, and it just seemed like I didn’t have any options — and options in high-res — as I might have expected, being a subscriber to YouTube TV.

Turns out, I was right. And it’s a good reminder of one of my larger complaints about the biggest live streaming service you can get. (That’s the pessimistic view. The optimistic view is that this is still a cool YouTube TV tip.)

Recommended Videos

See, one of YouTube TV’s strengths is that you can sort its channel listings pretty much however you want. There’s alphabetically, of course. Or you can opt for whatever channels you watch most. But I’m still a huge fan of being able to customize the order of the channels however I want.

There’s one problem with the custom sort, though — and it’s still a pretty major one, even after all these years. New channels will be added from time to time. But you won’t actually see them unless you go into the custom sort and enable them, because they’re hidden by default when they’re added.

Custom channel listing on YouTube TV.
New channels added to YouTube TV are hidden by default if you use the custom sort. Screenshot

That’s fine if they’re not channels you’ll actually care about. But it’s understandably frustrating if they’re channels you might actually want to watch. It’d been a while since I’d checked for new channels, and sure enough there were a number of options that had been added, but weren’t actually visible.

The remedy is easy, but it’s still something you can only do from a phone or tablet, or from a web browser. Just go into the channel listings, hit the button for the sorting options, then edit the custom sort and unhide any channels you want to see.

And then enjoy the second week of the Games.

Phil Nickinson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Phil spent the 2000s making newspapers with the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, the 2010s with Android Central and then the…
How to watch The Weather Channel without cable
The Weather Channel on Roku.

There are a million ways to get information on the weather these days. Windows, for one. Computers for another. Random people on Instagram and TikTok who suddenly are experts in meteorology for a third. But for a lot of folks, it's still all about The Weather Channel — the ubiquitous channel that, appropriately enough, is all about The Weather. On a Channel.

And, unfortunately, it's time for many in Florida and the rest of the Southeast to keep their eyes glued on The Weather Channel as Hurricane Milton makes landfall this week in the Tampa Bay Area before cleaving its way through the center of the state. Miami looks like it should mostly be spared. Same goes for Northwest Florida, where I live. But models are also starting to show a possible follow-up storm later in the month.

Read more
What is YouTube Music? Everything you need to know
iPhone 15 Pro Max showing the YouTube Music app.

YouTube, long renowned for its vast video library, has quietly established itself as a formidable music streaming service. Its dedicated app, YouTube Music, offers a curated collection of songs, albums, and podcasts catering to various music lovers. With millions of songs and countless music videos, YouTube Music boasts a comprehensive catalog that rivals industry giants like Spotify and Apple Music.

The app utilizes advanced algorithms to suggest music based on your listening habits, ensuring a tailored and enjoyable experience. YouTube Premium subscribers can download their favorite tracks for offline playback, perfect for commutes, workouts, or areas with limited internet connectivity.

Read more
What is YouTube Premium? Price, content, and more
YouTube Music

When it comes to watching videos on the internet, YouTube remains the most common place to do it. It's been around since 2005, delivering a hub for video content and includes everything from the newest music videos, to live-streaming events. While the website itself is free to use, its filled with ads that have a tendency to interrupt your videos at the worst possible time. However, with YouTube Premium you can eliminate those pesky ads, and get back to watching the content you want to see -- without interruptions.

The YouTube family of products can be a bit confusing, however. In addition to YouTube Premium, there are other paid services like YouTube Music, YouTube TV, and the now-defunct YouTube Go, plus some free movies on YouTube you don't want to miss. The price of YouTube Premium has changes since launch, and with new services like YouTube Premium Lite, its worth considering which option is right for you. There are even bundling options that could save you some money like the YouTube Premium family plan, or the free trial.

Read more