Brandwave

Sling TV vs YouTube TV:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, YouTube TV had more branded searches than Sling TV among streaming services worldwide. YouTube TV had about 7.5 million branded searches, while Sling TV had 673,000. YouTube TV made up 5.6% of all streaming service searches we track, and Sling TV accounted for 0.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about streaming services, YouTube TV appeared in four of the five answers and Sling TV in two. YouTube TV was mentioned before Sling TV in every answer that named either.

Among streaming services worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

YouTube TV, about 11 searches for every 1 for Sling TV

YouTube TV 7.5M searchesSling TV 673K searches

Who does AI mention more?

YouTube TV, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Sling TV in 2

YouTube TV in 4 of 5Sling TV in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

YouTube TV, named ahead of Sling TV in 4 of 4 answers

YouTube TV first in 4Sling TV never first

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Top streaming services in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, YouTube TV was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Sling TV was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. YouTube TV was listed before Sling TV in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Netflix1st
  2. HBO Max2nd
  3. Disney+3rd
  4. Hulu4th
  5. Prime Video5th
  6. YouTube TV6th
  7. Apple TV7th
  8. Sling TV8th
  9. Philo9th
  10. Fubo10th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Disney+5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Hulu5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Netflix4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • HBO Max4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Prime Video4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • YouTube TV4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Apple TV3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sling TV2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Philo2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Fubo1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about streaming services

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Sling TV or YouTube TV more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Sling TV and YouTube TV by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten streaming services we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Sling TV and YouTube TV among streaming services worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for YouTube TV, Sling TV. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNetflixDisney+HBO MaxPrime VideoYouTube TVApple TVHuluFuboSling TVPhilo
Oct 202559.3%11.8%6.5%6.5%5.3%3.6%4.4%1.6%0.87%0.04%
Nov 202557.7%11.5%7.7%6.3%5.2%4.3%4.3%1.9%1%0.04%
Dec 202564.6%10.6%7.1%5.8%3.2%3.9%3.2%0.96%0.53%0.03%
Jan 202662.9%10.3%8.5%5.7%3.8%3.1%3.8%1.1%0.62%0.04%
Feb 202662.9%10.3%8.4%5.7%4.6%3.1%3.8%0.76%0.51%0.04%
Mar 202660.3%12.1%8.1%5.4%4.4%3.6%4.4%1.1%0.49%0.04%
Apr 202661.5%10.1%10.1%6.8%3%3.7%3.7%0.74%0.41%0.04%
May 202663.1%10.3%8.4%6.9%3.1%3.8%3.1%0.76%0.42%0.04%
Jun 202662.3%10.2%8.3%5.6%4.6%3.8%3.1%1.7%0.41%0.04%
Jul 202664.2%10.5%7.1%5.8%3.9%3.9%3.2%1.2%0.35%0.04%
Aug 202662.9%12.6%6.9%5.7%3.1%4.6%3.1%0.76%0.34%0.04%
Sep 202661.8%10.1%6.8%5.6%5.6%4.6%3.7%1.4%0.5%0.03%

How has the Sling TV and YouTube TV comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • YouTube TV was ahead of Sling TV in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sling TV’s share of searches among streaming services worldwide moved from 0.87% to 0.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.2M to 673K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, YouTube TV’s share of searches among streaming services worldwide moved from 5.3% to 5.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 7.5M.

How did search popularity change for streaming services worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, YouTube TV overtook Apple TV and Hulu to rank 5th among streaming services worldwide, with 5.6% of the searches.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Sling TV worldwide fell 44.8% over 12 measured months, from 1.2M to 673K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Sling TV’s and YouTube TV’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Sling TV

1 branded search term

  • sling tv

YouTube TV

1 branded search term

  • youtube tv

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among streaming services

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