- Google has teased a redesign of the YouTube experience to TVs
- The update comes “this summer” and includes improved navigation
- Google also announced a MultiView upgrade to YouTube TV Subscribers
Twenty years ago today, the first video was uploaded to YouTube (the exciting ‘Me in the Zoo’). To celebrate this milestone, Google has announced that YouTube’s TV app experience will soon get a big upgrade. And like someone who sees a lot of big screen Youtube, it’s something I look forward to very much.
Google hasn’t revealed much about the “TV Viewing upgrade” it has planned. It apparently comes “this summer” (which means sometime between June and September if you are in the southern hemisphere). But it has revealed a screenshot (below) of what it looks like, plus a few tips on what’s coming.
Apparently we get “easier navigation” along with some “quality fit” and an improved playing experience. There will also be “streamlined access to comments, channel info and subscription”. In other words, YouTube on your TV (not to be confused with YouTube TV) will be much more like the fully equipped browser experience.
Alongside the improved TV experience, YouTube TV subscribers will also have the opportunity to build their own multiview experience. This four-way grid has traditionally been reserved for sports fans, but this is opened to non-sports content with a “small group of popular channels” in the “coming months”. So if you don’t feel completely distracted enough yet, this multiview update may be for you.
A subtle but important update
I’ve been watching YouTube on TV for years and it has always felt a few steps behind the full experience. The Apple TV app, for example, only got a comment section relatively recently – and while it may sound like a mixed blessing, I have always found that comments are an important part of the experience for the channels I follow.
The incoming YouTube update to TVs seems to be more about design than functionality, but still looks much more modern and in harmony with its mobile apps. There is a new button to add the video to your playlists, and it also seems to be easier to subscribe to in videos. There is no doubt about several adjustments that are not shown in each teaser image.
Of course, YouTube also reserves many features for premium subscribers. As part of its 20 -year birthday announcements today, Google also revealed that a ‘4x Playback Speed’ option comes to Smartphones for Premium subscribers (a service that costs $ 13.99 / £ 11.99 / AU $ 14.99 per month).
I’m still very tempted to upgrade to YouTube Premium (especially after reading my colleague David Nield’s strong arguments in favor of doing so), but I’m glad to watch YouTube still upgrade the TV experience for us non-premium deadly. Let’s just hope that it happens in the earlier rather than later interpretation of “Summer”.
