YouTube’s redesigned TV app focuses on everything but video

YouTube has just announced that it will be implementing a redesign for its TV app in the next few weeks. Specific details are scarce, but the streaming platform says the new design will “open the door to a wide range of new experiences, such as shopping your creators’ favorite products.”

Apart from the shopping orientation, the update should also improve existing features with easier access to “video descriptions and comments”. To this end, both descriptions and the comment feed will take up more space when selected, and the actual video will shrink in size. YouTube says users regularly request a smaller video feed and prioritization of comments. In its current form, the comment feed sits on top of the video, so this refresh will allow users to engage with comments without obscuring the actual content.

I use the YouTube app on my TV every day and want improved search, an easier way to refresh my personal feed, and most importantly, the ability to search for what I want watch then while the current video is playing. You know, just like with the phone. YouTube acknowledges that the push and pull between the TV-based “lean” experience and the smartphone-adjacent “lean” experience is at the heart of this redesign, but it doesn’t mention anything I just mentioned. However, you will be able to buy a shirt that someone is wearing in a video with a simple click of the remote.

YouTube teased that sports fans will be able to check live scores without interrupting a video, but didn’t go into how it all works. We reached out to the platform, and a spokesperson told us it’s working on adding the feature, but has nothing to announce at this time. He also said the redesign will make it easier to both see and access video chapters, which should be helpful.

It’s worth noting that these updates are for the standard YouTube TV app, not the YouTube Live TV platform. However, the latter will receive its own update in a few days, with ability to view views without interrupting live content such as sports events.