YouTube's TV streaming service just took an important step forward
It's about to be a lot easier to use YouTube's TV streaming service.
Six months after launching its YouTube TV service as a mobile app, the company is now launching a dedicated app for TVs and set-top boxes, including the Apple TV.
The TV app marks the first time YouTube TV has been unchained from smartphones, and comes as the streaming service is set to expand its reach to nearly all major markets in the U.S. By launching an app that doesn't depend on Chromecast and a smartphone, Youtube TV can now broaden its reach and hook people who may not have previously considered the service.
YouTube is starting the rollout with Android TV devices and the Xbox One, followed by apps for LG and Samsung smart TVs, and then dedicated apps for Apple TV and Roku.
The app was designed with bigger screens in mind, and makes it easier to find shows, movies, and DVR recordings, says YouTube TV Product Manager Okalo Ikhena. "We wanted to bring in the themes that people know and love form the mobile app, while making it easier to navigate the freshest content using the real estate on a TV."
The app comes with a personalized "home" feed that combines live TV recommendations with DVR recordings into a single feed meant to be tailored to your interests. It also has a new "live guide" feature that lets you browse live TV without pausing whatever you're currently watching.
Up until now, most YouTube TV subscribers have used the service in conjunction with a Chromecast (the service also supports Apple's AirPlay), though a dedicated TV app has been among the most-requested features. Now that it's finally launching, the service has a much better shot at reaching a lot more households.
Of course, one of the biggest drawbacks with YouTube TV is that it's still not available everywhere in the U.S. But that's quickly changing. The service now covers the top 50 TV markets in the U.S. — covering about two-thirds of the country, according to the company — and plans to broaden its reach to cover 80 to 90 percent by the end of the first quarter of 2018.
Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.
