YouTube has streamlined its TV video player, making navigation simpler and more intuitive. In YouTube’s own words, the revamp aims for an easier experience by relocating the video title and key controls, and introducing a new “Description” button that reveals creator details and additional video features.
I’ve started seeing the update on my Nvidia Shield Pro and some Philips TV models, and I find it easier to locate specific features and controls. A colleague of mine, Thomas Ricker, hasn’t encountered the redesign on Apple TV yet, which suggests the rollout is still progressing. Given YouTube’s April promise that these changes would arrive this summer, the rollout appears to be somewhat gradual.
Under the new layout, the video title now sits in the top-left corner of the screen, rather than above the scrubber at the bottom. The title is no longer clickable to open comments, metadata, or creator information; those options are now accessed via the new Description button. The channel thumbnail and the Subscribe button are separated into two distinct controls, with the creator’s thumbnail taking you directly to their channel.
Navigation groups have been reorganized around the scrubber: on the left are Channel, Description, and Subscribe; at the center are Previous, Pause/Play, and Next; and on the right are Like, Dislike, Comment, Save, Closed Captions, and Settings, split into two clusters. YouTube notes that the Subscribe button will stay visible to subscribers and will adapt to flag pay-gated content or alert users to new livestreams where applicable. A Multiview option has been added for live sports, while Music and Premium subscribers will see a new Display Mode control.
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— Jess Weatherbed
