YouTube introduce new feature as TV views explode
YouTube views on TV have skyrocketed and the platform is leaning into the new way to watch with a brand new feature.
This year YouTube became the number one for TV on the streaming charts. With 10% of the TV streaming viewers, YouTube beats both Netflix and Amazon Prime. The content behemoth is gaining new audiences on the bigger screen and content is changing to represent that.
People are turning more to the big screen for all content, but in particular they’re finding the ease of YouTube’s platform the best for content that can be traditionally found on TV. YouTube reveal that watch time for sports content has grown over 30% year-on-year.
To tap into all the new viewers, YouTube are piloting their Watch With feature. The new tool lets creators provide live commentary, analysis, and real time reactions to games and events. It’s a next-level for reaction content that allows creators to easily tap into the big events live. YouTube say: “It transforms your favourite creators into sportscasters!”
YouTube have also found that families are thriving on YouTube’s TV app. With a feature added last year, families can now easily switch between the main YouTube platform and the specialised Kids profiles with ease on the TV. This has given parents more control and the results are clear as channels like Ms Rachel for toddlers gained some of the highest watchimes across YouTube on TV.
Even podcasts are apparently growing on TVs. Viewers have watched over 400 million hours of podcasts a month using YouTube’s TV platform. Many podcasts will now produce both audio and video versions of their episodes, so that listeners on any platform can tap in the way that suits them best.
To respond to growing TV viewers, YouTube have been helping creators prioritise longer content and easily streamed series of videos. A new Shows page lets creators organise their videos like a series, that viewers can tap into and play one-after-the-other without picking up the remote. Good news for creators AND viewers, YouTube’s new subscribe button on TVs have helped increase subscriptions by 40%.
Expect to see even more advancements of YouTube’s TV apps as the world tunes in from their living room to the world’s biggest video site. YouTube write: “While this year is coming to a close, our journey in the living room is just beginning. We can’t wait for you to see what’s next as we continue to bring the magic of YouTube to the living room in 2025.”
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