YouTube brings a Shorts feed to TV
YouTube adds a dedicated Shorts feed to your Subscription tab in the TV app- its most popular viewing platform.
YouTube adds Shorts feed to TV subscriptions tab
YouTube is doubling down on its popular short-form video format, bringing its popular short-form video format to its most-watched screen: TV. The platform recently announced a dedicated Shorts shelf at the top of the Subscriptions tab on its TV app. It is now being rolled out, and has been spotted across Google TV, Apple TV, and other smart TV devices.
With TV now ranking above mobile as the top way users consume YouTube content, it’s clear that the company is looking to capitalize on this by enhancing its TV app. This rollout is part of YouTube’s broader push to integrate more features into the living room experience, following moves like adding a dedicated Podcasts tab.
A better experience for users?
For fans of short-form content, this change creates a more streamlined experience. Instead of Shorts being scattered throughout your feed, they now appear in a row at the top of your Subscriptions page. This puts your favorite Shorts in one dedicated space rather than clogging up your normal Subscriptions feed. The new shelf refreshes with the latest Shorts from your subscriptions as they become available.
However, not everyone is thrilled. The Shorts shelf takes up a significant portion of the screen, pushing regular content down. Sitting on top of your normal long-form video subscriptions, the feed blocks you from seeing video titles and full thumbnails. This requires you to actively scroll down in order to see the long-form content from your subscriptions. Compounding the frustration is that the shelf can’t be dismissed, moved, or disabled. As a result, many users have taken to Reddit to voice their distaste at the change.
AppleTV Youtube app & What the actual duck ???
byu/AtlasMMX inyoutube
Key takeaway
YouTube is clearly pushing towards a more seamless experience, where Shorts, Podcasts, and long-form videos can coexist. For anyone in music promotion, this serves as a reminder that optimizing your content for all formats is no longer optional- it’s essential.
While the UI may still need refinement, the direction of travel is clear: short-form video is becoming a core part of YouTube experience across all devices.
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