YouTube has introduced a redesign for its watch screen on TVs, aiming to enhance user navigation and accessibility. According to YouTube’s announcement, the video title has been repositioned, along with several controls. A new “Description” button has also been added to help users access creator information and other video features more easily.
Reports indicate that some users, such as those using the Nvidia Shield Pro streaming box and Philips TV OS, have started seeing the update. However, it appears that the redesign may still be in the rollout phase, as not all devices, like Apple TV, have received it yet. This update follows an announcement made by YouTube in April, where a summer release was anticipated.
In the updated app, video titles are now located in the top left corner of the screen, diverging from their previous position above the video scrubber at the bottom. The clickable function for titles, which previously opened comments and additional details, has been removed. Access to these features is now through the new “Description” button. The layout of controls has also changed, with the channel thumbnail and the subscribe option separated into distinct buttons. The creator’s thumbnail now redirects users to their channel directly.
The organization of controls has been realigned into separate groups beneath the video scrubber. This includes “Channel,” “Description,” and “Subscribe” on the left side, “Previous,” “Pause/Play,” and “Next” in the center, and “Like,” “Dislike,” “Comment,” “Save,” “Closed Captions,” and “Settings” on the right. YouTube maintains that the Subscribe button will remain visible to users, with adaptations for pay-gated content and alerts for live streams. Additionally, a “Multiview” control has been introduced for live sports, and Music and Premium subscribers will benefit from a new “Display Mode” control.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/843412/youtube-watch-screen-tv-app-update