YouTube's New TV Application Is Introducing The Least Desirable Content On Its Homepage

YouTube is implementing significant modifications to its application for televisions and gaming consoles. However, do not anticipate a significant improvement; it primarily represents an exacerbation of the streaming giant's most unfavorable attribute.

Introduce More Shorts and an Array of Shelves

In April 2025, YouTube announced plans for a revamped video player and many enhancements. Initially identified by 9to5Google, there are numerous developments underway, some of which lack excitement.

The application will incorporate several shelves to facilitate rapid access to videos. YouTube provides further clarification regarding anticipated outcomes:

• The "Continue your search" shelf displays your three most recent searches, enabling you to resume precisely where you paused.

  
  

• The "Listen Again" shelf is a specialized music section that displays the most popular songs you have previously searched for and played.

  
  

• The "Live performances, remixes, and covers" section presents alternative renditions of your preferred songs, in addition to the official versions.

  
  

•  The Primetime Channels shelf displays material from your most recently searched and viewed Primetime Channels for subscribers.

  
  

•  The "From your top channels" shelf displays your most viewed YouTube channels.

 A Podcasts tab will enable swift access to podcasts directly from your library.

However, if you do not favor Shorts, we have unfavorable news for you. Those will now be extracted from longer videos for easier access. A Shorts row will be included in the Watch Next stream, and a Shorts Shelf will be available on your subscription tab. Truly magnificent.

You will also have the capability to loop additional content. Looping, hitherto restricted to playlists, is now accessible for all VOD material. Select Loop from the Playback parameters.

An enhanced preview experience appears to be one of the more intriguing modifications. Inline previews have been extended to channel pages, subscription pages, and topic pages. The implementation of the Immersive Channel Previews has been finalized. These are full-screen background previews on channel headers that enhance the page's immersive quality.

Creators will have access to a new Device Type card in Studio Analytics, which displays watch times categorized by mobile, PC, TV, and tablet.

Vertical Videos and Televisions Avoid Mixing

I prefer viewing YouTube on a larger screen, and these modifications are not really impressive. I strongly dislike Shorts, hence I am not enthusiastic about their increased prominence. What is the necessity for an increased presence of vertical videos on television screens?

However, the other modifications, such as the enhanced previews, appear to be rather appealing.

I am not pleased that additional AI is being introduced to YouTube. Upon executing a search query, AI Overviews will respond to the inquiry and present pertinent clips in a new carousel format.