Google has begun rolling out some vital updates to its YouTube TV service, together with a serious replace to the tvOS app that it hopes will repair most of the unusual issues that Apple TV customers have been experiencing.
A YouTube Group Supervisor simply outlined the modifications in a submit on Reddit, noting {that a} “main replace” model 1.13+ replace of the YouTube TV app has been launched for the Apple TV that ought to resolve ongoing points with the app opening improperly, poor HDR high quality, and a few 4K playback points.
Apple TV customers have been experiencing these points for a while, rendering the YouTube TV app just about unusable for some. Typically it might merely open to a black display, and customers could be required to force-quit and restart the app a number of occasions — and even restart the Apple TV — simply to get it to work correctly. Those that may get the app operating discovered that a lot of the 4K HDR content material was unwatchable.
Sadly, this replace doesn’t tackle an issue some people have had with the YouTube TV app randomly crashing on the 2017 first-generation Apple TV 4K. Nonetheless, the YouTube consultant says {that a} repair for this problem shall be exhibiting up within the tvOS App Retailer “imminently.”
The Reddit submit additionally explains that seeing a black display quickly when altering channels or throughout advert transitions is an anticipated downside resulting from Apple’s SDR/HDR switching. To keep away from this, Google recommends setting the Apple TV to default to SDR or disabling the Match Dynamic Vary setting. This downside isn’t distinctive to YouTube TV, nevertheless it’s extra evident as customers usually swap between SDR and HDR sources extra regularly.
Experimenting with Higher Image High quality
YouTube has additionally introduced that it’s conducting some experiments with transcoding modifications to enhance image high quality, “together with a bitrate improve for dwell 1080p content material.” These shall be run over the subsequent a number of weeks, focusing on units that assist Google’s VP9 codec and have high-speed web connections out there.
Since YouTube TV primarily presents streamed broadcast channels, most of what you’ll get is barely delivered in the identical 720p or 1080i high quality that you simply’ll get out of your cable field. It’s unclear whether or not YouTube plans to up the bitrate for these channels or if this solely applies to premium content material natively broadcast in 1080p, comparable to its new dwell sports activities packages.
YouTube TV and Sports activities Streaming
Regardless of rumors final 12 months that it was a “performed deal” for Apple, it was Google that ended up scoring the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket for a cool $2 billion per season in a seven-year deal value a complete of $14 billion.
Naturally, that now kinds an anchor of YouTube’s sports activities streaming technique, very like Apple’s MLS Season Go. NFL followers might want to shell out an extra $349 for the upcoming season. That’s on high of their customary YouTube TV subscription.
Within the Reddit submit, the YouTube rep confirms that the streaming service is experimenting with a brand new multiview characteristic that many already noticed throughout March Insanity and is engaged on some enhancements to convey it to NFL Sunday Ticket. The corporate doesn’t but have any particulars to share, nevertheless it’s telling subscribers to remain tuned for extra data as we get nearer to season kick-off.
To not be outdone, Apple has additionally been working by itself multiview characteristic for Apple TV+. Hints of it first appeared in iOS 16.5, and it seems to have gone dwell final week for these operating the tvOS 16.5 betas in Apple’s two sports activities packages: MLB Friday Night time Baseball and MLS Season Go.