Is YouTube’s TV App Overhaul Finally Making Big Screens the Main Stage?

YouTube’s TV app is getting a glow-up—but will it solve our couch-surfing frustrations?
YouTube just announced a summer redesign for its TV app, promising smoother navigation, better playback controls, and easier access to comments and channel info. But with vague details and a slew of other new features—like AI-generated radio stations and customizable multiview—is YouTube finally prioritizing the living room experience, or just playing catch-up? Let’s dive in.

📺 The Problem: TV Apps Are Stuck in 2010
YouTube’s TV app has long felt like a stripped-down afterthought compared to its mobile counterpart. Here’s why the redesign matters:

• 🔍 Clunky Navigation: Scrolling through endless rows of recommendations on a remote feels archaic compared to TikTok-style vertical swiping on mobile.
• 💬 Missing Social Features: Comments and channel pages are buried, making TV viewers passive consumers rather than engaged community members.
• 📡 Multiview Limitations: Until now, YouTube TV’s multiview (watching 4 streams at once) only worked for preselected sports lineups—no customization for news bingers or reality TV junkies.

✅ YouTube’s Summer Upgrades: Big Screen, Bigger Ambitions
Here’s what’s rolling out to fix the TV experience—and beyond:

• 🎨 TV App Redesign (Summer 2025): Promises easier navigation, playback controls, and quick access to comments/channel info. Imagine liking a video or subscribing without fumbling through three menus.
• 🎵 Ask Music (Beta): An AI tool for Premium subscribers that creates radio stations based on prompts like “upbeat synthwave for coding.” Currently iOS/Android-only and limited to English-speaking regions.
• 📺 Custom Multiview: YouTube TV users can now mix non-sports channels (e.g., news + cooking shows) in their 4-stream grid, with more channels coming soon.
• ⏩ 4x Playback Speed: For Premium users who want to “just get through” lengthy tutorials or podcasts.
• 🎤 Voice Replies for Creators: Creators can now respond to comments using voice notes, adding a more personal touch.

⚠️ The Catch: Half-Baked Rollouts and Premium Walls
Not everything is sunshine and 4K streams:

• 🌐 Geolocked Features: “Ask Music” is limited to select countries, leaving global users in the lurch.
• 💵 Premium Paywall: Key features like 4x speed and Ask Music require a $13.99/month Premium subscription.
• ⏳ Slow Multiview Expansion: Custom grids only work with “a few popular non-sports channels” initially—no word on niche favorites.
• 🤷 Redesign Mysteries: YouTube hasn’t shared mockups or specifics about the TV app’s new layout.

🚀 Final Thoughts: Can YouTube Own the Living Room?
YouTube’s moves signal a clear shift: the TV screen is no longer an afterthought. But success depends on:

• 📱 Mobile-to-TV Synergy: Making comments and creator interactions seamless across devices.
• 🎮 Intuitive Controls: Redesigning navigation for remote users, not touchscreen natives.
• 🌍 Global Accessibility: Rolling out AI features beyond English-speaking elite markets.

Will you finally prefer YouTube on your TV over your phone? Or is this just another half-step upgrade?

Let us know on X (Former Twitter)

Sources: Ivan Mehta. YouTube’s TV app is getting a redesign this summer, 2025-04-23. https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/23/youtube-adds-new-features-to-improve-playback-and-creator-experinces/