Google has begun rolling out some important updates to its YouTube TV service, together with a significant replace to the tvOS app that it hopes will repair lots of the unusual issues that Apple TV customers have been experiencing.
A YouTube Neighborhood 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 nearly unusable for some. Usually it could merely open to a black display, and customers could be required to force-quit and restart the app a number of instances — and even restart the Apple TV — simply to get it to work correctly. Those that might get the app working discovered that a lot of the 4K HDR content material was unwatchable.
Sadly, this replace doesn’t deal with an issue some people have had with the YouTube TV app randomly crashing on the 2017 first-generation Apple TV 4K. Nevertheless, the YouTube consultant says {that a} repair for this situation might be displaying up within the tvOS App Retailer “imminently.”
The Reddit submit additionally explains that seeing a black display briefly when altering channels or throughout advert transitions is an anticipated downside attributable to 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 change between SDR and HDR sources extra often.
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 might be run over the following a number of weeks, concentrating on units that assist Google’s VP9 codec and have high-speed web connections out there.
Since YouTube TV primarily affords streamed broadcast channels, most of what you’ll get is just 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, reminiscent of its new dwell sports activities packages.
YouTube TV and Sports activities Streaming
Regardless of rumors final 12 months that it was a “finished 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 varieties an anchor of YouTube’s sports activities streaming technique, very similar to Apple’s MLS Season Cross. NFL followers might want to shell out a further $349 for the upcoming season. That’s on prime 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 working the tvOS 16.5 betas in Apple’s two sports activities packages: MLB Friday Night time Baseball and MLS Season Cross.