YouTube Shorts, the vertical, short and very TikTok-esque YouTube video format is now making its way onto TV screens.
The sixty-second clips have been hugely successful for YouTube. Sunder Pichai, CEO of YouTube’s parent company Alphabet, revealed earlier this year that Shorts are viewed over a billion times a day (opens in new tab). Quick to take advantage of it, the developers have been Pump Out New Features for Shorts (opens in new tab) to expand its capabilities. So a jump to the TV screens is a logical next step, but according to the official announcement (opens in new tab)the move was not so easy.
The main problem was figuring out how to bring vertical videos intended for smartphones to horizontal television screens.
How it works
The solution to this problem was to create a custom option that “gets the most out of” [a] extra space for widescreen.” Shorts are shown with an outline around it that refers to a smartphone screen. Behind the videos is a “blurred background with color samples” that reflects the content. YouTube saw that it fit better than a simple pitch black background. Basic functionalities like the Like and Dislike buttons are on the side of the video.
Shorts on TV can be found by scrolling to the section in the YouTube Smart TV app. Once you select a Short, the videos will play in an endless loop until you exit. You can use the center button on your remote to start or stop a short or use the play and pause buttons instead, according to an official video (opens in new tab). Pressing the right button on the remote will display information about the video, such as the video title, who made it, and the sound they used.
You can navigate between shorts using the up and down buttons on your remote. Work on the feature isn’t over yet as there are plans to include more community features, such as the ability to subscribe to a creator while watching a Short.
YouTube Shorts on TV launches today and will roll out to streaming devices and TV models made after 2018 in the coming weeks. The company states that it may not work on older TVs, meaning there are a lucky few where it does work.
The feature is also coming to “newer game consoles.” Presumably this means the PS5 and other current generation consoles. We asked Google for more clarification and what kind of community features are in the pipeline. This story will be updated if we hear anything.
Latest Features
Given the popularity of Shorts, YouTube has felt it necessary to make the video style easier and more economically viable, especially when it comes to competing with its rival TikTok. YouTube has the advantage of being on many smart TVs, but it still needs that advantage to attract people.
In June, YouTube began implementing the first ad round in its Shorts content after receiving positive response from several advertisers. Now content creators have the opportunity to monetize their short content. The company has also revamped YouTube’s editing suite, allowing channels to create shorts from their old content. Some tools include a timeline editor, filters, and a text tool to name a few.
If you’re interested in flexing those creative muscles and uploading YouTube Shorts, be sure to check it out TechRadar’s own easy-to-follow guide. The first process can be a bit confusing for newbies.
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