Let’s start first with YouTube TV – the company’s live broadcast TV offering that’s exclusive to the US. Users will know that the platform already has a multiview feature that allows watching two, three or four channels simultaneously. Why? Well, besides the brain-rot optimization, there are actually some practical use cases, like during busy sports seasons when you want to keep track of multiple matches at once.
Google knew this was the typical case and originally launched Multiview through a “suggested” Multiview setup, which the platform automatically curated for the user. They still exist, but now users have started to see a fully customizable version of the feature, where you can just pick and choose the streams you want. We’re not sure why this wasn’t the case initially. Nevertheless, there may be a technical reason behind this, depending on how the transmission and decoding/playback of multiple streams simultaneously is actually handled by the server and client behind the scenes. Regardless, the feature exists now and is apparently not tied to any particular app version. This is a server-side rollout, and you can expect it to appear on your devices sometime soon.
As far as other YouTube-related feature that is coming out recently, it has to do with the way YouTube monetizes live streams and especially through ads. If you consume a YouTube live stream on a TV or desktop, you may have seen what Google calls “side-by-side” ads. These appear at the bottom of the screen alongside your live stream, and instead of stopping it completely, mute its audio for the duration of the ad.
We guess this isn’t the worst idea, and depending on what type of content you’re watching, it may allow you to stay “engaged” with the action to some degree. Nevertheless, some scenarios still don’t work, and without audio, you won’t be able to watch the stream at all. Well, regardless of your feelings, Google says it has started using the “side-by-side” ad format on mobile too. So, this is something to look forward to.