YouTube has started to roll out a new interface layout for its smart TV app. Perhaps the most glaring change is adding a dedicated “Shorts” shelf atop the Subscriptions tab. Introduced in late April as a preview, the feature is now widely rolling out across supported devices, according to Google.
This move fits with YouTube’s ongoing focus on surfacing short-form content on its platforms, mirroring broader trends in online video consumption. Nevertheless, making Shorts so prominent on the TV interface has been greeted with mixed user feedback, particularly among those favouring longer-form content.
Before, viewers on the YouTube TV app’s Subscriptions page saw a reverse timeline of new uploads from subscribed channels primarily. Now, the new layout provides an abbreviated carousel occupying the top half of the screen, significantly reducing immediate visibility for traditional long-form content.
Importantly, the Shorts shelf is curated only by creators who follow the user, making it personal and relevant. However, the Shorts shelf cannot be deleted, moved, or minimized and, therefore, becomes part of the permanent Subscriptions tab.
This shift might present usability problems to users who view YouTube content predominantly through large-screen devices. Vertical video modes feel less natural and are usually less engaging than mobile platforms. Additionally, the coerced centrality of short-form content can irritate users who prefer unbroken access to traditional video uploads.
YouTube’s overhaul is part of a broader push to unify the user experience between devices and continue to integrate Shorts into its content universe. While televisions are still the most-watched device category for YouTube in the UK, these initiatives are likely aimed at driving viewing of Shorts among viewers who otherwise would not seek them out.
Whether or not this strategy will favour the platform’s prime TV viewership remains to be seen.
