YouTube Showcases Upcoming Features for Connected TV

The rise of Connected TV (CTV)—watching online content on television screens—is accelerating, as more people turn to digital platforms for entertainment rather than traditional TV channels.

YouTube is reaping the rewards of this trend. Earlier this year, the platform revealed that users now stream over a billion hours of YouTube content daily on their TVs. Supporting this, Nielsen reported that YouTube ranked as the top streaming platform in 2023 based on watch time.

This growth opens vast opportunities for YouTube, particularly in the realm of advertising. Recently, the platform shared new insights into the expansion of CTV usage:

• Increased Sports Viewership: Time spent watching sports content on YouTube via TV screens has risen by over 30% year-over-year. Features like multi-view, which lets YouTube TV users track multiple games simultaneously, and the NFL’s “Sunday Ticket,” have attracted more sports fans to the platform.
• Podcasts on CTV: Surprisingly, YouTube users collectively “watch” over 400 million hours of podcasts on TVs every month. This could reflect a shift where users stream podcasts during activities like workouts.
• 4K Video Growth: Videos uploaded in 4K have increased by more than 35% year-over-year, catering to the growing demand for high-quality visuals on larger screens.
• Creator Revenue Boost: The number of creators earning most of their revenue through CTV has grown by over 30% compared to the previous year.

To maximize its potential in the CTV space, YouTube is rolling out several new features:

• “Watch With” Feature: Creators can now provide live commentary during games, fostering more interactive experiences.
• Parent Code for Kids’ Safety: Parents will soon be able to secure their profiles to prevent children from accessing inappropriate content on the CTV app.
• Streamlined Subscriptions: YouTube is introducing a “Subscribe” button directly within the CTV video player. Early testing indicates this feature has boosted subscriptions via TV by 40%.

The growing popularity of CTV is logical, particularly as younger generations have grown up with YouTube as a staple of their lives. For many, YouTube personalities are more relatable than traditional TV stars.

This shift underscores an evolving entertainment landscape, with platforms like YouTube offering significant opportunities for reach and engagement.

For more details, check out YouTube’s 2024 CTV overview here

Source: Social Media Today

Find more information here: http://bit.ly/2BPQn38         

For more information contact us at: [email protected]