Another part of the update, which is live today on all US devices except Apple TV – for which Google maintains a separate app – is a live streams section.
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The Google-owned web video site today released its new smart TV app with a simpler, more streamlined interface to help viewers more quickly find the videos they love to watch on the Tube. The interface is created to play well with TV navigation, more so now that YouTube has refreshed the TV design with small but significant changes. Meanwhile, kids will often turn to YouTube to watch cartoons, and other family-friendly shows.
The updated YouTube app is now being rolled out today across the United States on all TV platforms with Apple TV being the only exception.
In the latest version, as opposed to different content categories hidden within the menu bar, YouTube will now present viewers with 14 total content tabs at the top of the screen, Engadget reports, including sports, news, comedy, music, and entertainment. Rather than being nestled into the sidebar, these categories are front and center at the top of the app.
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YouTube says that more than half of the 18 to 49-year old demographic in the United States have watched YouTube on TV which goes to show that despite the fact that we have YouTube on our smartphones and tablets, many of us still tend to stream it on TVs. There are additional categories for easily locating 4K videos and live streams as well, alongside sub-genres for videos. It also noted that the time spent watching YouTube in the living room is increasing – having more than doubled in 2015.
