YouTube TV, the YouTube app for Smart TV, now offers its subscribers “improved quality” in 1080p and 720p resolutions. This update, which was temporarily withdrawn due to a series of issues after being launched in February, is being rolled out again and seems to be more accessible to a larger number of users.
According to recent reports, many YouTube TV subscribers on devices like Roku and Apple TV have started receiving this image quality upgrade. Google has confirmed that the 1080p60 improvement will be available for YouTube TV and Primetime Channel viewers using 4K-compatible streaming devices.
The improvement in image quality is achieved through higher bit rates, which provide more data to the TV for smoother and clearer viewing of live content, such as sports and movies. In April 2023, YouTube TV began testing this enhanced image quality, and now any 4K device compatible with the VP9 codec should display HD images with a higher bitrate.
Google has also announced a collaboration with the NFL to broadcast all league games in 1080p, combining original signals and conversions from 720p to 1080p. This update, which started rolling out to mobile devices in April and to other devices in August, promises a sharper and smoother visual experience, especially in the broadcast of sports events, and is reaching more devices such as Apple TV and Fire TV.
