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YouTube TV Rolls Back Live Guide Update for Apple TV Users After Bugs Make Guide Unusable

Generally, when a company introduces updates to its user experience, the goal is to make things easier and more enjoyable for the customer. Unfortunately, that was not the case when live TV streaming service YouTube TV introduced a feature-filled update to its live channel guide and DVR menu earlier this week. While the rollout seems to have gone smoothly for the vast majority of platforms where cord-cutters can find YouTube TV, it reportedly led to a number of serious glitches for Apple TV users that essentially made the service inoperable.

YouTube originally attempted to roll back the update in order to restore the original channel guide, but that only led to additional issues. So, in the short-term, the company left the ill-functioning update in place in order to avoid breaking it even further. Well, the patience demonstrated by users is apparently paying off as YouTube TV as figured out how to implement a fix to push its Apple TV app back to the old guide. The patch does not yet bring Apple TV users in line with those on other platforms in terms of the updated interface, but at least the live streamer is now functional.

The fix has reportedly been pushed live, however, in some instances, it could require users to restart their Apple TVs.

The new updates are designed to make it easier for viewers to find and select the titles that they want to watch, while also giving them more control over how their experience works on the app. YouTube TV said that it wants to ensure that users are able to find their favorite content easily, so it has introduced changes in order to give them better ways to find shows and movies that will suit their tastes.

In the new live guide, when a channel is highlighted, it will generate a tile that contains information about the show or movie giving users the ability to confirm at a glance that they’re watching the right show. The guide also features specific recommendations at the top of the page, as well as introduces a simplified design to help guide users to the channel they want to watch.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $72.99/month. This plan includes local channels, 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The service includes an unlimited DVR.

With the recent addition of Viacom channels (BET, MTV, Comedy Central, etc.) to the service, they are only without Hallmark and A+E Networks (Lifetime, History, A&E).

They recently added NFL Network and new Sports Plus add-on which include channels like NFL RedZone for $11 a month.

YouTube TV offers select 4K content, including some live sports and on-demand shows, as part of their 4K Plus add-on. The 4K Plus add-on is $9.99 a month and also includes offline downloads and unlimited streams on your home network.

If you want a cheaper service with many of the entertainment channels on YouTube TV, you can subscribe to Philo which includes A+E, Discovery, Viacom, Hallmark, and other channels for just $20 a month after a 7-Day Free Trial.


Matt is The Streamable's News Editor and resident Ohio State fan. You can find him covering everything from breaking news to streaming comparisons to sporting events. Matt is extremely well-rounded, having worked for the Big Ten Conference, BroadwayWorld, True Crime Obsessed, and Land-Grant Holy Land before joining TS. He cut the cord in 2014, streams with a Fire TV, and his favorite titles include "The Bear," "The Great British Bake Off," "Mrs. Davis," and anything on the Hallmark Channel.

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