YouTube TV’s ‘Last Channel’ Shortcut Now Rolling Out on a Wide Range of Devices
YouTube TV’s ‘Last Channel’ Shortcut Now Rolling Out on a Wide Range of Devices
After months of testing and recalling the Last Channel feature, YouTube TV is launching it widely for the first time.
Introducing a new feature for live TV streaming customers can be a saga. Engineers have to test and debug new features thoroughly before they can be rolled out to a general audience, which explains why YouTube TV’s “Last Channel” shortcut is just now seeing a wide launch. YouTube TV confirmed in a Reddit post this week that it was making the Last Channel feature widely available to subscribers for the first time.
- The Last Channel shortcut will work on live content, on-demand video and recordings.
- YouTube TV subscribers need only long-press the OK/Select button to return to the previous video.
- The shortcut was first tested in December, but pulled for many viewers in January to undergo further improvements.
The Last Channel shortcut on YouTube TV is simple enough to use. When watching a video, whether it be a live TV channel, on-demand title or a recording from the viewer’s DVR, users can switch to another video or channel, then long-press (press and hold) the OK/Select button on their remote to head back to the first selection they were watching.
The streamer first began testing the ability to return to a previous channel in December, for subscribers on Apple TV and Google TV accounts. At the time, The Streamable was certain the shortcut would roll out to more devices in the near future, but in January YouTube TV pulled the Last Channel feature back for further work.
Most TV services offer some kind of previous channel shortcut, which makes it very convenient to swap between two desired channels. YouTube TV’s Last Channel feature may have taken a tortured road to its wide release, but it’s now available to the majority of YouTube TV customers.
What Else is YouTube TV Up To?
The Last Channel shortcut is not the only tinkering YouTube TV is doing under the hood these days. Select channels on the YouTube TV guide have been experimenting with an enhanced 1080p resolution, which will be the best video quality available to subscribers outside 4K. YouTube TV allows customers to watch some content in 4K if they purchase the $9.99-per-month 4K Plus add-on.
The streamer has also made improvements to its multiview feature, allowing subscribers to swap games in and out of their multiview box for a more customized experience. Multiview currently only works with NBA League Pass and college basketball, but it will roll out to more sports in the future.
YouTube TV has 8 million subscribers, the largest customer base of any live TV streaming service. If it continues to make steady improvements to its user interface as it has done in the past few months, it’s likely to increase that lead. The streamer is now rolling out its latest improvement, a Last Channel shortcut that will help viewers easily navigate back to their former channel or video.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $82.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.