YouTube is taking steps to make its seven-month-old live TV service into more of a lean back experience. The video site has announced partnerships with several companies, including Xbox One and Android, that will bring YouTube TV to a larger number of smart devices.
According to a press release, the expansion of YouTube TV’s device roster will go live over the next few days. Users who have Android-connected TV sets, such as the Nvidia Shield lineup, will soon be able to control the skinny bundle using their remotes. The Xbox One partnership extends to year-old Xbox One S devices as well as the upcoming Xbox One X line.
Beyond its new integrations, YouTube TV is still available on several other devices, including Google’s Chromecast. In the coming weeks, YouTube plans to bring its skinny bundle to Apple TV and to an increased number of smart screens.
Subscribe for daily Tubefilter Top Stories
A big advantage of YouTube TV, which costs $35 per month and grants access to close to 50 channels, is its ability to serve as a cable replacement in cord-cutting households. Therefore, its availability in living rooms is of paramount importance. During Alphabet’s latest earnings call, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said YouTube viewers now watch 100 million hours of videos on their TV screens each day.
The expansion of YouTube TV’s lineup is well-timed, as it is currently the subject of an extensive advertising campaign during baseball’s World Series. The service’s red play button is (literally) the center of attention, and YouTube is hoping that increased public awareness will translate into subscription dollars.
