YouTube TV is a pretty cool feature. Combined with YouTube’s huge video repositories, the live TV streaming service gives viewers access to pretty much all the video content they could want to consume. However, one of the concerns that users had regarding the feature was the fact that you would often get redirected to the video-on-demand version of the show. In other words, you would be forced to watch commercials.
No one likes ad, and specially when you are on a service like YouTube TV. I mean what’s even the point of recording/watching the show over the internet, instead of on TV, when you are going to have to muck your way through ads anyways. And this issue with YouTube TV has been playing into competitors hands very nicely.
So here is the thing: Let’s say you decide to record a particular episode XYZ using the DVR service. Of cource, when you sit down to watch it next, you would absolutely skip the ads. However, here is the catch. YouTube is very likely to have the on-demand version of that show available as well. And between the two, I will give you one guess as to the one YouTube will play for you.
The version with ads is played whenever possible because of the fact that TV networks typically disable fast-forwarding over ads. After all, they don’t show ads they don’t get paid from the companies using their content to market their products.
The company has now realized it’s weakness, and has set correctional measures into motion. The company has entered into deals with a slew of major content publishers. YouTube’s tinkering mean that users will be able to watch video on demand from popular channels like AMC, Disney/ABC, FOX, NBCU and various Turner-owned channels.
Hopefully with less ads, YouTube will be able to reduce attrition, and keep customers from jumping into the all too willing arms of competitors such as Hulu.
