Something you might be surprised to learn is that, in the US, most people don’t prefer YouTube on theirphonesand computers – they’rewatching on their TV. It makes sense, really. The production quality of many YouTube channels is now close to broadcast networks, but with the advantage of being tailored to your interests. Why bore yourself with tired “reality” shows when you could be indulging your fascination with sewing, politics,powerlifting, and Warhammer? Even if you do like broadcast TV, many networks are hosting their material on YouTube anyway.
For maximum enjoyment, don’t consume YouTube on TV the same way you would on mobile devices. There are several tips you can use to greatly enhance the experience.
1Live and breathe the Watch Later playlist
Curate your own personal stream
If you only look for videos when you’re about to start a viewing session, you may not find anything good enough to hold your attention. Instead, remember to use theSave to Watch Lateroption whenever you stumble across something interesting during the week (on your phone, computer, or TV). You’ll build a list of videos to choose from, and the more you add, the longer your streaming can continue uninterrupted by weird algorithm recommendations.
To improve things further, dip into editing the playlist occasionally to change the order of videos and remove watched/unwanted clips. Think of it like creating personal viewing blocks – chances are that when you’re in the mood for comedy, you’ll want a few comedy videos in a row, rather than having news clips and fitness tutorials mixed in. Maybe that’s exactly what you’re after – it’s up to you.
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2Consider subscribing to YouTube Premium
That dreaded S word
YouTube Premiumis sometimes criticized as a bad deal, but subscribing gains a lot more value when YouTube becomes one of your main streaming services. You don’t need it, strictly speaking – but removing ads will dramatically improve your experience, making YouTube feel closer to Netflix or (more aptly) Nebula. As a bonus, some of the money from Premium goes to supporting the creators you’re watching.
I actually do watch without Premium, but the price for that is keeping my remote handy to skip ads. Even 15-minute videos can sometimes have multiple ad breaks these days, and Google is a little ridiculous with what it allows as “ads” – I’ve seen its algorithms insert full-length shows and music videos.
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3Focus on consuming long-form content
Settle in and relax
While 30-second videos might be fine when you’ve only got a few minutes to spare on your phone, they don’t make much sense when you’re trying to relax on your couch in front of a 60-inch home theater setup. You’re going to be inundated with ads, and TikTok-style shorts usually aren’t very satisfying in the end. This is your opportunity to sink deeper into content, whatever your interests might be.
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4Take advantage of free (and paid) movies
All-in-one entertainment
A surprising number of movies are available for free on YouTube. Some of these are bootleg copies, or outright scams trying to get you to click a link, but there are also fully legal movies available, whether because they’re public domain or the ad revenue is worth it to the studio. you may watch the Andrey Tarkovsky classicStalker, for example, or the original 1922 version ofNosferatu.
In some countries, you’re able to also buy or rent movies, including the latest blockbusters. In fact, YouTube is my preferred way to rent things now, since I know I’ll be able to watch on almost any device I own, even myNest Hub. There are advantages to renting from some other platforms, but YouTube makes things dead simple and consolidated – which is a good thing in this case.
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5Optimize your TV’s audio and video settings
Time for maximum immersion
While the YouTube app doesn’t have many settings of its own, be sure to check the video and audio settings on your TV, especially if you’re using an add-on media streamer like the Apple TV 4K. If an add-on device is plugged into anoutdated HDMI portor can’t detect external speakers, you might be missing out on the full experience. Some YouTube videos now support 4K HDR (high dynamic range), and you may even run across some mixed for 5.1-channel surround sound. Just don’t expect 3D audio formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X.
In fact, the same settings a cinephile would choose should apply here. Disable motion smoothing, tweak brightness and contrast, and make sure color balance is set to your preferences, whether warm or cool. Sometimes these things can make all the difference to whether a video is pleasant or an ugly mess.
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