Navigating through various channels on YouTube TV can sometimes be challenging, leading to missed crucial moments. Fortunately, YouTube TV has introduced custom multiviews to enhance your viewing experience, allowing for seamless transitions between multiple broadcasts.
Understanding YouTube TV Multiview
In 2023, YouTube TV rolled out its multiview feature specifically for sports enthusiasts, enabling viewers to watch up to four different games simultaneously, including the ability to switch audio between them effortlessly. However, the expansion of this feature to non-sports content has been a much-anticipated development.
By late 2024, YouTube TV began offering pre-designed multiviews for popular networks such as Hallmark and Lifetime, especially during the holiday movie season. This capability now extends further, allowing users to create their own custom multiviews from an array of eligible channels, although it’s limited to the YouTube TV app on smart TVs and streaming devices. Customizations are not available on web or mobile platforms, though users can still enjoy featured multiview options.
How to Access Pre-Created Multiviews
Using the YouTube TV app on Android as an example, follow these simple steps to explore pre-created multiviews:
- Tap on the Home button to view suggestions such as your watch history and recommended content.
- Scroll down to find the Watch in Multiview section and select any available option to start your viewing experience.
Keep in mind, the available pre-created options vary throughout the day. For instance, during a typical Sunday afternoon, you may find multiview options focused on sports, news, or weather, while in the evenings, major local networks and popular cable channels like TNT, TBS, and USA often feature prominently.
Creating Your Custom Multiview on YouTube TV
The steps to create a custom multiview are nearly identical on both TV and mobile apps. Here’s how to set it up using YouTube TV on a Roku streaming device:
- Browse the available channels; options may vary depending on the season and time.
- Test the feature by starting with a major news network or local channel.
- While watching a show in full-screen mode, press the down arrow on your remote and select Multiview positioned under the progress bar.
From the next screen, choose Build a multiview or scroll through predefined channel combinations offered by YouTube TV. You can select up to four channels to create your personalized multiview setup.
If you want to remove a channel, simply scroll down the list and select the channel you wish to discard. Once you’re satisfied with your selections, press the back button on your remote to exit the builder. You’ll then view all selected channels in separate windows.
Switching Audio Among Channels
Note that only one channel’s audio can be active at any time to avoid the confusion of overlapping sounds. Look for a subtle moving volume icon in the top-left corner of the active window to identify which channel’s audio is playing. Use the arrow keys on your remote to navigate between channels, but be aware that audio switching can take up to five seconds.
Exiting the Multiview Mode
To exit the multiview interface on YouTube TV, either press the back button or the up arrow to access the main guide or home screen. The multiview will continue to play in the background until you select a new channel or demand content from your library. Keep in mind that once you exit, you will need to recreate the multiview next time, which could be improved with a potential future update that allows saving custom setups.
Managing Your Multiview History
Although this may not affect most users, if you’ve shared your multiviews with friends or family, you might find YouTube TV suggesting content that doesn’t align with your interests. If that happens, consider deleting your watch history or pausing the feature prior to setting up a multiview.
To manage your watch history, click on your profile icon and navigate to Settings -> Privacy -> Delete Watch History or Pause Watch History. This gives you the option to reinstate your watch history later on.
As YouTube TV continues to evolve, we can expect even more channels to become available for multiview creation, hopefully expanding to mobile and web apps in the future. For now, enjoy the existing options and explore other streaming platforms to maximize your viewing experience while keeping an eye on your budget!
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