YouTube Shorts are coming to newer Smart TVs and game consoles to let you watch vertical video on a horizontal screen.
It is no longer an April Fools' joke. TikTok's vertical videos are already supported on Smart TVs and Samsung has launched the rotating Sero TV.
Now YouTube is bringing its vertical videos, Shorts, to the TV screen.
- "Bringing Shorts to our community has transformed the way people create and watch video on YouTube. When we introduced this new format, we optimized the experience for the mobile creator and viewer. Today, we’re expanding viewing access to Shorts to our fastest growing surface: the TV screen. While this may seem like a natural next step, an incredible amount of thought and care has gone into bringing this vertical, mobile-first experience to the big screen," said Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer, YouTube.
YouTube said that Shorts will be "rolling out on TV models (2019 and later) and on newer game consoles" over the coming weeks, presumable as an app update.
Here is how it works: