YouTube is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a slew of updates to its TV platform, including a redesigned app, a new multiview feature, and faster playback speeds. The changes aim to enhance the user experience and provide more flexibility for viewers.

The multiview feature, which was initially limited to sports content, will now be available for select non-sports channels. This means that YouTube TV members will be able to test out "building their own multiview" with popular channels, with the feature expanding to more networks in the coming months. According to YouTube spokesperson Allison Toh, the company is aiming to make the feature available to a broad set of networks across all content genres.

The YouTube TV app is also getting a major redesign, which promises to provide easier navigation, playback, and quality tweaks. The update will also include streamlined access to comments, channel info, and subscribing. The redesign is likely inspired by the growing popularity of YouTube on TVs, with viewers now using the platform more on their TVs than on their phones.

In addition to these updates, YouTube Premium subscribers will also get to enjoy 4x playback speed on iOS and Android mobile devices. This feature was initially tested in January and is now being rolled out to all Premium subscribers.

The updates come at a time when YouTube is facing increasing competition from other streaming services, including Netflix. Interestingly, Netflix is also planning to roll out its own reworked homepage, which it started testing last year. The move highlights the ongoing efforts of streaming services to improve user experience and stay ahead of the competition.

YouTube's focus on its TV platform is a strategic move, given the growing importance of TV viewing in the streaming landscape. The company's efforts to enhance its multiview feature, redesign its app, and provide faster playback speeds are likely to resonate with viewers and help YouTube maintain its position as a leading streaming service.

As YouTube celebrates its 20th anniversary, these updates demonstrate the company's commitment to innovation and user experience. With the streaming landscape continuing to evolve, it will be interesting to see how YouTube's updates impact the market and shape the future of streaming.