Google may soon introduce background playback in its YouTube TV apps for mobile devices.
Keep listening even when you can't see.
Google is conducting tests to allow users to continue listening to their programs on YouTube TV even when their phones are locked. The company announced that it is experimenting with enabling background playback on its YouTube TV streaming service, allowing users to enjoy the audio without needing to keep the screen active.
Recently, some Reddit users noticed that they could continue listening to the audio from YouTube TV even when sending the app to the background on their mobile devices. This background playback feature makes it easier to keep enjoying content when the phone's screen is off or locked, which is particularly useful in situations like following live sports events while doing other tasks.
At the moment, the background playback option is available in the premium subscription of YouTube, which also removes ads, but it was not implemented in Google’s live TV service, which costs $72.99 per month and displays advertisements. Until now, switching apps in YouTube TV would stop the program and silence the audio.
Allison Toh, YouTube's product communications manager, confirmed that they are conducting an experiment that allows YouTube TV playback to continue when the phone's screen is locked, on both Android and iOS devices. If a viewer launches the app and then locks their phone, playback will continue. However, users who prefer not to use this feature can pause the video before locking the device.
This new feature has not yet been officially announced, and no details have been shared regarding its potential large-scale implementation. Currently, this function is being tested with a select group of users on both mobile platforms.