A minor update of YouTube TV for Android today sees Google change the show name to “YT TV”. In addition, the Android / Google TV app icon has been slightly modified as well.
Updated 1/19/21: Google withdrew its turnaround in December with version 5.01.2. The app is being expanded by the Play Store today and is again referred to as ‘YT TV’. Clearly, end users prefer the abbreviated application name.
Update 12/2: Version 4.48.2 launches today via the Play Store and returns the name of the home screen to the full “YouTube TV”. It’s not clear why Google abandoned YT TV for ‘almost two months’. As such, the charging position switched back and YT Music is again the last app.
Original 10/5: Version 4.40 for Android (phones and tablets) sees the program name change from “YouTube TV” to “YT TV.” This change is reflected on home screens and app launches, but not on the info page or Play Store list.
The abbreviation corresponds to “YT Music” and sees “YT TV” move to the right of the audio streaming application. For most people, YouTube TV is now the last item in their alphabetically arranged app load, though it can present some challenges if you search, depending on the launcher of your device.
Depending on your font size, “YouTube TV” may have been truncated to “YouTube” before. Today’s change means that this is no longer the case for most users. This new version is still being launched via the Play Store.
In the meantime, watch the YouTube TV app card in front of Android TV / Google TV again. It used to be the red YouTube play button followed by ‘TV’ against a white background. This is also how brands appear in the app.
It’s now the icon and ‘YouTube TV’ behind a black card, both of which stretch from side to side. The background change distinguishes it from YouTube and the YouTube Music shortcut. One benefit is that it’s separate in the app carousel, though Chromecast with Google TV users always have access to it in the new “Live” tab.
There is now also a red tint / glow when selected. This change should be widely rolled out today.
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