YouTube on Wednesday showed off several new updates aimed at improving its TV user interface.
Key updates include the introduction of QR codes that let you identify and shop for items in tagged videos, AI-powered upscaling, and improved search.
The updates come as the platform focuses on solidifying its position in the living room. YouTube accounted for 12.4% of the total audience time spent watching television, beating media platforms like Disney, Paramount and Netflix, per a report by Nielsen in April.
Image Credits:YouTube
Augmenting its shopping offerings, YouTube is now supporting QR codes in videos where creators can link specific products to their content, enabling viewers to scan the codes with their phones to quickly access product pages.
This feature aims to boost revenue, particularly for shopping-related content, which has seen significant viewership — 35 billion hours in the last year alone, according to the company. Additionally, the number of channels earning six figures or more in revenue from TV screens has increased by over 45% in the past year.
While shoppable QR codes are not a new concept—Roku, Peacock, and others have implemented them—YouTube says its functionality aims to help content creators sell their merchandise more effectively by linking directly to their online stores.
The platform is also starting to test the ability to showcase products at specific, timed moments within videos.
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