YouTube App for TV Gets a Major Upgrade: ‘Jump Ahead’ Rolls Out

Good news for YouTube Premium subscribers who enjoy watching on their televisions. One of YouTube’s most convenient AI-powered features, “Jump Ahead,” is now making its way to the TV app. This clever tool lets you bypass less interesting parts of a video, taking you straight to the segments most viewers typically skip to or replay.

The “Jump Ahead” feature isn’t entirely new. It first launched last May for YouTube on web and mobile devices. However, its absence on the big screen was a noticeable omission. After all, almost half of all YouTube content consumption now happens on televisions. This rollout (spotted by Android Authority) means a smoother, more efficient viewing experience for many users.

YouTube’s Jump Ahead comes to the TV app

So, how does it work on your TV? It is slightly different from the mobile and web versions. Instead of tapping a specific button on your screen, you can use your remote’s fast-forward button. When you encounter a commonly skipped section, pressing the fast-forward key will automatically jump the video to a designated point. You might see a small dot on the video’s progress bar indicating this popular skip spot. You could also see a message confirming that you’re “jumping over a commonly skipped section.”

This smart functionality is powered by artificial intelligence and vast amounts of viewing data. YouTube analyzes how people interact with videos, identifying segments that viewers frequently fast-forward through or rewind to rewatch. For Premium subscribers, this data is then used to offer a seamless way to navigate straight to the action or information they are most interested in.

YouTube has confirmed the feature’s availability on “Living Room” (TV) devices. However, it seems to be a gradual rollout. Google usually rolls out most of its new features in phases. Keep an eye out for it on your connected TV or streaming device’s YouTube app in the coming days.