Watch: Why Apple TV 4K can't play 4K YouTube videos

Last updated 7 years ago

Apple TV 4K promises users the ability to view 4K HDR content from a wide range of sources, including Netflix and Apple's own iTunes Store. However, the streamer is incompatible with one of the world's largest repositories of free 4K content: YouTube. We explain why.

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49 Comments

jameskatt2 722 comments · 16 Years

About 7 years ago

This is ENTIRELY GOOGLE's fault.

1) If they want their YouTube App to run V9 video's (Google's proprietary format) then they should re-write the YouTube App to play V9 videos. The YouTube app is Google's app, not Apple's.

2) Otherwise, Google should stop blocking access to 4K MP4 Videos on Apple TV. MP4 is THE STANDARD for video.

BLAME Google for lack of 4K Videos on YouTube for Apple TV.

Soli 9981 comments · 9 Years

About 7 years ago

jameskatt2 said:

This is ENTIRELY GOOGLE's fault.

1) If they want their YouTube App to run V9 video's (Google's proprietary format) then they should re-write the YouTube App to play V9 videos. The YouTube app is Google's app, not Apple's.

2) Otherwise, Google should stop blocking access to 4K MP4 Videos on Apple TV. MP4 is THE STANDARD for video.

BLAME Google for lack of 4K Videos on YouTube for Apple TV.

I do blame Google for this but can they just include the VP9 codec in the app? I'm under the impression that this isn't allowed with Apple's App Store rules.

ericthehalfbee 4489 comments · 13 Years

About 7 years ago

Google will come around. iOS is the most profitable mobile platform and they’re not going to ignore it.

Soli 9981 comments · 9 Years

About 7 years ago

ericthehalfbee said:

Google will come around. iOS is the most profitable mobile platform and they’re not going to ignore it.

I hope you're right but I'm not convinced since they're not dropping support for their content, just for the highest resolution option.

jameskatt2 722 comments · 16 Years

About 7 years ago

Soli said:

jameskatt2 said:

This is ENTIRELY GOOGLE's fault.

1) If they want their YouTube App to run V9 video's (Google's proprietary format) then they should re-write the YouTube App to play V9 videos. The YouTube app is Google's app, not Apple's.

2) Otherwise, Google should stop blocking access to 4K MP4 Videos on Apple TV. MP4 is THE STANDARD for video.

BLAME Google for lack of 4K Videos on YouTube for Apple TV.

I do blame Google for this but can they just include the VP9 codec in the app? I'm under the impression that this isn't allowed with Apple's App Store rules.

There is nothing stopping Google from including the VP9 codec in the app.

Skype uses a proprietary Microsoft codec for streaming.
NetFlix uses its own codec.
SlingBox uses its own codec.
Plex uses its own codec.

Google is simply trying to hardball Apple into using Google's VP9 codec in Safari.

Apple will never do this since VP9 is proprietary. MP4 is the standard.

MP4 does require licensing fees - which Google is being cheap about and does not want to pay despite billions in profits.