- YouTube TV viewers would see longer, unmissable ads
- However, YouTube denies that these ads are tested
- A growing number of ads are appearing on streaming services
A new debate has arisen over ads on YouTube, particularly the non-skippable 90-second ads that appear on the YouTube TV app. Users complain about being introduced, while YouTube insists they shouldn’t appear.
As 9to5Google reports, an official YouTube social media account has posted that the platform “does not have a non-skippable 90-second ad format” – although users have taken to the web to express their frustration at seeing these ad blocks appear on their televisions.
This “is not something we are testing at this time,” the YouTube team’s post said, adding that “we are investigating this in more detail.” You can see some of the user complaints collected (with photographic evidence) on Android Authority.
Article continues below
So the ads aren’t there? According to Reddit, they are very present, where there are many reports of this phenomenon. One poster says they’ve had four so far in a single day, while another confirms “they really exist.”
The ad-apocalypse
YouTube says 90-second ads don’t exist. Do you see them? from r/youtube
While YouTube studies the matter, it’s hard to know for sure what’s going on, but there seems no reason to doubt the multiple reports piling up from viewers that they’re having to wait longer for ads and can’t sit through them.
Some users are suggesting that this could actually be cases where three 30-second ads are shown in a row, with no option to skip them – which would prove YouTube and its users right, technically – but at the moment the details are unclear.
What we do know is that YouTube hosts and serves an incredible amount of video content and is doubling down on trying to cover the costs, whether through longer ads or getting people to sign up for YouTube Premium.
It’s certainly not pleasant for viewers, who are seeing more and more ads across all streaming services. Perhaps the last word (for now) should go to this Redditor: “It’s a joke on them because my attention span is too short for a 90 second commercial.”
Follow TechRadar on Google News And add us as your favorite source to get our news, reviews and expert opinions in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp Also.
