iWorld
YouTube adds Shorts series and TV features to deepen creator-viewer engagement
New tools let creators structure Shorts into episodes while viewers can comment from TVs
MUMBAI: YouTube has unveiled a set of new features designed to strengthen the connection between creators and viewers on television, including Shorts series, TV-based comments and expanded creator posts.
The company announced the features at its Made On YouTube event, highlighting the growing role of connected TVs in how audiences consume creator content.
YouTube said more than half of its top 100 creators have TV as their most-watched interface, prompting the platform to expand tools that give creator content a more prominent role on the biggest screen in the home.
YouTube is introducing Shorts series, allowing creators to organise their short-form videos into seasons and episodes. The feature is rolling out across web, mobile and TV.
Creators can also use tools such as custom thumbnails and sequential playback to make it easier for viewers to discover episodes and continue watching.
Creators including Kinigra Deon and GOKKO CLUB are already using Shorts for episodic and multi-part storytelling, YouTube said.
The move comes as microdramas gain traction on the platform. During the first half of 2026, microdramas on YouTube generated more than 6.5 billion views, while watch time increased by more than 50 per cent year-on-year.
Despite being largely associated with mobile viewing, microdrama views on TV increased by more than 90 per cent year-on-year during the same period.
YouTube is also making conversations around videos more accessible from the television screen. With voice inputs, viewers will be able to post comments directly through their TVs without switching to another device.
The platform is also expanding its Posts feature. YouTube said more than 300 million users engage with posts every day on average.
On web and mobile, viewers will begin receiving recommendations for creator posts through the Shorts feed, giving creators another route to reach audiences.
YouTube also plans to bring posts to TV in the coming months, allowing viewers to discover and interact with creator communities directly from their living rooms.
The latest updates underline YouTube’s push to make creator content more episodic, interactive and TV-friendly as viewing habits continue to span mobile devices and the big screen.
