YouTube’s new look and the potential loss of CBS on YouTube TV
At the end of last year, YouTube rolled out a new design featuring a softer shade of red and a magenta gradient. The design team has now shared more about these changes.
The old red, used since 2017, was too bright and caused issues like appearing orange on some screens and screen burn-in on TVs. To fix this, they chose a cooler shade of red, making it more user-friendly while keeping the vibrant feel. They avoided colors that seemed too business-like or cold, aiming instead for a warm, welcoming vibe.
Additionally, they introduced a red-to-magenta gradient in the video progress bar. They considered other colors but decided magenta was the best match for the new red. Magenta, rare in nature, stands for creativity and growth, which aligns with YouTube’s identity. The gradient is angled at 45 degrees, with magenta on the right, to suggest forward movement.
Red is now sparingly used for “brand marks, identity elements, and key UI moments” to keep its special feel, like in the logo and icons. The gradient appears in places like topic icons, the progress bar, and buttons for likes, subscriptions, premium badges, and live rings.
Motion in the design was also updated. The startup animation now includes the gradient for a stronger brand impact, making the progress bar quicker and thinner for a modern look, and shortening the animation by 0.2 seconds.
Looking forward, YouTube plans to refine aspects like images, icons, text styles, and more colors to keep the app feeling fresh.
On a different note, YouTube TV announced that talks with Paramount have not yet resulted in a new agreement. If no deal is reached, CBS, CBS Sports, and other Paramount channels will disappear from YouTube TV after February 13, 2025, affecting both the Base and Spanish plans, as well as various add-ons.
If this happens, YouTube TV subscribers will lose access to their DVR recordings of these channels. However, YouTube TV is offering an $8 credit to help cover the cost of a Paramount+ subscription at $7.99 a month. Members with certain add-ons will receive further discounts or refunds.
YouTube has expressed its desire to maintain CBS and CBS Sports on their platform without increasing costs for users, but negotiations continue. Paramount is a significant partner, and both companies are hopeful to resolve the situation amicably. These contract disputes are not uncommon, with past examples involving NBC and Disney in 2021, amidst Paramount’s ongoing merger with Skydance Media.