Q. I am thinking of getting YouTube TV, but I was wondering if you can fast-forward past the ads like you can on my cable DVR? I have gotten very used to doing that, so there’s no way I’m turning back now. — Carl, Bowie, Maryland.
Carl, before I answer, a little background on YouTube TV.
The live streaming service offers roughly 70 channels for $49.99 a month. The lineup includes ESPN, FS1, USA Network, Fox News, CNN, among other basic cable channels, and the local network affiliates in many markets. You can also add certain premium channels a la carte, such as Showtime, Starz and Epix.
YouTube TV offers DVR recording with unlimited recording, which means there’s no limit on simultaneous recordings. You can also stream your recording wherever you are, and your recordings are maintained for nine months.
But can you fast-forward past ads when you watch them?
YouTube TV says you can “typically fast-forward through ads on recorded programs once they’ve aired on live TV.”
Typically means that it’s the usual practice, but there may be certain shows or networks that will prohibit fast-forwarding the ads. I am not aware of any in particular, but YouTube TV is couching its promise just in case.
And there’s another possible catch.
If you record a show that’s also available in YouTube TV’s Video on Demand library, the On Demand version will sometimes play back instead of your recording. And YouTube TV usually does not permit fast-forwarding past ads in On Demand shows.
Carl, hope that helps. Happy viewing, and stay safe.
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We are YouTubeTV subscribers and YES, any show in your Library you CAN skip through commercials! Just make sure to add it to your Library before it airs. For example, if you add Modern Family to the library today (April 7, 2020), you’ll be able to skip commercials in the season finale, but you will see prior week’s episodes which are technically VOD and the ads aren’t skippable.
Also, the DVR is really clunky. You cannot ad individual episodes, just the series. Luckily, you have unlimited DVR storage (since it’s all in the cloud).
Hope that makes sense!
Then why can’t I why can’t I fast forward past ads in a movie that I’m watching now and is in my library? And by ads do mean ads in the plural. One before the movie started and then three after about 20 minutes. I’m paying for this service but I won’t be for long if I’m going to have to sit through several ads every 20 minutes.
fast forward past ads in a movie that I’m watching now?
Ditto. Just signed up for free trial and that’s Exactly what I am experiencing. No thanks.
I cannot. I can through “some” but I cannot through most of them. I do not stream on my laptop; I use the TV App. and there’s no option to choose a version so ….
We’re also Youtube TV subscribers. Came from DirecTV. First, let me say there IS a learning curve. But I think it’s worth it. The DVR is fantastic! No, you can’t record just one episode, but who cares when you have unlimited space? Plus, the most recently aired episode always is the first listed for that show in you library. Many times there are 2 episodes recorded and there will be a message that say choose a recording. VOD will have commercials that can’t be skipped DVR recordings have commercials that CAN be skipped. But even VOD recordings total commercial time is only around 2-3 minutes….here is my list of reasons to switch: way less money per month! Sure there are less channels, but most of the good ones are there. Also, you can arrange the live guide in any order you would like. You can move your favorites to the top. Changing channels is almost instant…much faster than DTV. Best surprise when we changed is the picture quality. MUCH better picture! Plus they upconvert everything to 1080p. I am truly amazed at the picture quality. One draw back though: sound is not 5.1. It’s 2.1. But we watch so much from the likes of Netflix, Amazon, Showtime, HBO and Apple TV+, which are all in 5.1 that it really isn’t a big deal. After the learning curve, we really love YTTV. Best deal around!
I have YouTube TV. I used to be able to watch America’s worst cooks without commercial interruption. Now, last night when I attempted to watch an episode from 2019, it was full of commercials. I don’t understand why. What’s going on?
I record Morning Joe on MSNBC each weekday morning so I can watch it a couple of hours later. This week I’ve lost my ability to skip through commercials. Skipping commercials on other shows even on the same network. It appears that YouTube TV is preventing me from doing this
I’m so angry I fell for their bs believing that I could ff through ads during shows in my library! Huge fat lie. I’m done.
I am finding it on my library for HGTV shows. Like love it or list it. Now I can play the show from the beginning and fast forward through the whole thing first thing, problem is when I actually want to view it or play what’s recorded it will start playing and when it’s time for the ads/commercials 1/7, I don’t have the option to fast forward. So far I’ve only found this on hgtv. It doesn’t do this in the local channels ir my sports or movies. I can zoom right by it. But Lord. HGTV IS MY WIFES FAVORITE CHANNEL AT NIGHT!!! You gotta help me please
Some channels do not permit fast forwarding past ads.
NO YOU CANNOT. PERIOD. TOTAL WASTE.
So far, I have been able to FF through commercials/ad’s if the show is in my library and has already aired on live TV.
Yes you can! But, if you’re new to YouTube TV, it takes about 5 days for the DVR to populate your recordings. Until then, anything you watch is VOD with commercials you can’t skip. But as your DVR fills with your recordings things will change. When you go to play something you recorded, you’ll get a message that says “choose version”. Click on that and you’ll be given the option of watching either VOD or DVR version. If you choose DVR, you’ll be able to skip commercials….
If I can’t fast forward on during shows, there is not a good reason to keep YouTube tv.