Overview
- YouTube confirmed a mobile rollout of side-by-side ads for livestreams, placing the ad below the video so viewers can keep watching during breaks.
- The new layout replaces the live chat area with an ad panel, and the stream shrinks into the top half of the screen on phones and tablets.
- During ad breaks the livestream’s audio is silenced and only the ad plays sound, which viewers cannot override until the ad ends.
- Users have shared screenshots on Reddit showing the experience on mobile devices, and some report needing to rewind because they miss spoken context.
- Separately, users report seeing Sponsored posts in the subscriptions feed, and coverage also notes prior tests on desktop and TV and a recent Premium price of $15.99 per month.