YouTube has started experimenting with using the new AV1 video format and has created an AV1 beta playlist. “We have ambitious goals for rolling out the new format”, the company said.
AV1 to replace VP9
Google has largely opposed the industry HEVC compression standard, partly due to high royalty costs. Instead, the company developed its own VP9 format for HD and 4K HDR video but it has seen limited uptake outside of Google’s own properties.
AV1 is meant to supplant both HEVC and VP9. The new video format has been developed by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), with includes Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Mozilla, Netflix, and several other internet giants. The initiative was announced in 2015.
Google’s YouTube has now started doing public tests with AV1 video and has created an AV1 beta launch playlist. To watch the videos in AV1 you must use Chrome 70 or Firefox 63 that were both recently updated to support AV1 (deactivated by default). The company explains that AV1 videos are currently available in 480p SD only, switching to VP9 for higher resolutions, but it appears that YouTube is uploading higher-resolution versions as we speak...
