During a performance at the Coachella festival on April 11, 2026, Justin Bieber surprised audiences by watching several of his older videos on YouTube instead of performing them live. This unexpected move highlighted YouTube's growing influence on how people watch television, as the platform continues to experiment with new ways to deliver content. According to Neal Mohan, YouTube's head, the decision was Justin Bieber's own idea, reflecting his early connection with the platform when he first gained fame through it. YouTube reported a record number of people watching its Coachella broadcasts at the same time, and the partnership with the festival has been extended until 2030. The platform is using Coachella as a real-world test for its broader television strategy, aiming to change how people consume content on large screens. This includes exploring ways to make television more interactive and adaptable to different viewer preferences. YouTube has seen a significant rise in the use of Shorts, which are short-form videos, on television. As of July 2026, more than 35% of YouTube users watching on television were viewing Shorts. The platform has noted that watching these short videos together in the living room has become a new trend, made possible by the large screen experience. To improve the television viewing experience, YouTube introduced Shorts Series, which allows creators to organize their Shorts into structured formats like seasons and episodes. This innovation has led to more views and longer watching times for micro-dramas, with over 6.5 billion views on YouTube during the first half of 2026. The platform is also working to make content more versatile by letting creators offer different versions of the same video, tailored for various viewing situations. Creators such as Michou, Inoxtag, and Squeezie have produced high-quality content that rivals traditional television shows. While YouTube recognizes the competition from services like Netflix, it is focusing on partnerships with traditional media companies. The platform wants to keep the flexible and interactive experience that makes YouTube unique, allowing users to switch easily between long-form videos, Shorts, and live events. Interactive features, such as viewing comments and participating in posts directly on the television, are being added to boost engagement and transform the television into a more dynamic platform for content consumption.