Look at the version being played
Google describes live TV as the current transmission, recordings as programmes saved to the library, and on-demand video as material supplied for immediate viewing by networks. Read the available version information before deciding a control is broken.
A recording and an on-demand copy can sit near one another in a programme's viewing options. Choosing the one that appears first without reading its label can produce a different experience from the previous episode, even though the remote and television are unchanged.
Compare the relevant controls
Google's ad guidance describes a yellow progress bar and ad indicator for on-demand advertising. That can help identify the mode without changing the device. It also says Premium benefits do not remove all live, recorded and on-demand television advertisements.
| Version | Useful expectation to check |
|---|---|
| Live TV | The current broadcast position limits seeking into content that has not aired |
| DVR recording | Recorded-programme controls follow the DVR version |
| On demand | Network-supplied ads can have different skipping conditions |
| YouTube creator video inside the app | Applicable YouTube Premium benefits concern that content type |
Report a version-specific issue
If a recording behaves unexpectedly, note the programme, episode, selected version, device and exact control that fails. Compare like with like: an on-demand episode is not an appropriate control test for a DVR recording's ad behaviour.
Avoid buying another membership solely because a different version has advertisements. First identify the product and playback mode. This makes the question specific enough to distinguish expected advertising rules from a genuine player or remote-control problem.
Questions about this guide
Does YouTube Premium remove all YouTube TV advertisements?
No. Google documents separate advertising behaviour for television content and Premium's applicable YouTube-video benefits.