YouTube has a practical web interface optimized for browsing videos on HTPCs and other big-screen, TV-based devices, but it’s being terminated for unknown reasons. Visitors who try to access the “Leanback” UI are now greeted with a notification that it “will be going away soon.”
Android Police suspects Google is removing this feature for licensing reasons. The Leanback interface has a history of allowing streaming boxes (e.g., Amazon’s Fire TV) from accessing YouTube without the need of an official app, so the company could be trying to prevent that.
Visiting youtube.com/tv or youtube.com/leanback (which redirects to the former) now presents a message. “This version of YouTube will be going away soon. You’ll still be able to view youtube.com, but you can get an optimized experience on a supported device.”