Google is going to make the AV1 codec on Android TV a must. This codec, which will positively affect the quality of videos watched on the Android TV devices, should be supported as of March 31 (regardless of whether these devices are based on Android 10 or Android 11).
Google’s Android TV platform is used in many different places, from TVs to projectors.
What is AV1 Codec?
AV1 Codec (AOMedia Video 1) is an open, royalty-free video coding format built by the Alliance for Open Media. What does it do? This codec is designed to have a minimal impact on the quality of videos streamed over the internet. Currently, there are few streaming services that encode a small part of their content with this codec.
Android TV Devices Will Require AV1 Streaming Codec
According to the news, all Android TV-based devices, including Google TV, as of March 31, 2021, must receive AV1 codec support. This requirement applies to all devices running Android 10 and Android 11.
The search giant, which started to use YouTube, Chrome, and Duo services on compatible devices, also plans to bring this codec to all its services, including the cloud gaming platform Stadia.
This codec, which Google requires to be used on new devices, also requires newer hardware in devices. Therefore, it does not seem possible for every Android TV-based device to use this codec. But let’s wait and see.