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YouTube TV Brings Live Surround Sound to Roku, Android Streaming Devices

Users of the Apple TV, Fire TV and game consoles will have to wait a little longer for 5.1-channel sound from the live TV streaming service.

Headshot of Ty Pendlebury
Headshot of Ty Pendlebury
Ty Pendlebury Editor
TV and home video editor Ty Pendlebury joined CNET Australia in 2006, and moved to New York City to be a part of CNET in 2011. He tests, reviews and writes about the latest TVs and audio equipment. When he's not playing Call of Duty he's eating whatever cuisine he can get his hands on. He has a cat named after one of the best TVs ever made.
Expertise Ty has worked for radio, print, and online publications, and has been writing about home entertainment since 2004. He is an avid record collector and streaming music enthusiast. Credentials
  • Ty was nominated for Best New Journalist at the Australian IT Journalism awards, but he has only ever won one thing. As a youth, he was awarded a free session for the photography studio at a local supermarket.
Ty Pendlebury
Sarah Tew/CNET

Google says its live TV streaming service YouTube TV is rolling out 5.1 surround sound on Android TV, Google TV and Roku this week.

The company shared the news in a series of tweets this afternoon, saying: "We know you've been waiting, and it's *finally* ready. 5.1 Audio is rolling out this week across Google TV, Android TV, and Roku devices."

The Chromecast and Roku devices join Samsung, LG and Vizio TVs in offering 5.1 on live broadcasts, but if you're using another device you may need to wait. 

"We're still working internally and with partners to enable 5.1 on Apple TV, Fire TV, and game consoles, and we'll update you here once they're available," Google tweeted. The company shared its full list of compatible devices here.  

The company had originally said the upgrade was coming "within weeks" when it unveiled its $20-a-month 4K add-on back in June last year.

Most of YouTube TV's competitors only support stereo sound on live TV, but do offer 5.1 sound for on-demand content.