Youtube 2160p - No H.264?

[goldensun87]

I've been noticing in many recent 2160p uploads, that there seems to be no h.264 mp4 option, only VP9 codec in .webm container. Is Youtube phasing out h.264 for their 2160p uploads? I'm sorry if this is not actually an issue, but I honestly did not know anywhere else to ask about this. Here is an example url, with my -F results.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is3WqWwSF2Y

format code extension resolution note
249 webm audio only DASH audio 55k , opus @ 50k, 1.37MiB
250 webm audio only DASH audio 71k , opus @ 70k, 1.73MiB
171 webm audio only DASH audio 105k , vorbis@128k, 2.57MiB
251 webm audio only DASH audio 123k , opus @160k, 3.04MiB
140 m4a audio only DASH audio 127k , m4a_dash container, mp4a.40.2@128k, 3.37MiB
278 webm 256x144 144p 100k , webm container, vp9, 24fps, video only, 2.44MiB
160 mp4 256x144 144p 113k , avc1.4d400c, 24fps, video only, 2.95MiB
242 webm 426x240 240p 201k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 3.25MiB
133 mp4 426x240 240p 249k , avc1.4d4015, 24fps, video only, 6.52MiB
134 mp4 640x360 360p 305k , avc1.4d401e, 24fps, video only, 6.49MiB
243 webm 640x360 360p 358k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 5.90MiB
135 mp4 854x480 480p 564k , avc1.4d401e, 24fps, video only, 13.42MiB
244 webm 854x480 480p 585k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 9.47MiB
247 webm 1280x720 720p 1089k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 18.60MiB
136 mp4 1280x720 720p 1119k , avc1.4d401f, 24fps, video only, 26.80MiB
248 webm 1920x1080 1080p 1953k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 34.44MiB
137 mp4 1920x1080 1080p 2198k , avc1.640028, 24fps, video only, 52.31MiB
271 webm 2560x1440 1440p 4493k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 87.94MiB
264 mp4 2560x1440 1440p 6440k , avc1.640032, 24fps, video only, 144.18MiB
313 webm 3840x2160 2160p 15035k , vp9, 24fps, video only, 322.70MiB
17 3gp 176x144 small , mp4v.20.3, mp4a.40.2@ 24k
36 3gp 320x180 small , mp4v.20.3, mp4a.40.2
43 webm 640x360 medium , vp8.0, vorbis@128k
18 mp4 640x360 medium , avc1.42001E, mp4a.40.2@ 96k
22 mp4 1280x720 hd720 , avc1.64001F, mp4a.40.2@192k (best)

[dstftw]

This should be addressed to YouTube.

[Hrxn]

I think it's intentional. Besides from being Google's format, VP9 doesn't have the patent issues of h.264, and it's more efficient.

[goldensun87]

@dstftw I don't think it is a good idea to directly admit to Youtube, that I am saving videos off their site with third party software. That is why I asked here.

@Hrxn Thanks for the info. I wouldn't have a problem with it, if the variable framerate was not persistent. When an h.264 video from Youtube or anywhere else has a variable framerate, demuxing and remuxing the video gets rid of the VFR, but that does not seem to work with the VP9 video.