Roku just removed YouTube TV app — what you need to know

Roku simply removed YouTube TV app — what you need to know

(Image credit: Roku)

Roku has removed the YouTube Telly app from its platform, making skilful on a warning before this week that it would do and then amongst a distribution dispute with Google.

Electric current YouTube Television receiver subscribers will continue to accept admission to the app on their Roku devices, but new subscribers won't be able to sign up. The main YouTube app is not affected.

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It's a clash of the titans. Google is, well, Google. YouTube TV is one of the top live TV services and best cable TV alternatives, with more than iii one thousand thousand users. Roku is the leader in streaming platforms, running on one-third of all smart TVs in North America and boasting over 50 million agile accounts at the cease of 2020.

They are competitors, since Google has its own streaming device in the Chromecast and streaming platform in Google TV.

A big function of the dispute is Roku'south accuse that Google is engaging in anticompetitive practices. Roku said that Google demanded preferential handling of the YouTube TV and YouTube apps, the manipulation of consumer search results and access to data not available to other companies.

Both Roku and YouTube Goggle box have expressed "thwarting" with the other. Roku sent Tom's Guide a statement maxim: "We are disappointed that Google has allowed our agreement for the distribution of YouTube Boob tube to elapse. Roku has not asked for ane dollar of additional financial consideration from Google to renew YouTube TV."

Earlier this week, YouTube TV said: "Unfortunately, Roku often engages in these types of tactics in their negotiations. We're disappointed that they chose to make groundless claims while nosotros go on our ongoing negotiations."

The Roku vs Google fight is reminiscent of carriage disputes between cablevision providers and networks. Cable users may remember times when they tried to click on a channel and saw a bulletin that Such-and-Such Media Company was being hard (i.e. wanted more than coin from the cablevision visitor). Now, the battles have shifted to streaming.

Roku has been involved in distribution disputes before, virtually notably with Fox in 2020. The 2 companies reached an agreement to keep Fox apps on Roku devices just in time for the Super Bowl. Roku also lagged backside in adding the HBO Max app to its platform.

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Kelly is a senior writer roofing streaming media for Tom's Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, Idiot box Guide and other outlets. When she'due south not watching TV and movies for work, she'south watching them for fun, seeing alive music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.