Roku removes YouTube TV from its app catalog amidst contract disagreements

As Roku reached the end of its contract with Google to host the YouTube TV app on its channel store, Roku sent all its customers an email notifying them that they may lose the ability to use the YouTube TV channel on Roku devices. In this messages to consumers, it pointed at Google and accused it of “unfair and anticompetitive requirements” that are, according to Roku, designed to allow the collection of user data and to “manipulate” search results. That was on Monday.

Fast forward to Friday, Roku has actually removed the YouTube TV channel from its store and issued a statement to Droid-Life. You can find the full statement in the Source link. In the statement, Roku laments that Google allowed the agreement to fall through. Roku iterates that it didn’t try to raise its fees, but that it wanted Google to commit to four things:

First, not to manipulate consumer search results. Second, not to require access to data not available to anyone else. Third, not to leverage their YouTube monopoly to force Roku to accept hardware requirements that would increase consumer costs. Fourth, not to act in a discriminatory and anticompetitive manner against Roku.

Roku will continue to allow existing YouTube TV subscribers on the Roku platform to use the app, but will not allow new subscribers to download the app until a new agreement is reached. Roku hopes that Google will “embrace principles that have made streaming so popular for millions of users bu giving consumers control of their streaming practices”. [Roku] believes consumers stand to benefit from Google and Roku reaching a fair agreement that preserves these principles and [Roku] remains committed to trying to achieve that goal.”

In a rebutting statement, Google points out the Roku “terminated our deal in bad faith amidst our negotiation” and “often engaged in this tactic with other streaming providers”. Google’s responding statement denies Roku’s claims about data collection and search result manipulation. As per Google, “We have never, as they have alleged, made any requests to access user data or interfere with search results. This claim is baseless and false.”

“Our offer to Roku was simple”, writes Google in its statement. “and [it] still stands: renew the YouTube TV deal under the existing reasonable terms.” Google also accused Roku of trying to renegotiate another agreement pertaining to the YouTube app. According to Google, this is a separate contract that doesn’t expire until December.

Google says it’s “committed to ensuring [its] members continue to have access to YouTube TV and will continue advocating on behalf of [its] members.” Sadly, when companies disagree on decisions like this, the customers are the ones who lose. Imagine (as an average consumer) needing to go out and buy another (probably redundant) streaming device to use your favorite (expensive) TV service because two companies were unable to agree.

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