Anybody else get this email?

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Dear Roku Customer,


We are sending this email to update you on the possibility that Google may take away your access to the YouTube TV channel on Roku. Recent negotiations with Google to carry YouTube TV have broken down because Roku cannot accept Google's unfair terms as we believe they could harm our users.

Ensuring a great streaming experience at an exceptional value is the core of our business. We will always stand up for our users, which is why we cannot accept Google's unfair and anticompetitive requirements to manipulate your search results, impact the usage of your data and ultimately cost you more.

While we are deeply disappointed in Google's decision to use their monopoly power to try and force terms that will directly harm streamers, we remain committed to reaching an agreement with Google that preserves your access to YouTube TV, protects your data and ensures a level playing field for companies to compete. We encourage you to contact Google and urge them to reach an agreement to continue offering YouTube TV on Roku and to follow standard industry practices pledging not to require access to sensitive search data or to manipulate your search results.


Thank you,
Roku

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No but my Roku stock is taking a dump in pre-market.

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"Roku said the dispute is not over economic terms, claiming it is not asking for higher fees to carry YouTube TV. The crux of the spat, according to Roku, is that Google wants to prevent Roku from displaying search results from third-party services (e.g., HBO Max or Netflix) if a user has the YouTube app open."

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https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/roku-youtube-tv-google-dispute-1234960563/

More details:

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Roku says Google is threatening the removal of YouTube TV to force Roku to grant preferential access to its consumer data moving forward.

• It says Google has asked Roku to do things that it does not see replicated on other streaming competitors' platforms, like creating a dedicated search results row for YouTube within the Roku smart TV interface and giving YouTube search results more prominent placement.
• Roku says Google has also required it to block search results from other streaming content providers while users are using the YouTube app on Roku's system.
• Roku alleges Google has asked it to favor YouTube music results from voice commands made on the Roku remote while the YouTube app is open, even if the user's music preference is set to default to another music app, like Pandora.
• Roku says Google has threatened to require Roku to use certain chip sets or memory cards that would force Roku to increase the price of its hardware product, which competes directly with Google's Chromecast.

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https://www.axios.com/roku-google-youtube-tv-dispute-525316c1-4d66-44e3-a96a-40db7b10e05b.html

Agreed. I will drop YTTV over this.

As someone who doesn't use either (just finished dumping my Roku's after I realized how often they phone home, not including app data), this looks like a spat on sellable user data. Roku harvests a ton of data and so does Google, so it's probably something Google is trying to force on Roku that breaks some of the data that Roku gets to sell to advertisers (since I haven't seen any issues with Google and other devices).

In the end, not sure if this will affect either company financially, but I could see both holding out since Roku has the market share and Google just really doesn't care about non-google devices.

YTTV has already pissed me off with their bicker over the old FSSW channel debacle. (admittedly, that's probably a two way pissing match where everyone is getting wet). But, this just gives me an excuse to say "bye"

but the more important question is, what should we go to that allows for the right pricing and content make up... YTTV admittedly had a pretty sweet gig when I first signed up. It's degraded all along the way though.

the other thing is I have actual TV's with ROKU baked in (which is really nice), so I'd really like to consider using the ROKU platform over the YTTV.

ok, bickering over (for now )

Ya...I have a couple of those Roku TVs too.

Closest alternatives are Hulu + Live, or Fubo.

Well... Here we go.

Sounds like if you are an existing customer and you don't delete the app from the platform theyre going to attempt to let you be grandfathered in as long as possible and force Google to be the bad cop. New subscribers won't be able to download it on the platform anymore.

Quote:

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We are disappointed to share the news that Google has chosen to let the YouTube TV contract expire.



While this news is unfortunate, we wanted to let you know that we are taking an extra step to ensure existing Roku users like yourself retain access to YouTube TV while we work to reach an agreement.



We will always stand up for our users, which is why we cannot accept Google's unfair and anticompetitive requirements that would allow for the manipulation of your search results, impact the usage of your data and ultimately cost you more.



Our commitment is to always put your interests first and therefore we will continue to offer existing users access to YouTube TV unless Google takes actions that require the full removal of the channel. New subscribers will not be allowed at this time. It is also important that you do not delete the YouTube TV channel as it will not be available for download to Roku devices.



We remain committed to reaching a good-faith agreement with Google that preserves your access to YouTube TV, honors your desired search preferences and protects your data. We hope to update you soon.

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Ruh Roh.

I can't be the only one that's left the clunky Roku UI

I can't win. Cable was sucking me dry.....so I switched to streaming. Not as robust as cable, but given the price, was more than acceptable. Then there was trying to figure out which service had my needs.....all of the big 3 (YTTV, Hulu, Fubo) have certain channels I want, and not others. Settled on YTTV (DVR much better than the others). Then streaming starts increasing prices....almost as much as I was paying for the cord. Now there's this...

I'm ok on my main TV....it's a smart TV, but very clunky compared to Roku. But I have 2 integrated Roku TVs. I'm not buying new ones just so I can keep using YTTV. Suppose I could get chromecast or fire stick for those, but don't really want to. Probably will go with Hulu, and get the Disney/ESPN bundle. I may also piece together the various options that are less than $10 a month (Discovery+, Paramount+, etc.).

This website is good for trying to figure out what services you need for the channels you want https://www.suppose.tv/tv

Still waiting for the day we can get a la carte channels......

Oh....and Google can go EAD. Like you guys don't already have a strangle hold on the search verse? Geez...

Effective today, we have agreed to a multi-year extension with Google for YouTube and YouTube TV. This agreement represents a positive development for our shared customers, making both YouTube and YouTube TV available for all streamers on the Roku platform.

— Roku (@Roku) December 8, 2021