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> Roku still allows customers who bought and downloaded the YouTube TV app before it was removed from Roku's platform in April to use it. Should that not read

> Roku still allows customers who bought and downloaded the YouTube TV app before it was removed from Roku's platform in April to use it. Should that not read "Google still allows ..."? Roku would have no interest in blocking their users from using an old version of YouTube TV that predates Google's (allegedly) anti-competitive demands. Google, on the other hand, might see those old non-compliance YouTube TV apps as problematic. Am I missing something here?

claudiulodro 5y ago
Google wants favorable distribution for YouTube TV over other streaming services Roku offers -- it's not about the users or the app or compliance.
mdasen 5y ago
If Roku stopped Roku customers from using YouTube TV, it would force a lot of YouTube TV customers to either a) buy non-Roku devices; b) move to a different service like Hulu with Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling, FuboTV, etc. If Roku removed YouTube TV from their boxes, it would put a lot of pressure on YouTube TV to agree to Roku's terms since they would likely start losing customers fast. Before, if a cable company had a dispute with a network, customers had to wait it out. If Roku has a dispute with YouTube TV, the customers can just switch to one of multiple replacements. That gives the box-providers a lot of leverage. Roku could even work with one of the alternatives to offer a switching bonus. "We're sorry that YouTube TV is being evil. If you switch to Hulu with Live TV, here's $10/mo off for the first year!"
- dleslie 5y ago
  I think you're over estimating the willingness of customers to remain loyal to a device and not the content it serves.
  - john-radio 5y ago
    I think that's true in some cases but YouTube on a settop box, in my mind, is really just a "nice to have".
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
    - dfinninger 5y ago
      The comment chain is about YouTube TV. That’s a $65/mo live TV service that includes DVR.
- graton 5y ago
  Edit: I thought the article was talking about "YouTube" and not "YouTube TV". I don't care at all about "YouTube TV" If YouTube disappeared from my Roku I would go buy a device that does support it. At the moment there isn't much competition in the YouTube space. If Netflix or Amazon Prime disappeared from my Roku, I wouldn't be as bothered as they are more fungible services.
- enos_feedler 5y ago
  I think you have this backwards. I am more likely to remain loyal to Sling or Youtube TV than I am to Roku or some other smart TV OS. Simple reason: content. Sling doesn’t have regional sports networks from NBC any more, but Youtube TV does. Switching over to Sling is a non-starter. Meanwhile, Roku’s operating system doesn’t really offer something I can’t get elsewhere.

claudiulodro 5y ago

Google wants favorable distribution for YouTube TV over other streaming services Roku offers -- it's not about the users or the app or compliance.

mdasen 5y ago

If Roku stopped Roku customers from using YouTube TV, it would force a lot of YouTube TV customers to either a) buy non-Roku devices; b) move to a different service like Hulu with Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling, FuboTV, etc. If Roku removed YouTube TV from their boxes, it would put a lot of pressure on YouTube TV to agree to Roku's terms since they would likely start losing customers fast. Before, if a cable company had a dispute with a network, customers had to wait it out. If Roku has a dispute with YouTube TV, the customers can just switch to one of multiple replacements. That gives the box-providers a lot of leverage. Roku could even work with one of the alternatives to offer a switching bonus. "We're sorry that YouTube TV is being evil. If you switch to Hulu with Live TV, here's $10/mo off for the first year!"

dleslie 5y ago
I think you're over estimating the willingness of customers to remain loyal to a device and not the content it serves.
- john-radio 5y ago
  I think that's true in some cases but YouTube on a settop box, in my mind, is really just a "nice to have".
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - dfinninger 5y ago
    The comment chain is about YouTube TV. That’s a $65/mo live TV service that includes DVR.
graton 5y ago
Edit: I thought the article was talking about "YouTube" and not "YouTube TV". I don't care at all about "YouTube TV" If YouTube disappeared from my Roku I would go buy a device that does support it. At the moment there isn't much competition in the YouTube space. If Netflix or Amazon Prime disappeared from my Roku, I wouldn't be as bothered as they are more fungible services.
enos_feedler 5y ago
I think you have this backwards. I am more likely to remain loyal to Sling or Youtube TV than I am to Roku or some other smart TV OS. Simple reason: content. Sling doesn’t have regional sports networks from NBC any more, but Youtube TV does. Switching over to Sling is a non-starter. Meanwhile, Roku’s operating system doesn’t really offer something I can’t get elsewhere.