Tuesday, December 5th 2017

Google Uses the Nuclear Option Against Amazon, Pulls YouTube from Fire TV

Google Tuesday announced that it is discontinuing YouTube on Amazon's home entertainment platforms Fire TV and Echo Show. YouTube is the world's most popular on-demand video service, and continues to be the largest video sharing site. In a statement, Google said that the decision to pull YouTube from Amazon platforms was in reciprocity to Amazon continuing to hamper sales of Google devices, and preventing Amazon Prime Video from working on Google Chromecast. "Amazon doesn't carry Google products like Chromecast and Google Home, doesn't make (its) Prime Video available for Google Cast users, and last month stopped selling some of (our sister company) Nest's latest products. Given this lack of reciprocity, we are no longer supporting YouTube on Echo Show and Fire TV," Google said.

As if preventing Prime Video from working on Chromecast doesn't amount to "selectively blocking customer access to an open website," a hypocritical Amazon retorted "Google is setting a disappointing precedent by selectively blocking customer access to an open website." Google has, in its statement, left the door open for a possible agreement between the two. "We hope we can reach an agreement to resolve these issues soon," Google stated. This could likely see Google devices such as Chromecast and Google Home return to Amazon, and the availability of Prime Video on Chromecast and other Google Cast platforms. If it gets any worse from here on, Google has another, more destructive weapon in its arsenal against Amazon - Search results.
Add your own comment

26 Comments on Google Uses the Nuclear Option Against Amazon, Pulls YouTube from Fire TV

#26
Th3pwn3r
Okay, your whole post is moot. I can pretty much guarantee that the majority of Chromecast users and FireTV/stick users still use them for media purposes. I don't care what YOU do with them or can do with them. They were designed with streaming in mind. You can be indifferent for whatever reason you like, the facts still remain, sorry.
Posted on Reply
Add your own comment
May 3rd, 2025 02:59 EDT change timezone

New Forum Posts

Popular Reviews

Controversial News Posts