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

[btarunr]

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.



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[Nkd]

I don't mind this. Amazon decided to hurt google and promote its own product. They are not necessarily promoting open competition. May be amazon should stop removing google products. I support google in this.

 

[phanbuey]

Same - would have no problems ordering products from wallmart online.

 

[Totally]

Net neutrality hasn't been repealed and they're already clawing at each other.

 

[eidairaman1]

I see major backlash against google

 

[the54thvoid]

I see major backlash against google

Google's product sales are minimal. Its digital reach and advertising is it's money wing. You Tube is too established to be hit hard.
Amazon are pushing the boundaries to see how far they can exclude competition.

 

[eidairaman1]

Google's product sales are minimal. Its digital reach and advertising is it's money wing. You Tube is too established to be hit hard.
Amazon are pushing the boundaries to see how far they can exclude competition.

Funny Amazon Fire is Android too, firestick i am sure is too.

 

[the54thvoid]

Funny Amazon Fire is Android too, firestick i am sure is too.

So Amazon will create a new non android device? Not getting you. OP mentions Google's services being pulled. Not hardware or OS.

 

[Ubersonic]

So Google has a fallout with Amazon, and decides to take it out on Amazon's customers, many of which will be Google users? Great plan, wonder how many new users this will generate for Firefox lol.

Seriously though, I know Google is a monolithic corporation these days but whatever happened to that "Don't be evil" motto of theirs?

 

[btarunr]

Funny Amazon Fire is Android too, firestick i am sure is too.

Google makes no money "selling" Android. It's the Google apps embedded into Android that earn it some money.

 

[medi01]

I never got why Chromecast is positioned as Fire TV Stick competitor.
Chromecast is a dumbass streaming gimmick.
Fire TV is an Android Device you can install apps on and use your TV remote to operate it.

There is no competition, there is no reason to choose C over F.

 

[Th3pwn3r]

I never got why Chromecast is positioned as Fire TV Stick competitor.
Chromecast is a dumbass streaming gimmick.
Fire TV is an Android Device you can install apps on and use your TV remote to operate it.

There is no competition, there is no reason to choose C over F.

Because they're similar? You can stream with both... I have used both, FireTV is better but Chromecast still works.


Anyhow, if I can't get YouTube on FireTV for my kids then I'm buying something else. Most parents will do the same, this is what you call shooting yourself in the foot. YouTube is literally the most watched thing in my household via FireTV. It was very convenient for the bedroom but if I'm forced to build another HTPC then I will.

 

[springs113]

I'm a bit disappointed as I'm a YouTube viewer on a couple firetv/sticks and now will have to resort to my smart tv or Apple tv to view said content. These ppl need to get their act together.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

I'm fine with this. Instead of both companies farming and selling my data only 1 can do it now from my fireTV.

 

[Fujikoma]

Nothing is stopping Amazon from writing their own application to access YouTube.

 

[eidairaman1]

Webbrowser is only legal means, then again apps that use internet are technically webbrowsers...

 

[medi01]

Because they're similar? You can stream with both... I have used both, FireTV is better but Chromecast still works..

It's like saying that a boat and an Amphibious aircraft are similar, since they both can sail.

 

[Th3pwn3r]

It's like saying that a boat and an Amphibious aircraft are similar, since they both can sail.

Your analogy sucks. They are both designed with the exact same purpose and that is for playing media. An amphibious aircraft is just made to take off from or land on water but is designed to fly as its main purpose.

 

[KithKhan]

I thought the nuclear option was when the Google AI achieves sentience before the Amazon AI.

This is just a *content* war.

 

[Gasaraki]

So Google has a fallout with Amazon, and decides to take it out on Amazon's customers, many of which will be Google users? Great plan, wonder how many new users this will generate for Firefox lol.

Seriously though, I know Google is a monolithic corporation these days but whatever happened to that "Don't be evil" motto of theirs?

Wut? Firefox? What does firefox have to do with this?

How is Amazon not carrying Google products because they want to sell their own products better? If I was Google I would block all Google products from working on Amazon products. I always say, "two can play that game".

 

[AsRock]

So Google has a fallout with Amazon, and decides to take it out on Amazon's customers, many of which will be Google users? Great plan, wonder how many new users this will generate for Firefox lol.

Seriously though, I know Google is a monolithic corporation these days but whatever happened to that "Don't be evil" motto of theirs?

O please Google is evil period, after all it collects personal data and gives you all those annoying ads. Best part is people are willing to give this personal data and recommend people to do searches on google.

Might actually do more harm to Amazon

 

[Th3pwn3r]

O please Google is evil period, after all it collects personal data and gives you all those annoying ads. Best part is people are willing to give this personal data and recommend people to do searches on google.

Might actually do more harm to Amazon

I do agree with you but as long as you don't put important data out there or are breaking laws I don't care too much about Google and what they do with data.

 

[Jism]

Google used to be an OK product as search engine, but it tampers simply organic results in order to get the Adwords thing on top to make companies pay for a top position.

 

[medi01]

Your analogy sucks. They are both designed with the exact same purpose and that is for playing media. An amphibious aircraft is just made to take off from or land on water but is designed to fly as its main purpose.

Your grasp of my analogy sucks (or you don't know the difference between dumb Chromecast and full blown android sticks)
Chromecast is designed to... STREAM. It can't do anything else, only sail.
Fire TV (and numerous alternatives) are designed to turn your (possibly dumb) TV into a Smart TV. They have full versatility of an Android OS, with "customize whatever you feel", apps that can be used with TV remote no prob (even in cases when developers didn't bother to develop with TV in mind, Android is that cool).
But then, on top of flying, they can also STREAM. I mean, sail.

 

[Th3pwn3r]

Your grasp of my analogy sucks (or you don't know the difference between dumb Chromecast and full blown android sticks)
Chromecast is designed to... STREAM. It can't do anything else, only sail.
Fire TV (and numerous alternatives) are designed to turn your (possibly dumb) TV into a Smart TV. They have full versatility of an Android OS, with "customize whatever you feel", apps that can be used with TV remote no prob (even in cases when developers didn't bother to develop with TV in mind, Android is that cool).
But then, on top of flying, they can also STREAM. I mean, sail.

You can web browse with Chromecast too, just like doing such with FireTV the experience sucks. Neither of these devices is good for anything really other than streaming in my opinion.

Their appeal to me is their convenience to get media played in each and every room for cheap and is easier for kids although my daughter knew how to use her computer at 4 years old.