In an email sent to customers, Roku has warned that “Google may remove your access to YouTube TV” within the next few days, Deadline reports. The potential blackout of the channel comes as the two companies have reached an impasse in contract renewal negotiations. According to Roku, the dispute stems from the tech giant’s attempts to force search results on the service in Google’s favor. They also claim Google is attempting to strong-arm the streaming box company to spend money on microchip upgrades to continue to carry YouTubeTV. “Google is attempting to use its YouTube monopoly position to force Roku into accepting predatory, anti-competitive, and discriminatory terms that will directly harm Roku and our users,” a Roku spokesperson said in a statement on Apr. 26. While the two companies may be striving to find a solution, a statement released by Google in response to Roku’s incendiary statements showed that there was still a long way to go in negotiations to keep the app up and streaming on Roku. “Unfortunately, Roku often engages in these types of tactics in their negotiations,” reads Google’s statement, via Axios. “We’re disappointed that they chose to make baseless claims while we continue our ongoing negotiations. All of our work with them has been focused on ensuring a high-quality and consistent experience for our viewers. We have made no requests to access user data or interfere with search results. We hope we can resolve this for the sake of our mutual users.” And for more on how to avoid major tech mistakes, If You’re Charging Your iPhone Like This, Apple Says Stop Immediately. Although neither company has specified when YouTubeTV could be removed from Roku, the current agreement between the companies is set to expire in the next few days. This could mean that the calendar change over from April to May this week might bring about the app’s shutdown, Deadline reports.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb And for more TV and tech news sent right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. This isn’t the first time Roku has been involved in difficult negotiations with streaming providers. The company notoriously held out on adding HBO Max to its offerings after it failed to secure a deal with the company leading up to its launch in 2020. But those who subscribe might be able to avoid losing access to their favorite live channels. According to Ars Technica, previous disputes typically involved the offending service being removed from Roku’s channel store. They suggest downloading the YouTubeTV channel before it disappears just in case the app remains usable as negotiations rage on. And for more important tech updates, Apple Just Released This Warning About the Latest iPhones.
