Roku Community Sees Red After Email Warns of Losing YouTube TV

Roku community members blasted Roku Monday in its dispute with Google over what Roku called “unfair terms” for YouTube TV. Some users received an email from Roku warning of the possibility “that Google may take away your access to the YouTube TV channel,” saying recent negotiations “have broken down because Roku cannot accept Google’s unfair terms as we believe they could harm our users.”

Roku cited Google’s “unfair and anticompetitive requirements to manipulate your search results, impact the usage of your data and ultimately cost you more.” It urged customers 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.”

ZappedC64 was looking for contact information, saying, “‘Contact Google’ just doesn’t work.” Simon2010 said Google told him “they didn’t know anything about this.” He concluded it “might be a scam” based on the email address because it wasn’t “noreply@roku.com.”

NYwolf noted Spectrum TV’s app was recently removed from Roku, too, and said, “It’s beginning to sound like the issue is really with Roku and not these other companies?!” Altsuperego is “getting tired of Roku trying to get a cut from every app,” citing HBOMax, Peacock and YouTube TV issues, and plans to “ditch their platform entirely.”

JAT60, a longtime Roku customer who likes the Roku platform, also cited the recent removal of the Spectrum app and said: “If my core content providers aren't available on Roku, why in the world would I stay with Roku? Please don't pretend that this is about protecting the user experience, when Roku users are the ultimate losers in this disagreement.” The user found it “distasteful” that Roku told customers to contact Google: “That's like putting your children in the middle of a marital argument.”

Crabulon bought two Roku TVs specifically because they supported YouTube TV and would pay “a little more each month” to keep it. “Hey ROKU -- what about a ROKU TV buyback from your more angry YouTubeTV/ROKU TV users!?!” JerK “could care less if Youtube knows what I do in other apps,” also having bought a Roku player specifically for YouTube TV. “Will Roku provide a refund for this bait and switch?” said the user, who can’t switch to cable because the local provider also removed the YouTube TV app.

Bobjames34 said Roku should not compete with the services on its platform. “I don't need Roku to protect me from a streaming service, but to just give me access to the streaming services I want.” Roku should “get back to just selling Devices and not being its own streaming service, as we can go elsewhere to access major streaming services Roku says they are ‘protecting’ us from.”

Several members commented on the company’s increased push with The Roku Channel. “I didn't buy a Roku for the Roku channel. ... I bought a device that hosted apps,” said MCarmack. If Roku does drop YouTube TV, “this long time Roku family will be switching devices. I value YouTube TV more than I do any specific piece of hardware,” said the user.

Roku had a few loyalists. MacMike gave Roku his “full support,” calling Google “out-of-control.” If Roku can’t come to an agreement that is good for customers, “then I am fine with them removing YouTubeTV and I will cancel my YouTubeTV subscription and go back to cable.” He plans to remain a Roku customer “as long as they continue to make decisions that are in the best interest of the consumer.”

CaptGrumpy cited a Variety article saying Google wants to prevent Roku from displaying search results from video services if a user has the YouTube app open. “This doesn't sound like the disputes with other streaming services, but Google telling Roku how to run their platform. I'm with Roku here,” said the user.

Some customers began stumping for other media players as a Roku alternative. Lindsayrae’s friend “avidly uses a Firestick" and loves it, she said. FNSIII announced plans to move to Fire TV if Roku and Google can’t come to terms, but deej1914 warned: “Yeah until Firestick does the same thing. Its all a scam.” Simon2010 campaigned for Apple TV, which he also owns, but he questioned whether Apple and Google might have similar issues.

Roku employee Mary told the community the company is not removing the YouTube TV channel “at this time," that it is "just making customers like you aware of this possibility.” She referred customers to blog.roku.com to stay up to date on the issue.

Google has been “working with Roku in good faith to reach an agreement that benefits our viewers and their customers," said a Google spokesperson. "Unfortunately, Roku often engages in these types of tactics in their negotiations.” Google is “disappointed that they chose to make baseless claims while we continue our ongoing negotiations.” Google has tried to ensure a “high quality and consistent experience for our viewers” and has made “no requests to access user data or interfere with search results.” It hopes the companies can resolve the issue “for the sake of our mutual users.”