Here’s the first thing every Roku owner should do

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Here'southward the kickoff affair every Roku owner should practice

(Epitome credit: Future)

Did you just get a smashing bargain on a new Roku for Black Friday or Cyber Monday? With the Roku Streaming Stick 4K downwards to $29 and the $15 Roku LE from Walmart, nosotros're betting many did. But even if you're planning on giving your new Roku device as a souvenir, you're gonna want to open it at present and prepare it upward. Why? There's an app you're probably going to desire to download ASAP.

That app is YouTube. Hitting the Abode push on your remote, select Streaming Channels and search "YouTube." Add YouTube to your Roku now, and you're washed.

Because on December ix, in less than one week, that app is going to get out the Roku app store (or as it calls it, the Roku Channel Store), so you won't be able to download it later on that date. Why is this happening? Is there anything that can be done about this? Let's dive into the YouTube vs Roku mess to figure it all out. Because without the YouTube app, how are you going to watch the new Matrix 4 trailer, and everything else on the service on your Television?

Because while Roku makes some of the all-time streaming devices, information technology's possibly about to be at the center of a major headache for all involved.

Information technology all started with YouTube TV

Back in Apr, Roku removed YouTube TV (1 of our picks for the best cable TV alternatives), from the Roku Channel Store. Why did this happen? Roku claimed that Google was engaging in anticompetitive practices, and asked for preferential treatment of the YouTube TV and YouTube apps, access to data other companies in its position wouldn't normally go and manipulation of consumer search results.

YouTube Television set fired back, declaring "Unfortunately, Roku often engages in these types of tactics in their negotiations. We're disappointed that they chose to brand baseless claims while nosotros continue our ongoing negotiations." Information technology all reeked of, to remix a Limp Bizkit lyric, "a bunch of Corporation A-said, Corporation B-said bulls**t".CNBC, though, reports that its reporters take seen a 2019 email from Google to Roku asking for preferential treatment in search results.

The YouTube TV app on a Television set (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

All we really knew was that two very large companies were fighting, and, equally always, we the public were losing. This meant that existing subscribers wouldn't go whatever app updates to YouTube Goggle box, and anyone who wanted to start using YouTube Boob tube on Roku had a slightly disruptive hill to climb.

Google and so decided to test Roku's limits past putting YouTube TV within of the YouTube app on Roku (Hulu, similarly, builds its alive Television receiver service into the regular Hulu app).  In the time that passed, YouTube TV got in more hot water, as information technology almost lost NBCUniversal-endemic channels. That crisis was averted. Fortunately, YouTube TV hasn't had any problems with Turner-owned channels, or else it would take a chance TNT (where you can lookout the Celtics vs Lakers alive stream).

Escalation: Google to pull YouTube app from Roku

Moving YouTube TV inside of the YouTube app was a calculated gambit. Anything Roku did would outcome in ruffling the feathers of YouTube's 2 billion users. Roku has 55.1 million users.

(Paradigm credit: Shutterstock)

And that's possibly why Roku didn't make the telephone call: Google did. On Thursday, October 21, Google told Roku (who appear information technology in a printing release) that it would be removing the YouTube app from the Roku Aqueduct Store.

In that location is, thankfully, a caveat. Google noted that the app would disappear unless the companies "reach agreement on renewal terms prior to the expiration of [the] current agreement." Which means we have a large YouTube on Roku doomsday clock counting downwards until December 9, when the contract expires.

So, it's fourth dimension to download YouTube on Roku

As I said at the starting time of this slice, if you own a Roku, I'd download the YouTube app now. Fifty-fifty if you lot don't utilize the app a lot on your Goggle box, its growth (from 800 million active users in 2012 to 2.three billion in 2020) is a giant symbol of its increasing importance in our lives.

But because y'all don't watch YouTube a lot now, or use it on your Boob tube yet, doesn't hateful you're not going to ever desire it on your Television afterwards December nine. The 2 companies could patch things up, but don't hold your breath.

Henry is a senior editor at Tom'due south Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple tree, reviewing devices and services for the past vi-plus years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other manufacture veterans.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/opinion/heres-the-first-thing-every-roku-owner-should-do

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