Roku says it may lose YouTube TV app after Google made anti-competitive demands

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Apr 26, 2021, 9:03 PM UTC

fra wrote: post #14

s3r3nity wrote: post #2

> Roku alleges Google has asked it to favor YouTube music results from voice commands made on the Roku remote while the YouTube app is open, even if the user's music preference is set to default to another music app, like Pandora. > Roku says Google has threatened to require Roku to use certain chip sets or memory cards that would force Roku to increase the price of its hardware product, which competes directly with…

I'm not quite ready to take out the pitchforks... > Roku says Google has threatened to require Roku to use certain chip sets or memory cards that would force Roku to increase the price of its hardware product, which competes directly with Google's Chromecast. This could simply mean Google is requiring chips with hardware VP9 support > Roku alleges Google has asked it to favor YouTube music results from voice commands…

Post by spockz » Mon, Apr 26, 2021, 9:09 PM UTC

tobr wrote: post #195

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If I'm in an App and search, I expect my search to be localized to that App. If you're using a fullscreen app on macOS and activate spotlight, do you expect it to only search that app, or do you expect it to behave like Spotlight always behaves and search the entire system? Put another way, this depends entirely on how the OS and UI is set up.

> If you're using a fullscreen app on macOS and activate spotlight, do you expect it to only search that app, or do you expect it to behave like Spotlight always behaves and search the entire system? To make another analogy: Maybe Roku should ask Google to make the Chrome address/search bar only show Roku.com results if you’re already on their site.

Post by rurp » Mon, Apr 26, 2021, 9:12 PM UTC

etempleton wrote: post #142

HBO Max was delayed in appearing on Roku because of negotiation breakdowns. In the case HBO it was Roku that seemed to have the demands. They are looking at revenue anywhere they can, but if their position weakens look for Google, ATT, and others to simply forgo working with them. I think Roku is in a perilous position in general. They generated a lot of buzz on Wallstreet with their high user counts. They also purch…

Post by kelnos » Mon, Apr 26, 2021, 9:15 PM UTC

fra wrote: post #14

s3r3nity wrote: post #2

> Roku alleges Google has asked it to favor YouTube music results from voice commands made on the Roku remote while the YouTube app is open, even if the user's music preference is set to default to another music app, like Pandora. > Roku says Google has threatened to require Roku to use certain chip sets or memory cards that would force Roku to increase the price of its hardware product, which competes directly with…

I'm not quite ready to take out the pitchforks... > Roku says Google has threatened to require Roku to use certain chip sets or memory cards that would force Roku to increase the price of its hardware product, which competes directly with Google's Chromecast. This could simply mean Google is requiring chips with hardware VP9 support > Roku alleges Google has asked it to favor YouTube music results from voice commands…

Post by rOOb85 » Mon, Apr 26, 2021, 9:16 PM UTC

SR2Z wrote: post #87

efdee wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Either YouTube requires VP9 and then everybody has to implement it, or it allows other codecs and leaves Roku alone. What's the point of singling them out?

Because VP9 is much, much cheaper for: - Google, who doesn't have to pay royalties - Google and consumers, who can enjoy better compression and lower bandwidth - Consumers, who can enjoy a much more mainstream video encoding format in not just YT but pretty much every app. Google doesn't want to write off 45% of the set-top market right away, but at the same time it's 100% in the right to demand Roku support modern r…