ROKU e-mail regarding Google/YouTubeTV?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I received this in my e-mail today:

Dear Roku Customer,





We are sending this email to update you on the possibility that Google may take away your access to the YouTube TV channel on Roku. Recent negotiations with Google to carry YouTube TV have broken down because Roku cannot accept Google’s unfair terms as we believe they could harm our users.



Ensuring a great streaming experience at an exceptional value is the core of our business. We will always stand up for our users, which is why we cannot accept Google's unfair and anticompetitive requirements to manipulate your search results, impact the usage of your data and ultimately cost you more.



While we are deeply disappointed in Google’s decision to use their monopoly power to try and force terms that will directly harm streamers, we remain committed to reaching an agreement with Google that preserves your access to YouTube TV, protects your data and ensures a level playing field for companies to compete. We encourage you 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.





Thank you,

Roku

Now, if this turns out to actually be a thing and Roku cuts YouTubeTV out of their options, I have questions!

I can switch to Hulu+TV, or Sling Blue and Orange, or whatever else, not a problem. But we bought movies from YouTubeTV; we own our copies free and clear. Can we still watch them on the TV that has the Roku stick, if our Roku stick doesn't acknowledge that we have YouTubeTV anymore?

I personally have a google pay account, and google play, and google pretty much everything. I'll still be able to watch movies that we own on my media player on my computer, laptop, tablet, and cell phone.

If we -cannot- access movies that we own from YouTubeTV, which device would be a second-best that DOES offer YouTubeTV?

If we -can-access movies we own from YouTubeTV, without having access to YouTubeTV itself, how do we access it? I am not the TV watcher in the house so I don't know a thing about the big flat-screen thing in the living room. I live in the depths of the internet on a desktop computer :)

[unialimon]

Anything Google = bad

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Anything Google = bad

I don't really care what you (or anyone else) thinks about Google. My question wasn't asking for opinions of Google.

[retiredguy123]

There are two apps, YouTube TV and YouTube. I think the Roku dispute with Google only affects the YouTube TV app. So, you will probably still have access to the YouTube app on Roku, which offers a free access service. And, I think you can watch your purchased movies on the YouTube free app by logging in with your YouTube TV username and password. I would suggest that you give it a try.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

There are two apps, YouTube TV and YouTube. I think the Roku dispute with Google only affects the YouTube TV app. So, you will probably still have access to the YouTube app on Roku, which offers a free access service. And, I think you can watch your purchased movies on the YouTube free app by logging in with your YouTube TV username and password. I would suggest that you give it a try.

Ah that would be awesome. I can definitely do that on my computer and on my cell phone by using the normal YouTube app. I'll wait until we hear more from Roku before messing around with the Boss's sacred TV set :)

This would be the optimum solution, and then we could just switch services to Hulu+tv or the blue/orange combo from Sling or whoever.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Update: New users will not have YouTubeTV app available on their Roku device at all. Current users still do but Google might remove their app entirely. I get that the movies are mine, so that's resolved, no more advice needed on that, and thank you.

BUT!

Now I need to figure out what to do as an alternative. This is where my ADD makes me crazy. Too many choices and too many columns that I have to look at, to know which items to check off as "acceptable" and "not acceptable" for a final decision.

I -think- I've narrowed it down:

Sling Blue with Sports Extra, Locast, Friendly Premium, Hulu (no ads) and Netflix "Standard", for $86.00/month.

So much for cutting the cord to save money and get free TV :) We are SO first-world in this house!

[B-flat]

Why it’s time to rethink cutting the cord (https://www.komando.com/tv-streaming-reviews/rethink-cutting-the-cord/787713/?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=totd&utm_content=2021-04-30)

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

There’s no such thing as a free lunch on entertainment devices , the companies will find away to make you pay then you’ll find away not to and the process will go on and on . Me ! Well as long as direct TV has NFL ticket I don’t even look at any other plans , I go where the NFL goes

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

There’s no such thing as a free lunch on entertainment devices , the companies will find away to make you pay then you’ll find away not to and the process will go on and on . Me ! Well as long as direct TV has NFL ticket I don’t even look at any other plans , I go where the NFL goes

Yup, hubby is that way about the Golf Channel and the Weather Channel. We've been living without the Weather Channel and he's been missing it something fierce, silly boy.

So now, we're being opted out of the service that does -not- have the Weather Channel, and so we will choose one that does have it, and maybe also we'll add on Netflix and Hulu, which will mean I have more of a reason to hang out with him and watch the boob tube. Plus the Handmaiden's Tale is returning to Hulu. I paid for that, renting one series and buying the whole shebang last year. Then, Stranger Things will hopefully be coming out in 2022, I'd love to see the next season.

[Byte1]

You will still be able to view Youtube TV on your computer. You will be able to cast Youtube TV to your TV from your phone. I have watched movies from my phone by casting them and they were fine. I still do. Both Roku and my TV have the ability to accept casting from my phone.

[dewilson58]

A lot of TV's have the YTTV app.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Yup, hubby is that way about the Golf Channel and the Weather Channel. We've been living without the Weather Channel and he's been missing it something fierce, silly boy.

So now, we're being opted out of the service that does -not- have the Weather Channel, and so we will choose one that does have it, and maybe also we'll add on Netflix and Hulu, which will mean I have more of a reason to hang out with him and watch the boob tube. Plus the Handmaiden's Tale is returning to Hulu. I paid for that, renting one series and buying the whole shebang last year. Then, Stranger Things will hopefully be coming out in 2022, I'd love to see the next season. and my friends think I’m weird for watching old black and white movies on TCM after midnight

[Neils]

I don't really care what you (or anyone else) thinks about Google. My question wasn't asking for opinions of Google.

Having a bad day?

[ldj1938]

Buy a google tv interface. They are the easiest to use. Cheap around $40. Roku and Fire are both inferior. I have all three and the google is the best, simplest, easiest to set up, cheapest, etc....

[retiredguy123]

Yup, hubby is that way about the Golf Channel and the Weather Channel. We've been living without the Weather Channel and he's been missing it something fierce, silly boy.

So now, we're being opted out of the service that does -not- have the Weather Channel, and so we will choose one that does have it, and maybe also we'll add on Netflix and Hulu, which will mean I have more of a reason to hang out with him and watch the boob tube. Plus the Handmaiden's Tale is returning to Hulu. I paid for that, renting one series and buying the whole shebang last year. Then, Stranger Things will hopefully be coming out in 2022, I'd love to see the next season.
The cheapest way to get The Weather Channel is with a streaming service called "frndly". It includes The Weather Channel, two Hallmark channels, and 13 other channels for $5.99 per month.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

You will still be able to view Youtube TV on your computer. You will be able to cast Youtube TV to your TV from your phone. I have watched movies from my phone by casting them and they were fine. I still do. Both Roku and my TV have the ability to accept casting from my phone.

Screw that. I'm not going to make my husband jury-rig his phone into a remote control for his TV, just so he can watch shows from a streaming service that doesn't even get him all the channels he wants.

We'll switch services, and get more for less - or MUCH more for only a little more. It's something we probably should've done months ago.

[tuccillo]

There is not currently an issue with existing Roku and YouTubeTV customers. You can still watch YouTubeTV through Roku. However, new users cannot download the YouTubeTV app. If you have it installed on your Roku then you are currently fine, just don't delete it. This could all change.

You will still be able to view Youtube TV on your computer. You will be able to cast Youtube TV to your TV from your phone. I have watched movies from my phone by casting them and they were fine. I still do. Both Roku and my TV have the ability to accept casting from my phone.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

There is not currently an issue with existing Roku and YouTubeTV customers. You can still watch YouTubeTV through Roku. However, new users cannot download the YouTubeTV app. If you have it installed on your Roku then you are currently fine, just don't delete it. This could all change.

Yup. I got e-mails from both YouTubeTV and Roku, both blaming the other for the failure to come up with an agreement, and warning me that either of them could pull the plug completely at any moment.

That's fine by me, they can duke it out if they'd like. I don't feel any sense of loyalty to either brand. I LIKE my Roku, and I LIKE Google products. But if something better comes along for less with more options and reliability, I'm game.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

The cheapest way to get The Weather Channel is with a streaming service called "frndly". It includes The Weather Channel, two Hallmark channels, and 13 other channels for $5.99 per month.

I am aware of this. That's why I'm looking at the sling blue option plus sports extra and frndly. It gives us everything that YouTubeTV gave us, PLUS the Holy Weather Channel (I know - I don't care about it either, I use weather underground) for $11 less than what we're paying for YouTubeTV.

The fact that sling is cheaper, means that for the same price we're paying for YouTubeTV, we get not only the Sacred Weather Channel, but I can add either Netflix or Hulu. For the SAME PRICE as YouTubeTV! And while I'm bugging him to embrace that idea, I can have Hulu AND Netflix, for only $10 more than what we're already paying for YouTubeTV, which doesn't even have the Superior Weather Channel, ffs!

[bob47]

I am aware of this. That's why I'm looking at the sling blue option plus sports extra and frndly. It gives us everything that YouTubeTV gave us, PLUS the Holy Weather Channel (I know - I don't care about it either, I use weather underground) for $11 less than what we're paying for YouTubeTV.

The fact that sling is cheaper, means that for the same price we're paying for YouTubeTV, we get not only the Sacred Weather Channel, but I can add either Netflix or Hulu. For the SAME PRICE as YouTubeTV! And while I'm bugging him to embrace that idea, I can have Hulu AND Netflix, for only $10 more than what we're already paying for YouTubeTV, which doesn't even have the Superior Weather Channel, ffs!

Does this combination get you ABC CBS, NBC, and FOX live?

[retiredguy123]

Does this combination get you ABC CBS, NBC, and FOX live?
Go to the website, "suppose.tv". Enter all the channels you want and it will show you the cheapest combination of streaming services that will provide those channels.

[PugMom]

A lot of TV's have the YTTV app.

very true, ours has it built in. it's just a regular smart tv

[MDLNB]

There are several streaming services, BUT youtube tv has certain channels that I like and it has UNLIMITED recording. AND when you set it to record a program, it goes back and gives you back episodes if they are available. Hopefully, they will work it out because I have not found any other streaming service equal. Just my opinion.
If you want just local channels like you would get from an antenna, then Locast is the way to go cheaply. Has ALL the local channels live. And it is FREE on Roku.
We can argue the merits of all the streaming apps but the OP is talking about one situation right now and that is the popular Youtube TV streaming app. Hopefully, they will work that out.