If you've recently acquired from Roku's best streaming devices, as many of you may have, throughout Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, then you should download the YouTube app from the Roku Channel Store, if you haven't. done. . so now.
For what reason? The YouTube app will be completely removed from the Roku Channel Store on December XNUMX, as reported by Tom's Guide. This follows the removal of the YouTube TV app in April XNUMX, amid claims by Roku that YouTube's parent company Google was engaging in anti-competitive practices.
This time, Google is removing its app, noting that YouTube will be removed entirely unless they "reach an agreement on renewal terms already before the expiration of the current agreement" - December XNUMXth. But unless these companies adopt and reconcile very quickly, you should prepare for the worst.
So even if you don't watch a lot of content on YouTube, it's worth downloading the app to your Roku device in the (very possible) case that you never return to the Roku Channel Store.
To do this, simply press the Start button on your Roku remote, navigate to the streaming channels, and search or choose YouTube. With the app downloaded to your device, you won't have to worry about getting lost when it disappears from the store on December XNUMXth. And fear not, the YouTube app will remain on your device even after it is removed from the Roku Channel Store.
Analysis: Bad luck for Roku?
Roku itself does not seem to be having a very good Christmas so far, since this is not the first recent example of the platform completely losing control over one of its first applications. As recently as last week, it was reported that a recent update broke the Netflix and Disney Plus apps on the platform, forcing Roku to roll back the entire update while seeking a fix.
This naturally frustrated users, especially those who did not have the technical means to go back to a previous version. And while the update has fortunately been limited to a partially small number of Roku TV and Roku Ultra users, it's generally not a huge appearance for a brand that encourages the idea of having their preferred entertainment free on one site.
While we are confident that the company will occasionally find a solution to its current Netflix and Disney Plus drawbacks, there is unfortunately no solution for the best streaming apps to be completely removed from its store.
Obviously, we hope that Google and Roku can bury the ax and make the YouTube app and YouTube TV free on Roku's streaming devices, but we can't see that happening in the foreseeable future, given the bitterness of the relationship between these 2 companies. resembles.
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