Stefan Mileschin

Blames Google playing monopoly

Roku is warning its customers with YouTube TV subscriptions that the service could go dark in the coming days due to what it calls Google's "predatory" and "monopoly" behaviour.

A Roku spokesperson blasted Google's actions saying that the tech giant is "attempting to use its YouTube monopoly position to force Roku into accepting predatory, anti-competitive and discriminatory terms that will directly harm Roku and our users".

The company has also sent an email to customers this morning expressing the concerns. Roku is arguing that YouTube and Google are out to manipulate the user experience to siphon data and tilt search results in YouTube's favour, among other complaints.

It maintains that Google could require Roku to spend money upgrading microchips or other equipment to accommodate YouTube TV.

The current agreement between the companies will expire in the next few days. While the Roku statement did not specify a date, this week will see April end and May begin, a turning of the calendar that matches with most distribution contract deadlines.

https://fudzilla.com/news/52761-roku...-could-go-dark