Google is bringing YouTube TV back to Roku devices by adding it to the free YouTube app.
The company announced the change on Friday, a week after Roku pulled YouTube TV—a paid subscription service—from the Roku channel store. The main YouTube app remains available on Roku, so Google decided to simply port YouTube TV to the app.
“Existing members can easily access YouTube TV by clicking on ‘Go to YouTube TV’ in the main YouTube app,” the company said. “This update will be available to all YouTube TV members on Roku over the next few days, and we will expand to as many devices as we can over time.”
The workaround arrives as Google is facing tense re-negotiations to get the YouTube TV app back on Roku’s streaming platform. Roku pulled the app after the two companies failed to reach a distribution agreement. Fortunately for consumers, YouTube TV still remains available on a Roku device or TV if you previously installed it.
According to Roku, the dispute isn’t about money, but about Google acting unfairly. “We have only asked Google for four simple commitments. First, not to manipulate consumer search results. Second, not to require access to data not available to anyone else. Third, not to leverage their YouTube monopoly to force Roku to accept hardware requirements that would increase consumer costs. Fourth, not to act in a discriminatory and anticompetitive manner against Roku,” the streaming provider previously said.
However, Google claims Roku has been engaging in “bad faith” negotiations. Google’s original goal was to simply extend the distribution agreement for YouTube TV. But allegedly, Roku wanted to also renegotiate a separate deal for the main YouTube app, and eliminate certain technical requirements to carry it on Roku devices.
If the bad blood continues, then the dispute may ensnare the main YouTube app. Last week, Google noted its deal with Roku to carry the app expires in December.
Roku didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
