Google and Roku were at loggerheads over the inclusion of YouTube on Roku TVs and streaming devices. Google wanted that YouTube got greater prominence on Roku devices.
The dispute resulted in apps vanishing from the Roku channel store earlier this year. Access to the service was due to disappear altogether from devices today. In addition to receiving greater prominence, Google wanted additional user data. The demand was originally dismissed as being “unacceptable” by Roku.
In the end, the two companies signed a last-minute multi-year deal securing the future of YouTube on the platform. The news was released by Roku in a statement posted on Twitter.
It read: “We have agreed to a multi-year extension with Google for YouTube and YouTube TV. This agreement represents a positive development for our shared customers, making both YouTube and YouTube TV available for all streamers on the Roku platform.”
A YouTube spokesperson added: “We’re happy to share that we’ve reached a deal with Roku to continue distributing the YouTube and YouTube TV apps on Roku devices. This means that Roku customers will continue to have access to YouTube and that the YouTube TV app will once again be available in the Roku store for both new and existing members. We are pleased to have a partnership that benefits our mutual users.”
As is the norm, full commercial details of the deal were not disclosed.