Google pulls YouTube from Echo Show and Fire TV as Amazon feud heats up

Amazon Echo ShowThe public spat between Amazon and Google, which began with issues surrounding YouTube and its implementation on the Echo Show, has escalated with Google removing support for YouTube on both the Echo Show and Fire TV.

According to media reports, Google has already blocked YouTube on the Echo Show, and will do the same to the version of YouTube on Fire TV on 1 January.

“Weve been trying to reach agreement with Amazon to give consumers access to each others products and services,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement. “But Amazon doesnt carry Google products like Chromecast and Google Home, doesnt make Prime Video available for Google Cast users, and last month stopped selling some of Nests latest products. Given this lack of reciprocity, we are no longer supporting YouTube on Echo Show and FireTV. We hope we can reach an agreement to resolve these issues soon.”

Despite Google’s reasoning apparently being Amazon’s reluctance to carry its products, it is believed Google’s decision has been made because Amazon has been using what is more-or-less a hacked version of YouTube on both the Echo Show and Fire TV. When implementing YouTube, the eCommerce giant worked alone to build a version of YouTube for its apps rather than working with Google.

Amazon has since responded saying: “Echo Show and Fire TV now display a standard web view of YouTube.com and point customers directly to YouTubes existing website. Google is setting a disappointing precedent by selectively blocking customer access to an open website. We hope to resolve this with Google as soon as possible.”

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