Google Blocks YouTube On Amazon Fire TV Part 2

There is an ongoing feud between Google and Amazon. The feud is simple. Amazon does not allow Google devices like Google Chromecast to be sold on Amazon.com. In response, Google has plans to block Amazon Fire TV access to YouTube starting January 1, 2018. Here is an update and more information.

Read Part 1… Google Blocks YouTube On Amazon Fire TV

Users are already getting notices to use the Firefox and Silk web browser apps instead of YouTube.

Google Blocks YouTube On Amazon Fire TV Part 2

Google makes several devices and wants to sell their devices on Amazon.com. Amazon still does not allow many Google devices (Ex: Google Chromecast) to be sold on Amazon.com. Google plans to end Amazon Fire TV YouTube support starting January 1, 2018.

Google Chromecast

Finding pages on Amazon.com for the Google Chromecast and Google Chromecast Ultra is very difficult. Doing a search on Amazon.com for “Chromecast” gives search results of the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Roku Stick – Both are competing devices to the Google Chromecast.

But there are Google Chromecast pages listed on Amazon.com:

• Chromecast – “currently unavailable”
• Chromecast Ultra – “currently unavailable”

Google Home and Home Mini

Google Home and Google Home Mini are not found anywhere on Amazon.com. Instead, a search on Amazon.com for “Google Home” displays Amazon’s competing product line Amazon Echo products.

YouTube Supported Devices

The YouTube app is not supported on the Amazon Fire TV. The YouTube app is supported on the following devices:

• Android TV streaming devices
• Apple TV
• Google Chromecast
• Roku
• TiVo

Find the list of YouTube supported devices at https://goo.gl/LefFGe.

Here is the Google message being displayed on the Amazon Fire TV YouTube app:

“Starting on 1/1/2018, YouTube will not be available on this device. You can continue to enjoy your favorite creators and videos in many other ways. Please visit https://goo.gl/LefFGe for a list of devices you can use.”

Some Amazon Fire TV’s are showing the link https://goo.gl/mjZxwN.

Amazon Fire TV Gets Firefox Web Browser

On 12/20/2017, Amazon announced the Firefox web browser app was available for the Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick to download. The Amazon Silk web browser app was already available.

The Firefox web browser allows Amazon Fire TV owners a way to get access to YouTube without the Fire TV YouTube app.

Read more… Amazon Fire TV Gets Firefox Web Browser

Final Thoughts

It seems Amazon could resolve this easily by allowing Google Chromecast devices to be sold on Amazon.com.

Why doesn’t Amazon simply allow Google Chromecast sales?

Is Amazon concerned with selling products that compete directly with the Amazon Fire TV?

Will Amazon advise Amazon Fire TV owners to use the Firefox and Silk web browser apps?

What will happen on January 1, 2018?

What is next for Amazon and Google?

Share your thoughts in the comments section below.