Four days before it was scheduled to be turned off, YouTube has been deactivated on Fire TV devices, according to Fast Company. A screenshot obtained by the publication shows Amazon redirecting users looking for the video platform to its Silk browser (or Firefox if you have it installed) in order to access YouTube.
YouTube has been deactivated on the Fire TV four days early
Lauren Goode / The Verge
Image: Jared Newman / Fast Company
YouTube originally said it wasn’t going to remove the app until January 1st, 2018, but it’s unclear if it was Amazon or Google who removed the app from the streaming box. In a statement to The Verge, Amazon didn’t clarify if it pulled YouTube off the Fire TV early. “YouTube and millions of other websites are accessible by using a web browser like Firefox or Silk on Fire TV,” an Amazon spokesperson said.
Two weeks ago, Google told The Verge the companies were in “productive talks” but at this point it looks like those talks may not have gone as planned.
We’ve reached out to YouTube for comment.
Update December 28th, 12:20PM ET: Updated with comment from Amazon.
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