It’s the latest movement in a clash between Amazon and Google, which has seen the two businesses hold their products off the rival’s programs and services.
It’s not the first time Google has molded Amazon from the traditional video platform.
In September, Google dragged YouTube from Echo Show, Amazon’s voice-enabled artificial intelligence product. The business reversed course and by November YouTube was available on the Echo Show again.
But on Tuesday, Google again drew YouTube off Echo Show and Fire TV, claiming Amazon is not reviewing its products fairly.
“We’ve been trying to reach an agreement with Amazon to give customers access to each other’s products and services. But Amazon doesn’t carry Google commodities like Chromecast and Google Home, doesn’t make Prime Video possible for Google Cast users, and last month discontinued selling some of Nest’s latest products,” a Google spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
“Given this lack of back-scratching, we are no longer maintaining YouTube on Echo Show and FireTV. We hope we can relinquish an agreement to resolve these issues soon.”
Amazon said users could still access YouTube’s regular desktop version of their products, but scrutinized Google’s decision.
“Echo Show and Fire TV now promote a standard web view of YouTube.com and point consumers directly to YouTube’s existing website,” Amazon said in a statement. “Google is setting a depressing precedent by selectively blocking customer access to an open website. We hope to resolve this with Google as soon as possible.”
Internet service providers (ISPs) seized on the fight within two web giants, which comes as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is poised to cancel the net neutrality rules.
“Broadband ISPs are obliged to providing an open internet for their consumers, including protections like no content blocking or throttling. Seems like some of the influential internet companies can’t say the same. Ironic, isn’t it?” said Jonathan Spalter, the CEO of USTelecom, a trade agreement which lobbies on behalf of telecommunications organizations like AT&T and Verizon.
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