In a surprise press release today, Amazon and Google both announced that it’s settled its dispute that’s been going on for over a year. As a result, in the next couple of months, YouTube will officially have a home on Fire TV. Meanwhile, Prime Video subscribers will be able to access their content on Chromecast devices along with Android TV boxes.
According to the companies, the new YouTube app for Fire TV will give you access to 4K HDR content at 60 frames per second, certifying Fire TV as fully compliant with Google’s content standards. Of course, you’ll also be able to access all of the videos, shows, and movies available through the service. Later on, apps for YouTube TV and YouTube Kids will also be made available.
Meanwhile, with Prime Video on Chromecast and Android TV, you’ll have access to all the same content you can get now with the service, including 4K titles. Amazon also says you’ll be able to rent or purchase content from providers like Showtime, HBO, and Starz.
In case you’re wondering what all the ruckus was about, it was basically a cat fight. Neither Amazon nor Google liked how their opponent was treating their products, so they resulted to child-like play, the biggest action being removing YouTube from the Fire TV and Echo Show. Since that time back in December of 2017, things haven’t gotten better. Today, though, that all changes as the companies have been able to sort out whatever problems they were having. I say “whatever problems” because we don’t know why the two companies disagreed so much.
Despite YouTube returning to the Fire TV, it isn’t yet being made available to Echo Show users. An Amazon spokesperson provided me with a statement regarding the matter.
We think selection is a good thing for customers and are always looking for ways to add more video content to Echo devices with screens; however, [we] don’t have anything specific to share today.
Amazon appears to be keeping its door open for a potential YouTube app on the Echo Show, but they aren’t confirming anything today. With more YouTube apps rolling out to Fire TV throughout 2019, however, there’s a chance we could see the service hit Amazon’s smart display by 2020.
