Google had scheduled YouTube to be deactivated on January 1st, 2018 for Fire TV users, but it appears that the company has deactivated four days early, according to Fast Company.
A screenshot below (via Fast Company) shows Amazon is redirecting users looking for the video platform to go to its Silk browser or Firefox if you have it installed. You must use Silk or Firefox in order to access YouTube.
YouTube had originally stated that it wasn’t going to remove access to the app until January 1st, 2018, but it appears that the company has removed access much earlier. At the moment, it’s unclear why it was removed early. In a statement to The Jolt Journal, an Amazon spokesperson said that “YouTube and millions of other websites are accessible by using a web browser like Firefox or Silk on Fire TV.”
It’s quite strange that YouTube has already been pulled off. Two weeks ago, we had learned that talks between the companies were “productive” but looking at things now, it doesn’t look like those talks went anywhere.
