Amazon will reportedly be banning sales of the Apple TV and Google Chromecast, two extremely popular video streaming devices. The reasoning is that the devices compete with the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick.
Amazon has reportedly sent out a memo to third-party merchants using the site stating that the products will be removed from the site on Oct. 29 and that new listings for either of the two devices will not be permitted.
According to Amazon, the removal of the devices is because it wants to sell devices that work properly and are optimized for its Amazon Prime Video service. Currently, neither the Apple TV nor the Google Chromecast allow users to purchase content from the Amazon Prime Video service.
By comparison, another streaming device called Roku does embrace Amazon's video services, and is, of course, not part of the ban because of this.
Update from an Amazon spokesperson: "Over the last three years, Prime Video has become an important part of Prime. It's important that the streaming media players we sell interact well with Prime Video in order to avoid customer confusion. Roku, Xbox, PlayStation and Fire TV are excellent choices."
Via: Bloomberg
