Google blocks non-partner Set Top Boxes from YouTube

YouTube is set to become a regular feature of televisions, but only through its partners' hardware. So far one company been blocked from accessing YouTube videos on its set-top box pursuant to a July 2008 change in YouTube’s terms of service, with others soon to follow, according to sources close to the situation.

Syabas, which has had about 16 months to sign a contract with Google's YouTube service since the new terms of service went into effect, will no longer be able to show YouTube videos on televisions through its set-top boxes.

The reason there's no deal, according to Syabas COO Alex Limberis, is that YouTube demanded a multimillion-dollar advertising commitment in return for permission to display its videos on televisions through the Popcorn Hour A-110 and C-200 set-top boxes.

"YouTube mentioned that they are only going to work with 'strategic partners,' " Limberis told Wired.com. "When asked what it would take to become a strategic partner, they said we would need to spend 'multiple seven figures' with them on advertising."

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