Channels & viewing

[Toccarra]

Yesterday on 9/15/21 I was getting a error message saying check network when trying to launch YouTube Tv So I Deleted The App Because It Wouldn’t Run . Now This Morning 9/16/21 I Try to search channel and YouTube Tv Not Even Coming Up At All.

[Joelserbin]

The same is happening to me.

[Doyle0918]

Yes! I was just about to post when this popped Up. It’s happening to me too. Also, it’s telling me on other apps there isn’t enough space to run. So I had to delete some unused apps. What’s going on? 

[StreamerUser · Accepted solution]

@Doyle0918 @Toccarra @Joelserbin 

The app loading issue for YT/YTTV and other apps has been resolved.

Check for updates:  Settings/System/System update/Check now

However, if you removed the YT TV app to troubleshoot, you wont get it back until the Roku & Google dispute has resolved.

In the meantime, use the YT app to access YT TV:  Open YT, select "YouTube TV" in the lower left corner of the UI.

[makaiguy]

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@Doyle0918 wrote:

Yes! I was just about to post when this popped Up. It’s happening to me too. Also, it’s telling me on other apps there isn’t enough space to run. So I had to delete some unused apps. What’s going on? 

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YouTube released updates to their YouTube and YouTubeTV apps for Roku that added so much bloated code that they ran into memory limitation problems on some Roku devices. Once loaded these bloated apps took up so much app storage room that there wasn't enough room to add some apps unless some other apps were removed first.  Probably removing YouTube and/or YouTubeTV would have done the trick (but once YouTubeTV is removed you can't add it back until YouTubeTV and Roku resolve their current dispute).

Supposedly they've backed the new code back out and a system update should get you the latest versions.  Roku menu path Settngs > System > System update should get you the updates to these and any other apps that have been recently updated.

[StreamerUser]

@makaiguy 

They implemented a limited workaround I suggested involving removing the new very large "Roku Browser" they stealth installed as middleware a few days ago (an actual fix would require cleaned up memory management code, and thus an updated firmware version).

For the record, the sloppy memory management has been there for years, and is especially impactful on the low memory models (512MB).

In fact, this very issue crops up every time larger apps and those with external libraries updates/gets added (such as YT/YTTV, Apple TV, AirPlay, etc) or Roku adds a middleware module, which is why it will likely return again in the not too distant future, unless and until they prune middleware apps/modules (workaround) or finally fix the memory management issue (solution).

[makaiguy]

@StreamerUser-

I don't doubt anything you have said.  You're obviously more attuned to the inner workings of this stuff than I am.

But it still seems to me that, even if they ran afoul of innate Roku shortcomings, YouTube still released a Roku update for Roku models that it claims to be compatible with, without adequately testing to be sure it would work.

[StreamerUser]

@makaiguy 

In this particular case, I will very reluctantly have to come to Google's defense.

While its absolutely true that Google has been implementing a significant update to the YT/YTTV  Roku platform codebase (from 1.x to 2.x for all supported models), which involves significant functionality enhancements and improvements (and larger app and (cobalt) library code) and has really been pushing it for the last 6 months, the updates to which have already exposed the poor memory management in RokuOS - in this case, it was Roku themselves that "pushed it over the limit" with the very large "Roku Browser" middleware app released a few days ago.

(One can only imagine/speculate what awaits us in terms of functionality with this very large "Roku Browser" module when next they thrust it upon us...)

FYI, checking for updates actually involves removing it, thus decreasing the memory load, and allowing an increased ability for (especially larger: YT/YTTV/ATV/AP) apps to run (assuming other decreased memory load, such as themes/screensavers).

(Aside:  Google actually released very minor build revisions for all the impacted non-4K models yesterday in an attempt to help address the issue - after the "Roku Browser" initiated it)

To repeat:  this can and will likely happen again with YT/YYTV/ATV/AP/etc updates in conjunction with middleware additions/updates, unless and until Roku's OS programmers fix the memory management issues, which will require firmware updates.

[makaiguy]

@StreamerUser- Much clearer now.  Thank you.  I was not aware that this browser inclusion was in the RokuOS.  From earlier posts I thought it was something added by Google to YT/YTTV.  Sometimes there are too many "it" pronouns used without direct reference that one has trouble following which "it" is being referred to.