The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel is an American over-the-top VOD streaming service owned and operated by Roku, Inc., which launched in September 2017.[1][2] A standalone website version was launched on August 8, 2018.[3]

The Roku Channel
Type of site
OTT video streaming platform
HeadquartersSan Jose, California, U.S.
Area servedUnited States, United Kingdom, and Mexico
OwnerRoku, Inc.
URLtherokuchannel.roku.com
AdvertisingYes
Launched
  • September 2017 (2017-09) (USA)
  • April 7, 2020 (2020-04-07) (UK)
  • October 13, 2022 (2022-10-13) (Mexico)
Current statusOperating

Originally only available in the United States,[4] the service has since launched in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2020,[5] and in Mexico on October 13, 2022.[6]

In July 2023, the service launched on Google TV.[7]

Content

As of January 2021, the service has over 40,000 movies and TV shows.[8]

The Roku Channel has licensing deals for content with Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Lionsgate, Disney, and Paramount Pictures, and also has content from existing Roku channel partners American Classics, FilmRise, Nosey, OVGuide, Popcornflix, Vidmark, and YuYu.[3] The channel offers premium subscriptions for channels like Max, Showtime, MGM+, Paramount+ and Starz.[9][10]

On January 8, 2021, Roku announced that it had acquired the original content library of the defunct mobile video service Quibi for an undisclosed amount, reported to be around $100 million.[11][8] The content was rebranded as Roku Originals.[12]

In June 2023, the service reached an agreement to stream 11 Formula E races in the United States in the 2024 season; the remaining five races will be exclusive to CBS and streaming on Paramount+.[13]

References

  1. Roettgers, Janko (September 6, 2017). "Roku Veers Into Programming With Launch of Ad-Supported Movie Channel". Variety. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  2. Lacoma, Tyler (2022-11-03). "What is The Roku Channel? Content, cost, and how to use it". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  3. Perez, Sarah (August 8, 2018). "Roku's free, ad-supported streaming channel is now live on the web". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  4. Perez, Sarah (October 11, 2017). "Roku's new channel with free movies and TV goes live for all". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  5. Goren, Or (April 7, 2020). ""The Roku Channel" Goes Live In The UK: Free Movies And TV". Cord Busters. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  6. "Roku Channel llega a México: el servicio gratis que ofrece películas, series y canales en vivo para competir contra Pluto TV y ViX". Xataka Mexico (in Spanish). 13 October 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  7. Shakir, Umar (2023-07-12). "The Roku Channel is now streaming on Google TV". The Verge. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  8. Mullin, Benjamin; Flint, Joe (January 8, 2021). "Roku Acquires Rights to Quibi's Content". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  9. Greenlee, Michelle. "'What is The Roku Channel?': A guide to Roku's home for free and premium TV, movies, and more". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  10. Forristal, Lauren (2022-08-03). "Paramount+ joins The Roku Channel's premium subscription lineup, bringing more live sports". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  11. Porter, Jon (January 8, 2021). "Quibi's library will live on through the Roku Channel". The Verge. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  12. Keck, Catie (April 21, 2021). "Roku Wisely Rebrands Its Soon-to-Debut Quibi Haul as 'Roku Originals'". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  13. Davis, Wes (2023-06-27). "Roku's first free live sports stream will be Formula E racing". The Verge. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
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