The Roku Channel
The Roku Channel Logo.svg
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; 5 years ago (2017-09) (USA)
  • April 7, 2020; 3 years ago (2020-04-07) (UK)
  • October 13, 2022; 6 months ago (2022-10-13) (Mexico)
Current statusOperating

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]

History

In September 2017, Roku, Inc. launched a free, ad-supported streaming channel for its digital media players, Roku.[1]

The service 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 HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Epix, and Paramount+.[4][5]

On August 8, 2018, The Roku Channel became available on the web as a standalone website.[3] Originally only available in the United States,[6] it launched in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2020, with a different selection of movies and TV shows.[7]

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.[8][9] The content was rebranded as Roku Originals.[10]

The service was launched in Mexico on October 13, 2022.[11]

Content

See also: List of Quibi original programming

As of January 2021, the service has over 40,000 movies and TV shows.[9] Through the acquisition of Quibi's original content library, an additional 75 shows and documentaries are available exclusively on the service as Roku Originals.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b Roettgers, Janko (September 6, 2017). "Roku Veers Into Programming With Launch of Ad-Supported Movie Channel". Variety. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  2. ^ Lacoma, Tyler (2022-11-03). "What is The Roku Channel? Content, cost, and how to use it". Digital Trends. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  3. ^ a b Perez, Sarah (August 8, 2018). "Roku's free, ad-supported streaming channel is now live on the web". TechCrunch. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Greenlee, Michelle. "'What is The Roku Channel?': A guide to Roku's home for free and premium TV, movies, and more". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  5. ^ Forristal, Lauren (2022-08-03). "Paramount+ joins The Roku Channel's premium subscription lineup, bringing more live sports". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  6. ^ Perez, Sarah (October 11, 2017). "Roku's new channel with free movies and TV goes live for all". TechCrunch. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  7. ^ Goren, Or (April 7, 2020). ""The Roku Channel" Goes Live In The UK: Free Movies And TV". Cord Busters. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  8. ^ Porter, Jon (January 8, 2021). "Quibi's library will live on through the Roku Channel". The Verge. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c Mullin, Benjamin; Flint, Joe (January 8, 2021). "Roku Acquires Rights to Quibi's Content". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  10. ^ Keck, Catie (April 21, 2021). "Roku Wisely Rebrands Its Soon-to-Debut Quibi Haul as 'Roku Originals'". Gizmodo. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  11. ^ "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).

External links

The Roku Channel & Quibi original programming
Video on demand services
Categories