The Roku Channel
 | |
Type of site | OTT video streaming platform |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | San Jose, California, U.S. |
| Area served | United States, Canada, United Kingdom |
| Owner | Roku, Inc. |
| URL | therokuchannel |
| Advertising | Yes |
| Launched |
|
| Current status | Operating |
The Roku Channel is an American over-the-top video streaming service owned and operated by Roku, Inc., which launched in September 2017.[1]
History[edit]
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, and Paramount Pictures, and also has content from existing Roku channel partners American Classics, FilmRise, Vice Media's Nosey, OVGuide, Popcornflix, Vidmark, and YuYu.[2]
On August 8, 2018, The Roku Channel became available on the web as a standalone website.[2] Originally only available in the United States,[3] it launched in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2020, with a different selection of movies and TV shows.[4]
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.[5][6] The content was rebranded as Roku Originals.[7]
Content[edit]
As of January 2021, the service has over 40,000 movies and TV shows.[6] Through the acquisition of Quibi's original content library, an additional 75 shows and documentaries are available exclusively on the service as Roku Originals.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Roettgers, Janko (September 6, 2017). "Roku Veers Into Programming With Launch of Ad-Supported Movie Channel". Variety. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Perez, Sarah (October 11, 2017). "Roku's new channel with free movies and TV goes live for all". TechCrunch. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
- ^ Goren, Or (April 7, 2020). ""The Roku Channel" Goes Live In The UK: Free Movies And TV". Cord Busters. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
- ^ Porter, Jon (January 8, 2021). "Quibi's library will live on through the Roku Channel". The Verge. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Keck, Catie (April 21, 2021). "Roku Wisely Rebrands Its Soon-to-Debut Quibi Haul as 'Roku Originals'". Gizmodo. Retrieved March 23, 2022.