Roku Enters Best Buy

30 Mar, 2011 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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Roku, which helped boost Netflix streaming through a proprietary set-top box, March 30 said it now is selling a wireless high-definition player in Best Buy stores nationwide.

Saratoga, Calif.-based Roku said it is selling the XD model with 1080p resolution playback, instant replay and 802.11n Wi-Fi for $79.99 throughout the No. 1 consumer electronics retailer’s 1,100 stores and online at .

Roku, which manufacturers three media devices starting at $59.99, also sells units at BJ’s Wholesale Club, Fry’s Electronics and RadioShack. Prior to entering retail channels, Roku sold more than 1 million devices through its website.

With Best Buy reporting sluggish sales of connected TVs in its most recent fiscal quarter, lower-cost media players — in addition to connected video game consoles, laptops, tablet computers and Blu-ray Disc players — are considered prime conduits linking the Web to the living room TV.

All Roku players deliver streaming entertainment, including more than 100,000 movies and TV shows from Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and Hulu Plus (separate subscriptions required); live and on-demand sports from NBA Game Time and NHL GameCenter Live; music from Pandora, MP3tunes, MOG and Rdio; photo and video sharing from Flickr and Facebook; plus news and entertainment from myriad online sources.

“Customers can now grab a Roku off the shelf at Best Buy, take it home and be up and running, enjoying their favorite TV show, movie, music or sports team in just a matter of minutes,” said Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood.
 

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