Roku Bows Branded Movie Channel

6 Sep, 2017 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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Roku Sept. 6 announced the launch of a branded streaming channel with advertising designed to give customers free access to a collection of studio and independent movies.

The streaming media device manufacturer, which helped Netflix launch the SVOD market 10 years ago, said there are no subscriptions, fees or logins required to access The Roku Channel on its platform.

The channel is expected to have, on average, about half the advertising per programming hour compared to traditional ad-supported linear TV.

“We’re always looking for ways to add value and make TV better for our customers,” Rob Holmes, VP of programming at Roku, said in a statement.

The channel will feature films such as Ali, The Karate Kid and Legally Blonde, among others from Lionsgate, MGM, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros.

Roku, which is planning an IPO later this year, believes the movie channel will help existing channel publishers drive additional viewership of their content on the platform. Publishers include American Classics, Fandor, FilmRise, Nosey, OVGuide, Popcornflix, Vidmark and YuYu, among others.

“There is a tremendous opportunity for our content,” said FilmRise CEO Danny Fisher.

Currently, the Roku platform in the United States offers access to more than 5,000 channels, including 500,000 movies and TV episodes.

The Roku Channel will be available through a phased roll out over the coming weeks. Once available for their device, users can add the channel from the Roku Channel Store and begin using it for free.

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