CES 2013: Roku Adds Device Partners Plus New Channels Including TWC TV, FOX NOW and PBS

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Ha Thai

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) marked another new year of exciting consumer tech developments. Not one to miss out on the action, Roku had two important announcements of our own to share.

First, we announced that we have now surpassed 700 channels on the Roku platform in our quest to bring customers the best range and quality in streaming entertainment. In fact, we ended 2012 having streamed one billion hours! We’ve just announced a partnership with Time Warner Cable, which will bring TWC TV™ (featuring up to 300 live television channels) to Roku streaming devices in the U.S. We’ve also inked deals with more than a dozen new partners including Blockbuster On Demand, FOX NOW, PBS, PBS KIDS, iHeartRadio and Big Fish Unlimited to name a few. These new video, music and casual games channels are launching in the Roku Channel Store this quarter.

We also announced six new Roku Ready partners who are using the Roku Streaming Stick to add an integrated streaming experience to their new Smart TVs, Blu-ray players, digital antennas, and audio receivers. As demand for streaming entertainment continues to grow, there is more interest from consumer electronics manufacturers, particularly TV makers, who are looking to introduce streaming features to their devices. Rather than invest in building and maintaining their own platforms, many are turning to Roku.

Coby Electronics Corp.; Harman Kardon; Hisense Electric Co. Ltd.; TCL Corp.; Voxx Accessories Corp. and Westinghouse Digital join existing Roku Ready partners 3M; Element Electronics; Haier America; Hitachi America, Ltd.; Insignia, a Best Buy brand; OPPO; Sumar Intl., Inc. and TMAX Digital, Inc. (Apex Digital®TVs), bringing us to a total of 14 Roku Ready partners.

We’re thrilled about these milestones so early in the New Year and look forward to sharing more exciting news with you in 2013!

Happy Streaming!

Posted in Roku, Roku News | Tagged , , , , , , , | 81 Comments

2012 was a great year!

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Anthony

Roku® streaming is growing by leaps and bounds, and this past holiday season was the best quarter in our company history. Here are some of my favorite stats:

  • On Black Friday alone, we sold one Roku player every second!
  • Roku’s “same store sales” were up 40% year over year in Q4, despite the fact that many of our largest retailers sold out.
  • We’re closing in on 5 million Roku players sold in the U.S. – we expect to pass that milestone in the coming weeks.
  • Last year we streamed one billion hours. That’s a lot of TV, music, and games.

As we expand the reach of Roku, we are also working with many consumer electronics manufacturers who are making Smart TVs, Blu-ray players, audio receivers and digital antennas that can take advantage of the Roku Streaming Stick™. Today we announced even more partners, bringing us to 14 Roku Ready partners.

With demand from the CE market as well as consumers, it’s clear that Roku is the #1 streaming platform.

Of course we are very focused on bringing you more entertaining content. We launched with only one channel in 2008, as the first device to ever stream Netflix, and now we have more than 700 channels. We’ve just announced a partnership with Time Warner Cable, which will bring TWC TV™ (featuring up to 300 live television channels) to Roku streaming devices in the U.S. Our Channel Store features the best range and quality in streaming entertainment. And because we ask our partners to work with us to develop the channels from the ground up for a TV experience, they are fast and easy to navigate. This is one of the reasons why Roku players streamed more than one billion hours of entertainment in 2012.

We’re just getting 2013 started – there’s A LOT more to come.

Happy New Year and Keep Streaming, America!

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Top 12 holiday streaming picks

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Kacie

The weather outside is frightful, but we’ve put together a great list of holiday favorites to make you feel merry and bright this Christmas. Happy holidays from all of us at Roku!

  • Arrested Development: “Afternoon Delight”- Awkward holiday parties, $2600 pants, Tobias blueing himself, Yam, and the banana suit – this might be the best holiday TV episode of all time. http://nflx.it/VPZWxA
  • Die Hard- Yippee-ki-yay! If you’re in the mood for explosions and clever one-liners, nothing can top this witty, action-packed holiday flick starring a brawny, barefoot Bruce Willis. http://ow.ly/gkeKc
  • National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation- From Aunt Bethany’s cat in a box to Clark’s exterior illumination shenanigans, the Griswold’s Christmas adventures will make your family seem normal. http://nflx.it/ZemL5P
  • The Polar Express- Directed by Robert Zemeckis and based on the classic children’s book, this magical Christmas journey is perfect for the whole family. http://nflx.it/ZQnhpF
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas- Tim Burton’s macabre stop motion musical is twisted, cute and wacky all at the same time. http://nflx.it/VkViHD
  • Elf- Will Farrell will delight all ages as Buddy, the large, syrup-loving human elf. http://ow.ly/gkde2
  • A Christmas Story- No Christmas is complete without the hilarious story of Ralphie and his quest for an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle. http://ow.ly/gkdrI
  • Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas- Oscar winners Ron Howard and Brian Grazer bring the world’s best-loved grump to life in this hilarious celebration of the true holiday spirit, starring Jim Carrey. http://ow.ly/gkdEE
  • Scrooged- Bill Murray plays a modern-day Scrooge in an ’80s adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. http://ow.ly/gkdFI
  • Miracle on 34th Street- This heartwarming 1947 classic will always be on our holiday short list. http://ow.ly/gkdWC
  • A Charlie Brown Christmas- Charles Schultz’s timeless special is a true holiday masterpiece. http://ow.ly/gkf1X
  • Roku Holiday Fun Channel- A crackling HD Yule Log and holiday content from Disney, Chow, AOL, TuneIn Radio and Flixster will fill any room with cozy holiday cheer. (available in the U.S.) http://ow.ly/gkg2z
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Play on Roku mobile feature updated

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Tom Markworth

The ultimate Roku command center just got a little bit better. Today, we released version 2.1 of our iOS and Android apps.

In version 2.0 of our apps, we introduced Play on Roku, which enables users to stream music and photos straight from their mobile phones to their Roku 2, Roku LT and new Roku HD players. Version 2.1, available today, adds music shuffle and repeat options for Play on Roku.

You can now create on-the-fly playlists of your favorite artists with the “All Songs” view on the artist screen. Additionally, we fixed several bugs related to music and photo playback on Play on Roku in both versions of the app.

If you haven’t tried our free mobile apps, you can get the iOS version here and the Android version here.

Posted in Announcements, Roku, Roku News | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Spotify now playing on Roku

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Tom Markworth

Music is exploding on Roku – it now accounts for nearly 15 percent of all hours streamed on the Roku platform! We’re excited to expand music options even further with today’s addition of Spotify.

That’s right – Spotify, the award-winning music streaming service, is now available on Roku in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland. Spotify Premium subscribers can stream millions of high quality (up to 320 Kbps), ad-free tunes, including Metallica’s entire catalog, on their Roku players.

Use the Spotify channel to:

  • Search for tracks, artists and albums
  • Browse new album releases and top tracks for your region
  • Browse and play tracks from your Spotify playlists
  • Add tracks to your playlists and star your favorite tracks
  • Access content sent to you by friends in your Spotify Inbox
  • View album and artist track lists for now playing tracks

Joining more than 600 video, music and casual game channels already on Roku, the Spotify channel is available now in the U.K. on all Roku players and in the U.S. on Roku 2 players and the Roku Streaming Stick. Support for Roku LT and the new Roku HD player will be coming soon.

On supported players, you can find Spotify in the Music category of the Roku Channel Store or add it here. Although the channel is free, a Spotify Premium subscription is required to use Spotify on Roku. You can try a free 30-day trial at spotify.com/roku.

Happy streaming!

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VEVO rocks onto Roku

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Tom Markworth

Looking for a way to watch high-definition music videos from popular artists on your Roku player? We’ve got some exciting news for you! VEVO, the popular music video platform, is now available on Roku.

Whether you prefer to groove to modern hits, ‘80s classics or Christmas carols, the VEVO channel is sure to keep you singing for hours with over 50,000 videos from 11,000 artists. Music videos play back-to-back – just select a video, kick back and enjoy an evening of effortless entertainment.

Browse VEVO on Roku to check out today’s top videos, VEVO’s newest videos, the most popular videos of all time, VEVO staff recommendations, videos from live concerts and VEVO originals. If you’re looking for specific favorites, search for an artist or video by name or browse by genre. Connect to your VEVO account to access your VEVO playlists and keep track of recently watched videos.

VEVO works with Roku 2, Roku LT, new Roku HD (model 2500x) and the Roku Streaming Stick in the U.S., UK and Canada. Add the free channel in the Roku Channel Store or install it here.

Happy streaming!

Posted in New Channels, Roku News | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

How to improve your Wi-Fi connection

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Jasmine


You’re at the most critical point in a movie (the big reveal, the first kiss, the unexpected plot twist) and suddenly it stops to buffer. Moment ruined. We’ve all been there – sometimes it seems like your neighbor’s Wi-Fi works better than your own! Your home Wi-Fi network can be a fickle friend, but before you resort to streaming in the streets, check out these tips for an optimal streaming experience.

Check your speed
In general, a faster Internet connection will deliver better video quality. For the best viewing results, we recommend a minimum of 1.5 Mbps for standard definition and 3.0 Mbps for HD content. You can test your network speed with free websites like speedtest.net.

Take care of your router
This seems simple, but it’s easy to forget – make sure to keep your router’s firmware and driver up to date to improve streaming performance. Check the device manufacturer’s website regularly for updates to keep your router in optimal condition.

Know your hot spots
Knowing your home’s hot spots can help you position your Roku in the best possible location. Mobile apps like Wi-Fi Analyzer turn your phone into a Wi-Fi detector, helping you find the least crowded channel for your router and locate the areas in your pad with the strongest signal strength.

Find a trusty ISP
A good wireless internet service provider is an important asset. Lucky for us, Netflix did the hard work and compiled a monthly report ranking ISPs “based upon their actual performance across all Netflix streams.” Google Fiber took first place, with Verizon, Comcast, Charter, Cablevision, Mediacom, and TimeWarner Cable bringing up the rear. Are you taking notes?

If you’re having trouble streaming on your Roku, these additional tips might help optimize your wireless connection. Feel free to contact us for assistance as well – we’re always happy to help.

Happy Streaming!

Posted in How-to, Roku | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Roku UK Currys Promo

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Clive

Tick tock… the countdown to Christmas is well underway. After weeks of shopping, your head feels heavy, your wallet feels light, and you still have a few hard-to-shop-for gentlemen (or ladies) on your list. As you settle down on the couch to some quality streaming time with your Roku, you ask yourself, “Do they really need another pair of flannel pajamas?”

Suddenly, inspiration strikes. Roku!

Lucky for you, Currys is now offering a special price on Roku LT for £39.99 and Roku 2 XS for £79.99 (fully loaded, Angry Birds game included). There is probably a store near you, but if you really don’t want to peel yourself away from your Roku, stay put and order online at the same great price.


Roku is small enough to fit with anyone’s home theater system, but packed with entertainment – 300 channels and counting – the perfect gift for the man (or woman) who has everything. Who wouldn’t love an afternoon of cozying up with movies from Netflix or NOW TV, powered by Sky? How about finally catching up on your favourite BBC show with BBC iPlayer? Setup is so easy, even your grandmother will have it running in no time.

This offer is good until 31st December, 2012. Happy shopping – and streaming!

Posted in Roku, UK | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

New releases and recommendations for December 14

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Kacie

Winter nights were made for hot cocoa and movie marathons. Cozy up with loved ones and enjoy this weekend’s new releases – we’ve got something for the whole family, from Disney classics to action-packed blockbusters. Happy streaming!



Amazon Instant Video New Releases:

  • The Bourne Legacy- Agent Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) must use his genetically-enhanced skills to finish what Jason Bourne started in this action-packed hit that takes the Bourne series to explosive new levels. (2012)
  • The Dark Knight Rises- The emergence of Bane, a masked terrorist with ruthless plans for Gotham, drives Batman out of his self-imposed exile. (2012)
  • Killer Joe- When a debt puts a young man’s life in danger, he puts a hit out on his mother in order to collect the insurance. (2012)

Amazon Prime Instant Video New Releases:

  • The Adventures of Tintin- Racing to uncover the secrets of a sunken ship, Tintin and his loyal dog Snowy embark on an action-packed journey around the world. (2011)
  • Hugo- An orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a magical mystery involving his late father and an automaton. (2011)
  • National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation- The comic misadventures of the beleaguered Griswold family are a holiday must. (1989)

Hulu Plus New Releases:

  • New Girl: Santa- Jess and the gang party it up for the holidays. (2012)
  • Parenthood: What to My Wondering Eyes- The Bravermans rally around Christmastime to get Kristina through a rough patch. (2012)
  • The Mindy Project: Josh and Mindy’s Christmas Party- Mindy’s Christmas party isn’t so jolly. (2012)

Netflix New Releases:

  • Thaandavam- In London, a mysterious blind man named Kenny appears to be an assassin using echolocation to kill his targets.  (2012)
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas- Jack Skellington, the spindly king of Halloween Town, kidnaps Santa and decides to make the Yuletide his own. (1993)
  • Alice in Wonderland- Follow Alice down the rabbit hole in Disney’s animated, musical retelling of Lewis Carroll’s whimsical tale. (1951)

Crackle New Releases:

  • Bloodworth- Kris Kristofferson leads a pitch perfect cast down dysfunction junction in a haunting film filled with music and mystery. (2011)
  • Harry Brown- Michael Caine dials up a brilliant old school tough guy performance in a thrilling take on the violent vigilante genre. (2009)
  • London- Chris Evans, Jessica Biel and Jason Statham lead an eclectic cast through a chemically-stoked long nightclub night. (2006)
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Amazon Cloud Player now in the Roku Channel Store

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Tom Markworth

Today, the Roku music experience got even better. We’re excited to announce the arrival of Amazon Cloud Player!

With the Amazon Cloud player channel, you can browse and enjoy your entire Cloud Player collection by artist, album, song, playlist or genre.

In addition, you can:

  • Shuffle play an album, all songs from an artist, all songs within a genre, a playlist or even all songs
  • Search for any album, artist or song in your account
  • Enjoy your music collection in high-quality 256 Kbps audio
  • View song details and album art on a smooth scrolling screensaver
  • Continue playback while browsing and quickly access the “Now Playing” song through a shortcut

Amazon Cloud Player requires Roku software version 4.9 and is available in the U.S. on Roku 2, Roku LT, Roku HD (model 2500) and the Roku Streaming Stick. You can find it in the Music category of the Roku Channel Store or add it here.

To use the channel, you must sign up for an Amazon Cloud Player account. You can import 250 songs for free or 250,000 songs for $24.99 per year. Any Amazon MP3 purchases are stored automatically for free.

Happy Streaming!

Posted in Announcements, Roku, Roku News | Tagged , , , | 41 Comments