Four Reasons to Launch your Streaming Service on Roku
August 13, 2020
Roku has been getting a lot of buzz lately since it was revealed that two large streaming services, HBO Max and Peacock, would not be launching on the Roku platform right off the bat. As a direct-to-consumer OTT provider who launches streaming services for clients on all major platforms, Float Left would highly advise you not to leave Roku out of your plan, and here’s why:
1. Roku has 43 million subscribers and growing
As of Q2 2020, Roku has reached 43 million U.S. subscribers, crushing its competition and further establishing itself as the most popular streaming platform. As you can see in the graph below, Roku’s total number of active users has been on a steady incline for the past several years. While the pandemic may have given Roku a nice boost, it is not the sole reason for the consistent upward trajectory. It should come as no surprise that many U.S. households have chosen to “cut the cord” and transition from cable TV to an array of streaming services. In Roku’s most recent annual study, they predict 45% of “cord shavers” will soon turn into “cord cutters”, completely eliminating cable TV and relying on platforms such as Roku.
In addition to an increased number of users over the past several years, Roku said it recorded a 100% increase in streaming hours year after year and an average yearly increase of 28% in average revenue per user.
2. Roku is evolving with the market
Roku pioneered streaming to the TV as their first set-top box launched in 2008, in collaboration with Netflix. Since then, Roku has learned to adapt to the ever-changing market with the release of streaming sticks, updated set-top boxes, and a variety of smart TVs with brands such as Sharp and TCL.
Roku has also introduced many new features over the years to make users’ lives a little easier. Some of these features include voice search, private listening, mobile access, and The Roku Channel, which offers both free and premium entertainment. Recently, Roku anticipated a need for more linear TV and expanded its free live channel lineup, adding more than 100 AVOD channels in the U.S. These channels offer free content in news, sports, kids and family, lifestyle, Spanish language entertainment and more.
Roku has done an immaculate job keeping up with trends and anticipating users’ needs. This is one of the many reasons they’ve built such a large and loyal client and consumer base.
3. Roku has the largest number of channels to choose from
Roku has an extensive list with over 3,000 channels, more than every one of its competitors. They offer a wide variety of SVOD and AVOD channels, plus the new Roku Live TV Guide, which allows users to browse free TV channels that are linear and live. Consumers are drawn to Roku based on the number of channels alone and stick with them long-term because they are constantly adding new services to the mix. Check out this recent article that calls out some of the best channels on Roku today.
4. Roku is the easiest platform to use and set up
Finally, when it comes to user experience, Roku provides the most user-friendly gateway into the streaming world. They know that a great user-experience begins at the set-up process, which is why Roku devices walk users through a series of very straightforward steps– easy enough for a beginner! Each of Roku’s models is controlled by a basic remote that has all the essential buttons — play/pause, rewind, fast forward — plus four at the bottom that will take you directly to services like Netflix and Hulu.
The Roku interface is simple, clear, and intuitive. Users have the option to browse apps or search for apps or content via text or voice. Roku’s universal search makes it easy for users to discover new apps they may have never encountered before.
We said it before and we’ll say it again, as the #1 streaming platform in the U.S., we highly advise you not to leave Roku off of your list of platforms. If you are considering launching an OTT service soon, get in touch with us to see a demo of our Roku apps and learn more!