The Roku Thread
05-15-25 | 04:57 PM
#1701
DVD Talk Legend
08-06-25 | 10:04 AM
#1702
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Roku Thread
Roku Just Launched an Ad-Free Streaming Service for $2.99 a Month
If you’re fed up with rising streaming service costs, Roku has some good news for you.
Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood says that the company’s just-launched streaming service cost “less than a cup of coffee.” However, he added, it is not meant to directly compete with Netflix and other streamers, but rather, complement them.
Howdy now provides a more budget-friendly option at just $2.99 a month. The service will offer 10,000 hours of content from partners like Lionsgate, Warner Bros. Discovery, and FilmRise, along with some Roku Original titles. This includes classic movies like The Graduate, Reservoir Dogs, and Dirty Dancing.“With engagement of over 125 million people a day, Roku is the perfect partner to launch a more accessible complement to the higher-priced SVODs,” says Jim Packer, President of Worldwide Television Distribution at Lionsgate.
Howdy will be available initially exclusively on Roku devices, but will roll out to mobile and other platforms soon.
The new ad-free offering joins the company’s other streaming service, the Roku Channel, which is a free, ad-supported TV platform. These services, which include Fox’s Tubi and Paramount’s PlutoTV, have grown in popularity in recent years and have created a new revenue stream for media companies. The Roku Channel is the most popular of these services and accounted for 2.5% of all television viewing in the U.S. this past June, according to Nielsen.
In June, the company signed a major advertising deal with Amazon Ads aimed at making it easier for brands to reach viewers across both companies’ streaming platforms. The partnership gives advertisers access to more than 80 million U.S. households through a combination of Roku and Fire TV devices.The launch of Howdy also comes just months after Roku acquired the live-TV provider FrndlyTV for $185 million. The service provides users access to 50 live channels, including the History Channel, A&E, and the Hallmark Channel for plans ranging $8.99 to $12.99 per month.
Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood says that the company’s just-launched streaming service cost “less than a cup of coffee.” However, he added, it is not meant to directly compete with Netflix and other streamers, but rather, complement them.
Howdy now provides a more budget-friendly option at just $2.99 a month. The service will offer 10,000 hours of content from partners like Lionsgate, Warner Bros. Discovery, and FilmRise, along with some Roku Original titles. This includes classic movies like The Graduate, Reservoir Dogs, and Dirty Dancing.“With engagement of over 125 million people a day, Roku is the perfect partner to launch a more accessible complement to the higher-priced SVODs,” says Jim Packer, President of Worldwide Television Distribution at Lionsgate.
Howdy will be available initially exclusively on Roku devices, but will roll out to mobile and other platforms soon.
The new ad-free offering joins the company’s other streaming service, the Roku Channel, which is a free, ad-supported TV platform. These services, which include Fox’s Tubi and Paramount’s PlutoTV, have grown in popularity in recent years and have created a new revenue stream for media companies. The Roku Channel is the most popular of these services and accounted for 2.5% of all television viewing in the U.S. this past June, according to Nielsen.
In June, the company signed a major advertising deal with Amazon Ads aimed at making it easier for brands to reach viewers across both companies’ streaming platforms. The partnership gives advertisers access to more than 80 million U.S. households through a combination of Roku and Fire TV devices.The launch of Howdy also comes just months after Roku acquired the live-TV provider FrndlyTV for $185 million. The service provides users access to 50 live channels, including the History Channel, A&E, and the Hallmark Channel for plans ranging $8.99 to $12.99 per month.
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Dan1boy (08-06-25)
08-08-25 | 04:24 PM
#1703
DVD Talk God
Re: The Roku Thread
That channel "Howdy" popped up on my Roku channels list.
There is a lot of stuff, but I probably will never watch any of it, so even at $2.99 it's a pass.
There is a lot of stuff, but I probably will never watch any of it, so even at $2.99 it's a pass.
10-29-25 | 09:24 PM
#1704
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Roku Thread
The Roku models are still on sale. They used to only be on sale on Black Friday week and cyber Monday. I bought the new Roku Ultra since the remote on my Ultra LT was glitching and driving me crazy. I set it up last night and so far so good. A few glitches. It started with it wired and then tried to set up WIFI as a backup and it wouldn't connect. I restarted it and then it would finally connect. I like the new remote, but it lights up every time I touch it. I find that a little annoying. I'm sure it's helpful for some people, but after ten years I basically know my way around a Roku remote by touch.
10-30-25 | 11:00 AM
#1706
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Roku Thread
This is the new model that came out in 2024. You probably have the older models. I may have gotten a lemon. I had a Roku Ultra LT that I bought for $30 at Walmart on Black Friday that I loved and it ran great until I started having problems with the remote the after a couple years. I bought the new 2024 model to replace it. I've never had a problem like this with a Roku until now.
10-30-25 | 11:23 AM
#1707
DVD Talk God
Re: The Roku Thread
Yes, I also have a Roku Ultra that I got I think in 2023 or 2024 for about $60 and it locks up, crashes and re-starts a few times a week at least. I use it the most and it gets really annoying. I also am Apple 4K that I really should use more.
10-30-25 | 12:56 PM
#1708
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Roku Thread
This is the new model that came out in 2024. You probably have the older models. I may have gotten a lemon. I had a Roku Ultra LT that I bought for $30 at Walmart on Black Friday that I loved and it ran great until I started having problems with the remote the after a couple years. I bought the new 2024 model to replace it. I've never had a problem like this with a Roku until now.
11-19-25 | 03:35 PM
#1709
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Roku Thread
I bought an Apple TV and I have had zero problems with it. So it's definitely not my internet. It hasn't froze or restarted once. Roku support said they were going to send me a replacement, but then they changed course and asked for video of the problem. I said it happens randomly and it's hard to have your phone out ready to record when it happens. I heard crickets since then. Their support and customer service is terrible.
11-21-25 | 03:32 PM
#1710
DVD Talk God
Re: The Roku Thread
Roku has a BF for a bunch of cheap short-term premium VOD app subscriptions. Prices vary from 99 cents for a few months to $3
Check the Roku store to see what might interest you.
Check the Roku store to see what might interest you.
11-22-25 | 08:16 PM
#1711
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: The Roku Thread
Went with Howdy for 99 cents since I have had Nikita on my watchlist for a while,also has the sitcoms Suburgatory and Drew Carey Show which had both been in streaming purgatory for ages literally until the last year or so. DC for music rights reasons. Suburgatory for I am not sure what reasons,as I think the theme song which even if it had a high licensining cost could have been replaced by Stock studio music and is inconsequential to all the episodes other then 1.
03-24-26 | 11:46 AM
#1712
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Roku Thread
It is cool you can stream the local 3 letter networks NBC, CBS, and ABC (FOX too?) and watch NBC 4 LA, Chicago, South Florida, NYm Philly, and some of the other major cities though sucks they black out the network programming so you can't watch Fallon or Colbert at 8:30pm on the West Coast.
03-24-26 | 11:55 PM
#1714
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Roku Thread
No they are free
