Roku is going right after Netflix with this big move

Roku is going right later on Netflix with this big movement

Roku remote with a Netflix button among others in front of a TV.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Update: Roku recently suffered a serious outage that not only took out its streaming services, it likewise fabricated streaming devices and Roku TVs practically useless for several hours.

Roku is looking to beat Netflix at its ain game. The visitor's ad-supported streaming service, The Roku Channel, has long relied on licensed content to make full out its library. But they are planning to beef up its original programming in the next two years to bring in more users.

Co-ordinate to The Los Angeles Times, The Roku Channel is planning to develop more than 50 original scripted and nonscripted shows. That's on top of the 75 series it acquired from the defunct Quibi last twelvemonth.

The wearisome build-up is similar to the strategy Netflix used when it transitioned from its DVD rentals-past-mail business to streaming in 2007. Netflix first stocked its digital catalog with older movies and shows, then began producing its own originals a few years later.

The Roku Channel is available to everyone, non but Roku owners, but Roku does make some of the best streaming devices in the market and its OS powers some of the all-time TVs. The LAT notes that it is the fifth most popular streaming service with an estimated audience of 70 meg viewers in the United states of america.

It offers more than 80,000 on-need titles and over 200 live channels, which are highlighted in a new Roku feature targeting cord cutters. And as an advertising-supported service, it'south completely free. Speaking of pricing, Netflix but raised its prices by upward to $ii per month.

The Roku Streaming Stick 4K — (Image credit: Henry T. Casey)

In recent years, Roku has been carefully wading into the realm of originals. Buying the Quibi library was the first step, followed by the acquisition of the home comeback staple This Old House and the sectional licensing of crypto thriller Cypher. The Roku Channel likewise pulled a Netflix by saving Zoey's Boggling Playlist and ordering a holiday special (with future seasons or ane-offs a strong possibility).

The slate of new originals in development bridge genres, from reality competitions to lifestyle shows to dramas and comedies. Since Roku already has years of data on what their users have been watching, they tin can more than effectively target the kinds of serial they make.

And while their originals to this indicate have been English language-linguistic communication, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Roku start going after strange serial. Perhaps the next Squid Game will stream on The Roku Channel. Netflix had better sentry out.

In other Telly news, a new Umbrella Academy season 3 storyboard has fans worried about Allison. Plus, we've got all the details on how to watch the upcoming How I Met Your Father online , too as a tip that every Burn down TV owner needs to improve their abode screen.

Kelly is a senior writer roofing streaming media for Tom'due south Guide, so basically, she watches Television set for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she's not watching TV and movies for work, she's watching them for fun, seeing alive music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.