News
The Roku Channel Locks in Content Deal with Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery, and Roku, Inc., have signed a major new agreement to offer Warner Bros. branded FAST channels to The Roku Channel. The channels, which will debut on The Roku Channel in the spring of 2023, feature popular premium programming such as “Westworld,” “The Bachelor,” “Cake Boss,” “Say Yes to the Dress,” “F-Boy Island,” and more.
The arrangement will bring around 2,000 hours of on-demand library material to The Roku Channel, in addition to providing streamers with brand-new FAST channels. The Roku Channel is now offering free streaming of hundreds of TV shows and movies from the Warner Bros. Discovery brand portfolio, including HBO, HBO Max, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Warner Bros. Television.
Rob Holmes, vice president, of programming, Roku said: “As FAST continues to explode in popularity amongst cord-cutters, we’re seeing content players increasingly shift their focus towards capturing this audience, by bringing some of their best stuff to FAST. The rapid expansion of premium content on FAST is a win for both the viewer and content owner, as well as advertisers looking to reach these audiences through well-known programming. We’re delighted to be one of Warner Bros. Discovery’s inaugural FAST partners, and we look forward to introducing its incredible TV series, films, and entertainment brands to a whole new audience on The Roku Channel.”
The news builds on The Roku Channel’s significant enhancement of its FAST offering over the last year, with deals that added popular programming from AMC Networks, NBCUniversal, WMX (Warner Music Experience), the National Hockey League, and more to the service.
David Decker, President of Content Sales for Warner Bros. Discovery added: “We love working with world-class, cutting-edge partners like The Roku Channel. Their innovative platforms provide us with new ways to bring our valuable content to fans across the country.”
Roku is America’s #1 TV streaming channel by hours streamed*, and The Roku Channel is a leader in FAST** and AVOD*** streaming. The Roku Channel was a top 5 channel by both active account reach and streaming hour engagement on Roku in Q3 2022 and ranked first in reach amongst AVOD/FAST services in the U.S., according to TiVo’s most recent quarterly Video Trends Report.