Platform architects are looking to embrace the conventional TV tuner to expand their reach. Roku is introducing a hybrid streaming and OTA player, capable of 4K HDR.
For over-the-air TV & streaming
While Apple believes that the ”future of TV is apps”, Google and Roku are working to include the TV tuner under their umbrella – with Android TV and RokuOS, respectively. The idea is to gain reach by catering to those customers who still watch mainly broadcast TV.
- "Our new 4K HDR hybrid streaming player is ideal for countries where over the air TV is available. It really brings together entertainment sources in a clever way, so consumers can watch live and on demand entertainment with one single remote control," said Andrew Ferrone, VP of pay TV at Roku.
The new Roku player supports 4K resolution and HDR. The company did not specify which HDR formats are supported. Besides having access to over-the-air TV channels, users can access the full Roku Channel Store with apps such as Netflix, HBO, Amazon etc.
Telstra is an Australian telecommunications and media company. Rokus is leading the market for streaming players in the US ahead of Amazon, Apple, and Google. The company has also made its operating system available to makers of Smart TVs.
- “In partnership with Roku, operators develop their own streaming player by customizing the home screen, app store, and streaming player for their audiences. Roku provides ongoing software updates to the Roku OS, hosts the app store, and provides application development support and certification services,” the company said.
Roku’s set-top box will initially be made available to partners in Australia, Austria, Germany, Italy, Philippines, Republic of Ireland, Spain, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
