Roku Originals are here, but they’re not entirely original

Roku Originals are here, but they're not entirely original

(Image credit: Roku)

Call up Quibi? No? Well, it doesn't matter. Meet Roku Originals. Roku appear that Roku Originals will be the new make proper noun for the content from the company's purchase of the Quibi library in Jan.

Roku Originals launches in May and somewhen will include time to come original programming created specifically for the Roku Aqueduct. In recent months, Roku has been making moves to add original content to its free, advertizement-supported outlet. And last calendar month, the Roku Channel debuted its start exclusive licensed serial, the FBI drama Nothing.

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The Roku Channel has doubled its audience in the terminal year, with the company reporting it reached U.S. households with an estimated 63 1000000 people in Q4 2020. The aqueduct offers 40,000 gratuitous movies and programs and more than 165 gratis live linear idiot box channels. Current titles in the rotation include classics like Bewitched and more contempo hits similar The Wolf of Wall Street.

The new Roku Originals make will kicking off with more than than 75 Quibi shows, including a dozen unreleased titles. Ane of those is Steven Spielberg'due south After Night, a horror series intended to stream only after dusk. Another is Slugfest, a documentary series nigh comic books from the Russo Brothers.

Roku's annunciation fabricated it clear that the shows tin exist viewed on a screen of any size. When Quibi first launched, it was mobile-merely (though they subsequently scrambled to make the platform available on TVs). That was just one of the many problems with the doomed streaming service, which ranked among the biggest tech fails of 2020.

Merely while the app, technology and very premise of Quibi were all dubious, its content was actually pretty good (and even won Emmy awards). Now, those shows have a spiffy new brand and home.

"Every day, millions of viewers turn to The Roku Channel to observe quality programming they beloved," said Sweta Patel, Vice President of Engagement Growth Marketing, at Roku. "We're thrilled to introduce this award-winning and diverse portfolio of amusement under the Roku Originals brand – it's relevant, fun and thought-provoking Television that has something for everyone from the all-time talent in Hollywood, including Anna Kendrick, Chrissy Teigen, Lena Waithe, Idris Elba, Kevin Hart, and Liam Hemsworth. The Roku Aqueduct is the identify for incredible, gratuitous programming and we are excited to bring this premium content to the biggest screen in the home."

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