The Roku Channel

Leading free ad-supported streaming service within the Roku ecosystem and major FAST platform competitor

The Roku Channel is a free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service owned and operated by Roku, Inc. Launched in 2017, it has become a significant player in the streaming ecosystem by offering thousands of free movies, TV shows, live news, and sports content. The platform monetizes through advertising, making it a key component of Roku's advertising business and a major distribution channel for advertisers seeking to reach connected TV audiences. As part of Roku's broader platform strategy, The Roku Channel serves as both a content aggregator and an advertising platform, competing directly with other FAST services like Pluto TV, Tubi, and Amazon Freevee. The service is available not only on Roku's own streaming devices but also on web browsers, mobile apps, and select Samsung and Amazon Fire TV devices. The Roku Channel has become increasingly important to Roku's business model, with the company's Platform segment (which includes advertising revenue) representing the majority of its overall revenue. The service plays a crucial role in Roku's AdTech ecosystem, offering advertisers access to first-party data, programmatic buying capabilities, and various ad formats including video ads, display ads, and interactive ad units.