Roku introduces new features to enhance user personalization and streamline the streaming experience.
Roku is all set to enhance its streaming platform with new features to personalize user experiences. Shortly, users will see updates across various segments like Sports, Live TV, What to Watch, Music Playlists, and Roku Photo Streams.
The platform, boasting over 73 million active accounts worldwide, is engineered to provide quick and easy access to preferred entertainment content.
Preston Smalley, the Vice President of Viewer Products at Roku, emphasized the company’s leadership in the streaming TV sector. He stated, “As the leaders in streaming TV, we’ve made it our priority to offer a platform that anticipates our user’s needs and adapts in real-time.”
Smalley further highlighted the vast array of content and viewing options available on Roku and affirmed their commitment to continual innovation. He added, “With endless content to choose from and ways to watch, we will continue to innovate and release feature updates to our millions of users that better the viewing experience, making Roku the go-to destination for TV streaming.”
Table of Contents
Easy Access to Your ‘Favorite’ Sports
Roku’s newly introduced ‘favoriting’ feature lets users keep tabs on live and upcoming sports events from their favorite teams, all organized in a single curated row. Users need to add a team to the “My Favorites” row within the Sports section by hitting the “Favorite” button on the game page, and they can tune in at game time.
The soon-to-be-launched “Highlights” feature within the Sports section will enable users to catch up on clips from recent games they might have missed or wish to revisit.
To expand its sports offerings, the platform plans to incorporate motorsports by early 2024 and unveil new Max content in the weeks ahead. These additions will enrich the existing diverse roster of channel partners on the platform.
Live TV and Playlists
Live TV will see a boost with over 400 free channels, a personalized channel guide, and removing channel numbers for a simplified browsing experience.
Music lovers can look forward to an enhanced experience with access to over 250 video playlists curated in partnership with entities like Stingray, Vevo, and Warner Music Group.
This segment is set to introduce new control features, enabling a more immersive user experience. Users can shuffle, skip ahead, add video playlists to their Save List, and receive recommendations for similar playlists, among other functionalities.
Additionally, in celebration of Atlantic Records’ 75th Anniversary, 75 special playlists have been crafted in collaboration with Warner Music Group.
Much Personalized ‘What to Watch’ section
In the ‘What to Watch’ section on Roku, users will find an organized display of content categorized into groups like TV Shows, Movies, New and popular, and Free, among others. This organization helps users quickly find what they’re interested in.
Additionally, Roku plans to introduce genre-specific experiences, where content is grouped based on themes like food or home, providing a more tailored selection for users.
Explore Better With Visual Search
Furthermore, Roku is enhancing its mobile app with Visual Search, enabling users to explore new entertainment more visually engaging and immersively. By simply navigating to the “Search” tab within the app, users can effortlessly search for content.
Secure Your Home Via The TV
Roku Photo Streams will now support Google Photos, facilitating a smooth sharing of cherished moments with loved ones. New features on the smart home front will include support for Roku Smart Home Video Doorbell events and instant notifications on Roku devices, enhancing home security management from the TV.
New Roku 4K Devices & Features
Furthermore, Roku has launched the Roku Express 4K with Voice Remote Pro, priced at $49.99 MSRP, exclusively on Amazon in the U.S. This bundle, comprising Roku’s budget-friendly player and top-tier remote, is ideal for those looking to upgrade their current TV setups.
Expert Picture Setting is also being introduced to 4K devices, allowing for customized picture settings directly from the TV, a feature already available on the Roku Mobile app.
Lastly, the rollout of Roku OS 12.5 is set to bring these updates to Roku TV models and streaming players in the upcoming weeks, furthering Roku’s mission to refine and elevate the streaming experience for its users.
Ragul Thangavel
With over nine years of diverse professional experience, Ragul has made significant contributions across various domains, including Media Operations, OTT Technologies, Video Production, Ecommerce, and Social Media.
Holding an Engineering degree, Ragul's career took an unconventional turn when he discovered his passion for writing, leading him to begin his journey as a content writer.
His career has been exclusively dedicated to the growth and development of startups, where he has played a pivotal role. His unique blend of technical knowledge and creative prowess has enabled him to drive innovation and success in every venture he has been a part of.