Community discussions

[Iona-D]

Yes, I believe in multiple streaming platforms.  I have 2 right now.  Doing so saved my sanity during the first lockdown.  When all of my Rokus kept crashing each day & would not stream at all.  The older Chromecast somehow only had 1 major & 1 minor crash during the same time period.  It streamed with very little buffering in spite of so.msny people online at once.

Now it's being held hostage for my self-paid-by-me Peacock app.  Over some greedy issues that do not have anything to do with me or the other users?  And where are is the customer service call center staffed with real live people I used to chat with and  possicould evenpossibly Chat with.if they were allowed to work.at home?  Now the choice is to either post here or a hard to get email-maybe?

So I will flip flop and choose what works rather than wishful thinking reality of no one's at home even minding the store.  Except for some bot.

[HardKnoxfox]

They didn’t!! 
Go to CNET and read the 7 or 8 articles. I’ve been following this story since peacock previews were coming out. 

Roku started with Netflix and now we have a pop culture definition in the dictionary “Netflix and Chill”.  Hulu was only on phones and computers and the went to roku 

Hulu is owned by Disney and partnered with NBCUniversal and Comcast. Hulu is the number one subscription based channel on roku. Was that success enough? No they had to do a Disney more subscription. So the Peacock, owned by the same People, not only don’t want to pay Roku... they want ROKU TO PAY THEM to have them on the channel store. 
Ridiculous 

I didn’t download peacock on my phone or anywhere else. If I can’t watch it on roku, it’s not tv. Not to mention that 80% of peacock media library, we’ve been watching on Hulu for years!! 

[EddynDebbie]

Lovely. Snide condescension in the form of advice. Get over yourself. 

[FredCDobbs]

Because I want to tell you something before my household, and that of my mother, and that of my cousin David, and that of my friend Bob all stop purchasing or using your products forever and switch to ChromeCast boxes.  So listen up.

We are your [soon to be Former] Customers.  We chose to pay our hard-earned money for your product(s), in order to make our lives more enjoyable.  You were billed as highly Compatible, with the ability to stream almost ALL content to our TVs in a stable and reliable fashion.  But now we see your true colours.

So - unless you immediately get off the stick and sign on the line with HBO Max and the other services we used to be able to access through your [now worthless] product(s) - we will abandon you.  I know of eight people in my immediate orbit who will never purchase another Roku product or service again, starting in about one week from today, August 1, 2020.  And we are not alone.  And by the time you notice your declining market-share, it will be too late.

So nut up and FIX THIS, because the clock is running, and you are about to become obsolete.

[Eamarille]

Ad space = money, and running a business isn't free, so yeah Roku has the right to ask for this

User data = simplified, this actually helps various functions within Roku system to be better for the end user. Specially as they push more and more into voice control. But, the flip coin is that user data is also sold to other companies as well, but let's face it, HBO and NBC were planning on doing that anyway.

My problem with this whole thing is, why are people against a business doing what it feels is best for them? It's roku's business, let them run it as they see fit. If you don't like the end result, then stop threatening and move on to a different ecosystem. But remember, they are businesses as well and might have a couple of situations that you won't agree with, you gonna change ecosystem again when that happens?

[Spherelandet]

Will never buy another Roku!

I always bought Roku devices as Roku was a neutral platform and didn’t play games blocking content providers to squeeze money out of them at the expense of customers having content being held hostage from them.  Roku has lost their way and will lose their customers!

[Iona-D]

Roku (and any other business) do have the right to run their business as they see fit to.  

The underlying problem is they unexpectively changed course mid stream right in the middle of a challenging, harsh time.  When many people lost their jobs.  Meaning they just cannot rush out & buy even a inexpensive Chromecast or Apple device just to get 2 IMPORTANT apps (Peacock & HBO Max).  Not the usual minor cotton candy ones.  Even if some of them are free.

I just bought a couple of smartphones to load up with the important apps only.  They fit with room to spare.  If Roku offered just Peacock, I would not have to buy more streaming devices.  They have lots of money to throw away.  I do not.

[lesmikesell]

---

@Eamarille wrote:

Ad space = money, and running a business isn't free, so yeah Roku has the right to ask for this

When I bought a roku I thought it was a device I would own and would do what I want after I paid for it.   Instead it turns out to be a device to deliver ads and keep making money for the people who control it in spite of what I want.

I expect that kind of abuse from Apple/Amazon/Google to gain advantages for themselves in their routine wars against each other, but Roku distinguished itself by not participating in their anti-competitive behavior.  Too bad that is over.

[captivater]

Based on the several articles that have come out, Roku Channel appears to be the sticking point.

It seems HBO wants users who signup for HBO Max through the Roku Channel the ability to access the actual HBO Max app on all platforms. Sort of akin to how TV Providers have to authorize your subscription when you access the app on another platform.

There are a few possibilities that are occurring at the moment.

1. Roku refuses to grant access to any other device (unlikely).

2. The likely situation is that Roku is refusing to authorize internal subscribers on Roku devices the ability to use the app, hence forcing them onto the Roku Channel. (No different than Amazon Channels)

Why anybody would subscribe to a platform through an intermediary is mind-boggling, particularly if a direct to consumer option is available. It sucks. The Roku Channel endeavor is a pivot that conflicts with the rest of their products, licensing, and operations. It's gonna end poorly if they continue down this path.

[whereshbomax]

I SPECIFICALLY purchased a Roku because I assumed it would remain neutral and always carry all the streaming channels available.  Obviously I was wrong.  So I just purchased an Apple TV.

Suck it.