In addition to news channels, The Roku Channel is expanding its offerings. Alongside local affiliate streams, Roku will include Spanish-language content from La Saga and VR+, as well as popular shows from NBCUniversal such as “Saved by the Bell” and “Murder She Wrote.” The service will also feature sports and family programming, along with a dedicated channel for streaming superstar, MrBeast, who has over 176 million subscribers on YouTube.

With this expansion, Roku is asserting its position as a key player in the fast-growing market of free ad-supported television (FAST). This market has experienced significant growth in recent years. FAST services typically do not require an account or subscription; users can simply open the app and start streaming content immediately, similar to turning on live TV. The trade-off is encountering multiple advertisements, but the convenience has contributed to the popularity of FAST networks like Pluto TV.

Roku has a built-in advantage as its network serves as an app for Roku TVs and devices. It has also ventured into the competitive arena of original programming, producing movies such as “WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story” and acquiring the original content library of the now-defunct short-form streaming platform, Quibi. With the addition of live news networks and MrBeast, The Roku Network is positioning itself as a major player in the streaming landscape, especially as FAST services gain momentum in response to price increases from major streaming platforms like Disney+, Netflix, and Hulu.