1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: Rich Debiro here, Rich on Tech, and I've got some 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: new Roku news. Joining me is Mark Eally, Vice president 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:11,119 Speaker 1: at Roku. Mark, thanks for joining me on the podcast. 4 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for having me. Really appreciate it. 5 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: All Right, So you've got a lot of news that 6 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: you're dropping today on the Roku platform. Let's start with 7 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: something that everyone with an iPhone basically is affected by, 8 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: and this is Airplay being added to the platform. Tell 9 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: me about that. 10 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 2: We're super excited. 11 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 3: We've been working with Apple for quite a while on 12 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:39,480 Speaker 3: trying to deliver really a great iOS experience for our customers, 13 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 3: and so we're rolling out Airplay to support as long 14 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 3: actually along with Apple Home Kit to most of our 15 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,480 Speaker 3: four K devices, both TVs and players, and we're really 16 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 3: excited because it's going to give our customers the ability 17 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 3: to take their videos, their photos, their music and play 18 00:00:58,480 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 3: it back on the big screen in the house. 19 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: Now is this now? I know you said airplay too, 20 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: which is kind of like their new version of airplay 21 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,199 Speaker 1: that's you know, advanced. Was there airplay on the Roku 22 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: platform before in other ways? 23 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 2: No, this is the first. 24 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 3: Time that that we're bringing airplay support to the to 25 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 3: the Roku os and and it really kind of complements 26 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 3: the other ecosystems that we support. So it really gives 27 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 3: our customers just a great amount of choice in the 28 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 3: kind of content that they can then stream to the 29 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 3: big screen. 30 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: I mean it's huge, not just for streaming, but also 31 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: if I just want to show a picture from my 32 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: phone on the TV screen, it's right there to do it. 33 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 2: Oh, it's awesome. I mean you can. 34 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 3: I think photos are great, Music's great, it's also great. 35 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 3: It's just a second screen for your for your laptop, 36 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 3: I mean, for education. So many ways you can use it. 37 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 3: And it's available across you know, a wide range of 38 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 3: really affordable four K devices from Roku. So so we're 39 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 3: thrilled about it. 40 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: Very cool. All right, let's move on to the Roku channel. 41 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 1: So you you have seen a lot of popularity with 42 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 1: the Roku channel. People love watching free stuff. It's kind 43 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: of interesting. People think of streaming in two ways. It's 44 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: like what can I get for free? And also what 45 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: do I subscribe to? But free is obviously the best. 46 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: People love free. So with the Roku Channel, you are 47 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: now coming out with a dedicated app that you can 48 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: get on iOS and Android. No Roku device necessary. Tell 49 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: me why you did this and what we can expect 50 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 1: from this app. 51 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 3: Well, as you said, you know, our customers love free 52 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 3: and the Rookue channel has become so popular it's become 53 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 3: one of the really top channels on our platform, and 54 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 3: it's because you've got this great mix of ad supported content, 55 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 3: plus you can add subscription content if you want to, 56 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 3: and we found that that our customers want to be 57 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 3: able to access this everywhere, not just on their Rokue device, 58 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 3: but through their browsers and through their multile devices. 59 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 2: And so by creating a. 60 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 3: Dedicated app, we're really broadening the reach and appeal to 61 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 3: customers that maybe don't have a Rookue device but would 62 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 3: really benefit from that free content that you can get 63 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 3: through the Rokue channel. 64 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 2: So we're really excited to roll the out. 65 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: And any thing that you subscribe to Throughku you can 66 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: also get on the app as well. 67 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 3: That's right exactly, So premium content that you've signed up 68 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 3: for on a Rokue device or through our browser experience 69 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 3: you can access on the app. And that just kind 70 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 3: of creates a really rich experience for our customers. 71 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: And do people I mean I mentioned that people love free. 72 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 1: But I mean, are you seeing on your end that 73 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: the roku channel is just continuing to grow? 74 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 3: Oh, it's huge, it's I mean, we've got tens of 75 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 3: millions of people out there that are watching the Rokue 76 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 3: channel on a regular basis. It's become one of the 77 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 3: top channels on our platform. And it's because it's not 78 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 3: only is it free content, but it's great free content. 79 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 3: And we also have kids and family related content. There's 80 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 3: stuff that pretty much appeals to everyone. 81 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: Let's talk about some of the new devices. So you 82 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: have I'm counting my notes here, one, two, three, four, five, 83 00:03:55,680 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: at least five devices, six devices, seven devices at this point? 84 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: Am I right on that? Or is there more? 85 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 2: Well? 86 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: Not including the newest one we're going to talk about. 87 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: So you have about eight devices to choose from. 88 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 3: We have a range of devices, and the reason we 89 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 3: do is that we want to make streaming accessible to 90 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 3: the broadest range of folks, from people that are first 91 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:20,359 Speaker 3: time streamers that just want to try it out for 92 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 3: the first time to people that are really dedicated to 93 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 3: it and want all the bells and whistles, and so 94 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 3: we try to hit all of these different price points 95 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 3: in between and really deliver a set of streaming platform 96 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 3: streaming devices that really create a great streaming experience for everyone. 97 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: So for the streamers, they range from thirty dollars to 98 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 1: one hundred dollars. And let's talk about the newest Roku Ultra. 99 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: This is ninety nine ninety nine and this is your 100 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: flagship device. I mean, this is for the person who 101 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: wants everything that Roku has to offer in their top 102 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 1: of the line device, new processor, new form factor, better wireless. 103 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,479 Speaker 1: Tell me about the importance of wireless when it comes 104 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: to a streaming device. 105 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 3: Well, you said, I mean, it's so important, and it's 106 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 3: because of course you're streaming more. You know, people want 107 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 3: to stream high resolution, high quality content four K content. 108 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 3: In the case of Roku Ultra, you can now stream 109 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 3: Gulby Vision content. It's you want to get that to 110 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 3: you know, the best, you know screens in your house, 111 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 3: wherever they may be, and it might be really far 112 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 3: from your router. So having a really really great wireless 113 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 3: performance means you're going to have a great picture no 114 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 3: matter where that device is set up in your home. 115 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 3: And it's also important to remember even if you don't 116 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,719 Speaker 3: have a really large house, you might have a lot 117 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 3: of wireless interference. So many of us are on our 118 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 3: computers all day, you know, doing zoom calls and other things. 119 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 3: There's lots of lots of video moving back and forth. 120 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 3: There's phones, there's devices, and having really high quality you know, 121 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 3: radio system built into the Roku Ultra means that you're 122 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 3: really getting the best possible streaming wherever you put it, 123 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 3: and and that just a better experience. 124 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:56,719 Speaker 1: And on the back of the device, you've got USB 125 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:58,799 Speaker 1: three point zero for the first time. 126 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,359 Speaker 3: We've had USB two in the past. We've upgraded it 127 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 3: in the new versions of USB three point zero. It's 128 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 3: a great way for folks that have their own video 129 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 3: libraries or photo libraries on memory sticks or USB hard drives. 130 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 3: You can plug them in and access it through our 131 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 3: media player, and just another way to get content into 132 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 3: your Rokue device and then pick up on the big screen. 133 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: And another first, you're throwing Bluetooth, sorry, Bluetooth into the 134 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: mix on this device for what reason? What can I 135 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:28,559 Speaker 1: do with the Bluetooth on the Roku Ultra. 136 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 3: Well, what you can do is it's designed for pairing 137 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 3: for your phone to the Roki Ultra, so you can 138 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 3: stream audio stream music, music content from your phone to 139 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 3: the device and then play it back through whatever the 140 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 3: av system is that you've connected your Ultra to. And 141 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 3: we just wanted to give our customers just the broadest 142 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 3: range of different sources that they could choose from, whether 143 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 3: it's four KHDR content, Dolby Vision content, Bluetooth content from 144 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 3: their phone, you know, whatever it is, airplay content. You 145 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 3: can get all of that onto the Ultra and then 146 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 3: displayed on your favorite TV. 147 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: So you basically, Roku likes to give folks options. That's it. 148 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: I've always called you the sort of the Switzerland of 149 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: streaming because it's just whatever, however you want to do it, 150 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: whatever you want to watch, it's generally available on Roku. 151 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: It's very flexible as a viewing platform, it is. 152 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 3: I mean, that's you know, for us, we've always believe 153 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 3: that that you know, this is the streaming decade. 154 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 2: Streaming is just going. It's just incredible. 155 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 3: So many people are cutting the cord, they're moving over 156 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 3: to streaming, and we want to make sure that it's 157 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 3: super easy for anyone to get get on board, get 158 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 3: a product set up, be up and running and streaming 159 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 3: their favorite shows and do that to the widest possible 160 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 3: audience and that's really informed all of the different products 161 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 3: that we built out. 162 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: Another new product you're coming out with is the Roku 163 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: stream Bar, and this is kind of a soundbar that 164 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: has Roku built into it. Explain what the advantage is there. 165 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 3: So we launched our Roku Smart Soundbar last year and 166 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 3: it was a soundbar with a player built into it, 167 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 3: so you've got the full OS experience built in. And 168 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 3: our idea was to put these two things together to 169 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 3: create a really great experience for our customers. And what 170 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 3: we found was that people loved it. I mean, they 171 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 3: absolutely love having great sound, and so we thought, well, gee, 172 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 3: how can we bring this great sound and great streaming 173 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 3: together but reach a broader audience and maybe folks that 174 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 3: have never thought about a soundbar before. 175 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 2: So this new stream bar is a whole new idea. 176 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 2: It's really a. 177 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 3: Super compact soundbar and streamer together and it's designed to 178 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 3: go under pretty much any TV. It's only fourteen inches wide, 179 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 3: it's less than two and a half inches high, and 180 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 3: it's got these incredible high performance drivers in there that 181 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 3: really pump out a lot of great sound. And it 182 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 3: was a really clever signal processing in our rooku os, 183 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 3: we were able to steer that sound even wider, so 184 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 3: it sounds much bigger than it looks. And I think 185 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 3: when people hear it, they're going to be really impressed. 186 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 1: And how important is sound in your research and just 187 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: you know, in general as someone watching TV. I mean, 188 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: these these thin TVs, they're not known for their speakers. 189 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 2: That's it. 190 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 3: And it's amazing if you think about where we are now. 191 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 3: You know, the movie theater is really in our living 192 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 3: rooms now, We're spending so much time watching content at home. 193 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 3: But those TV sets that are out there really were 194 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 3: never designed for great sound. They're designed for great picture. 195 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 3: So when you bring a great set of speakers, if 196 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 3: you can bring a soundbar, stream bar into your environment, 197 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 3: it's like going from black and white to color. 198 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 2: It just really makes it so much richer. 199 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 3: Not only can you hear the dialogue much better, but 200 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 3: you're really you know, enveloped more in the experience. And 201 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 3: in fact, people have told us that, you know, the 202 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 3: actual video looks better just by adding better sound. So 203 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 3: it's it's one of those incredible things that really enriches 204 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 3: the whole streaming experience. 205 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 1: When can we expect to see these new features and products. 206 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 3: So we're really exciting to be rolling out OS nine 207 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 3: to four. It'll be rolling out through through the fall 208 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 3: quarter here through the end of the year. To our devices, 209 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 3: the Roku Ultra and the Roku stream Bar are both 210 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 3: going to be on the shelf in mid October and 211 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 3: we can't wait for folks to get their hands on them. 212 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: And Mark, what are you streaming these days? Anything interesting? 213 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 1: Are you done? By the time you get out of work, 214 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: You're like, no more streaming for me. 215 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,840 Speaker 2: I gotta tell you, I'm running through Shit's creek right now. 216 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 3: It's so much fun and I'm really enjoying that. 217 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 2: That's the end of the day wind. 218 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 1: Down, and that just it's funny. When I lived in 219 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 1: New York City, this was many I mean I'm talking 220 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: I think it was ten years ago or something. They 221 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 1: had those advertisements all over them. That show has been 222 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:30,439 Speaker 1: around for a while, but it seems like people are 223 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: just discovering it. 224 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 3: Exactly and they just discovered it. And that's a fun 225 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 3: wind down for me. 226 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:41,439 Speaker 1: All right. Mark Eally, Vice President of Retail Product Strategy 227 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: at Roku, thanks so much for joining me today. I 228 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:43,959 Speaker 1: appreciate it. 229 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 2: Thank you really appreciate it all right. 230 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Rich on Tech podcast. Be sure 231 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 1: to rate and review the show, and if you like 232 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: interviews like this, let me know. Thanks for listening.