Roku users will soon see an increase in the amount of channels that are available to them on the platform.
The company announced on Wednesday, Oct. 5 an update to its Roku Publishing Platform that includes a new solution that makes it easier for publishers to create channels without having to first develop an app.
Using the tools that are part of the new Roku Direct Publisher, creators now just have to go through a few steps - such as providing a video feed - in order to have their channels up an running. This means there is no need to enter in a single line of code or hire a team to start working on a Roku app.
The newly vamped way to publish content on the platform is a win for both customers and creators.
Since there are more than 3,500 apps available on Roku, this makes it harder for customers to be exposed to certain channels. Not to mention it takes time and resources to create an app specifically meant for the service.
Along with making it easier for publishers to release their own video channel without first having to build an app, this change also means that publishers will be on equal playing field when it comes to attracting audiences with the platform's unbiased search. Those who use the Roku Direct Publisher will automatically have their channel included in the search and feeds in the regions where that channel is available in.
There are 10 million active accounts on Roku who either have its streaming devices or have a smart TV that features the service. That's a whole lot of potential viewers.
And since users search most for the word "free," this means publishers won't need to first shell out funds in order to get their videos live. Roku will also help publishers monetize through ads it sells on the platform if they don't already have a team dedicate to advertising. The creators would keep 60 percent of the net revenue from ads, while Roku gets the rest.
Those who take advantage of Direct Publisher will also get performance insights for their channels such as how many installs their channel has and its streaming minutes.
"Building streaming applications typically involves significant time, development resources and costs in order for publishers to reach and engage TV viewers effectively. With the launch of Roku Direct Publisher, we are empowering content owners to be able to get on the Roku platform quickly, develop an audience and drive monetization," Bill Shapiro, director of product management for the Roku OS said in a press release. "It's a great solution for content owners and will also result in a lot of new and interesting channels for viewers."
While the new tools just began rolling out, publishers like Mashable, Rolling Stone, Uproxx and Us Weekly have already been testing it out. Starting today, these channels, along with a few others, are streaming for free on Roku in the United States.
These channels can be found in the "new" category in the Roku Channel Store, and we bet lots more will be added in the near future.
