Roku, the Smart TV platform, has teamed up with Best Buy, TCL and Haier to promote a gamut of Roku-powered TVs that will hit the market in 2015. That's not all; Roku Inc. is also looking to support 4K Ultra HD streaming in the near term.
On Sunday, Jan. 4, the company divulged its plans for the Roku TVs and revealed that it has created a reference design for the 4K Smart TVs that will be licensed to its OEM partners such as TCL. Moreover, Roku is also teaming up with Netflix to offer 4K content that can be streamed on its platform.
With the 4K TV market growing in the U.S., there has been a reduction in the price of these TVs and Roku's CEO Anthony Wood is optimistic that there will be more content available for the medium. Wood also opines that it is the opportune moment to offer the Roku TV 4K solutions to TV manufacturers worldwide.
"We are very bullish on 4K as we believe that streaming will be instrumental in its adoption. Bringing 4K to the Roku platform will give consumers even more choice and control of their entertainment viewing, and deliver the best streaming experience available," says Wood.
Roku has also partnered with Haier to release Smart LED TVs that will be available in Q3 2015. The Haier Roku TV 4 Series will be available in various sizes i.e. from 32 inches to 65 inches. While the 32-inch model will be 720p, the 40 inches to 65 inches TV models will have Full HD resolution, and tout a Sound Chamber for superior sound quality.
In Q1 2015, Haier will also release Roku Ready TVs (3.5 series) that will come with a Roku Streaming Stick in tow.
Come spring, consumers will also be able to purchases Roku TVs that have been manufactured by Best Buy's in-house brand Insignia. However, the screen sizes of these TVs, as well as the pricing remains shrouded in mystery. Roku only let on that these TVs will be affordable like the current TCL-made and Hisense models.
"Insignia is an outstanding TV brand and combining its TV design with Roku's powerful OS, content relationships and software expertise will provide Insignia customers with the best smart TV experience available at an affordable price," divulged Roku's Chas Smith.
