*By Hope King*
Roku is out with new hardware to help grow its...software business.
The streaming TV company launched two new wireless speakers Monday designed to work with pretty much only Roku TVs.
Roku says the speakers will only work with TVs made by its manufacturing partners ー such as TCL, Sharp, and Hisense ー and not with TVs plugged into a Roku box. But in reality, the company's VP of Product Management Mark Ely said they could be used with Bluetooth connected devices, such as a phone or tablet.
“They also include a Bluetooth radio…so you can stream and playback through the speaker,” he told me.
Pre-orders for the new Roku TV speakers began Monday with a promotional price of $150. The price will increase starting next week to $180. Shipping will begin in October when prices go up to $200. The wireless speakers also come with a TV remote and a touch remote, both with voice control only for Roku TV.
The announcement comes a few months after Roku saw its platform business surpass its device business, in term of percent of revenue, for the first time during the first quarter of this year.
The distinction of the speakers' compatibility may seem like a fine point, but for a company competing with evermore wireless speaker brands such as Sonos, and smart speakers from Amazon, Google, and Apple, it’s one that should be made. After all, how many connected speakers do people need in their homes, especially if they can’t all work together? To that end, Roku’s software inside the speakers could enable wider usage in the future.
“We’re always upgrading those systems,” said Ely. “Even the very first Roku TVs we shipped back in 2014 have the latest software.”
To be clear, Roku is not trying to compete directly with the growing smart speaker market here. The company instead is trying to make it easier for existing Roku customers to listen to music, shows, and movies through something other than their TV speakers.
“Our goal is to make Roku TVs the best TVs,” Ely said. “Sound is a critical part of that.” He went on to say that “great sound \[means\] a more immersive experience, and that drives our business overall.”
As of the end of the [first quarter,](https://ir.roku.com/static-files/8b04826b-95a6-49c4-82a6-c3e6ffa30f25) Roku saw platform revenue of $75.1 million ー about 55 percent of its total revenue and more than double what it was the year before.
Ely said he expects the new speakers to add to that growth because the company is focused on “delivering a great streaming experience \[through\] really innovative hardware products.”
“The better streaming experiences we can deliver, the more that drives platform engagement, and that drives the growth of our business,” said Ely.
Shares of Roku closed down about 1 percent Monday. The stock is up about 82 percent since it began trading on the NASDAQ last September.
For the full segment, [click here.] (https://cheddar.com/videos/roku-introduces-wireless-speakers-to-hardware-line-up)
While many are excited to watch the final two NFL teams square-off and see which one ultimately takes home the trophy, some, on the other hand, are there for another mian attraction -- the commercials. Companies during this year's game are looking towards the future From electric vehicles, to robots, and crypto-currency, several first-time advertisers are expected to join long-time advertisers like Pepsi, Budweiser and Doritos during the NFL's biggest game. Tom Morton, Global Chief Strategy Officer at R/GA, joined Cheddar News' Big Game Special to discuss.
Nissan is revving up its commitment to electric vehicles. the Japanese automaker announcing plans to invest $500 million to transform its assembly plant in Mississippi to build two all-new EV models starting in 2025. It's all part of Nissan's goal to have 23 electrified models for the Nissan and Infiniti brands globally by 2030. Ashwani Gupta, Nissan's COO, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss this announcement and the company's EV goals moving forward.
Cepton made its debut on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol ‘CPTN’ on Thursday. Jun Pei, the co-founder and CEO, joined Cheddar News to discuss going public and its lidar-based solutions for improving safety in autonomous features in cars. "It's really just a huge benefit in addition to radar and camera, and becomes an entire sensor suite that will bring cars to a higher level, both for safety and autonomy."
New York City's famous subway system is currently facing scrutiny after several recent attacks on platforms. Now, local leaders in the Big Apple are calling on the MTA. To step in and take action.
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: Evolution Devices CEO breaks down how the Evowalk wearable device can help those with walking impairments; Cresilon CEO explains how he's created a plant-based gel to easily treat wounds in both humans and animals; A look at Curiosity Stream's 'The Colorado Problem.'
Pier Mantovani, Founder and CEO of Evolution Devices, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss how the Evowalk wearable device can help those with walking impairments, and how remote physical therapy is becoming a reality.
Joe Landolina, CEO and Co-Founder of Cresilon, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss how he's created a plant-based gel to easily treat wounds in both humans and animals.
The virtual world of the metaverse continues to present a bright future for many artistic creators. A group of six mural artists from the Bay Area have decided to turn their painted and installed murals into a one-of-a-kind collectible. Thanks to NFTS these murals can be enhanced and extend far beyond just their physical walls. Muralist and Creative Director of the Bay Area mural program Rachel Wolfe Goldsmith, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
New York City ride-hailing app drivers are about to get a pay raise. According to the city's Mayor Eric Adams, New York will increase its minimum driver pay rate for both Uber and Lyft drivers. This means both platforms would now be required to pay their drivers a minimum of $1.61 cents per mile and about 0.50 cents per minute. Ultimately, the move would give riders at least a 5.3% race. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
