*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)

Share:
More In Technology
Ford Reports Q1 Beat; CFO Says Chip Shortage Prevented 'Stronger Quarter'
Ford CFO John Lawler joined Cheddar News to talk about the auto giant's Q1 earnings report that beat on revenue and EPS. Despite the good numbers, Lawler spoke to challenges Ford had to navigate. "We also see the continued disruption to the supply chain impacting our production, and that hit us in the first quarter as well. So it kept us from having an even stronger quarter," he said. Lawler noted that chip shortages leading to the supply constraints should ease up throughout the year.
Pentagon Scrutinizes Microsoft's IVAS Combat Goggles Based on HoloLens ARG
Tech giant Microsoft won a military contract for the production of its IVAS (integrated visual augmentation system) combat goggles, based on its HoloLens ARG tech, worth up to $21.9 billion over 10 years. However, the Pentagon is now saying that the device "has not yet demonstrated the capability to serve as a fighting goggle," and that the Army made mistakes in the program's initial stages by not clearly describing minimum performance standards. While testing continues, concerns have grown outside of the Defense Department to Congress and even within Microsoft itself. Cheddar's Ken Buffa takes a deeper look at the possible boondoggle.
U.S. Stocks Close at Session Lows, Nasdaq Sheds Nearly 4%
U.S. stocks fell sharply to close Tuesday's session, with the Nasdaq dropping 3.95% and hitting a new one-year low. Frances Newton Stacy, Director of Strategy for Optimal Capital, joins Cheddar News to discuss her reaction to how markets closed the session, and to break down Q3 2022 earnings from Microsoft. "Netflix was sort of the big warning, and I think Big Tech was down today in anticipation of these earnings," she says.
Hundreds Face Losing Their Jobs As Streamers Navigate Changes
With Netflix losing 200,000 subscribers in one quarter, and CNN+ shutting down just weeks after launch, the streaming industry is in a place of uncertainty. Hundreds of people who once thought they had steady jobs now face potential unemployment as streamers figure out how to navigate the constantly changing landscape. Greg Martin, co-founder of Rainmaker Securities, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss the state of streaming, its troubles, and how its impacting hundreds of workers.
How AtmosAir is Improving Air Quality in Airports, Offices & Stadiums Amid Pandemic
With mask mandates lifted across various parts of the country, healthy indoor air quality in public spaces is more crucial than ever before. According to the CDC, proper ventilation, in addition to other preventative measures, is instrumental to preventing the rapid spread of covid-19 indoors. As the push for higher air quality ramps up, AtmosAir is providing a high-tech solution for cleaner, greener air indoors. Steve Levine, CEO, AtmosAir, joined Cheddar’s Opening Bell to discuss.
Load More