*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)
February is usually a key time of year for the toy industry, with thousands of toys making their debut at the New York Toy Fair. Although this year's event was canceled due to the ongoing pandemic, toy makers are still pumped up to unveil their newest gizmos and gadgets. Maddie Michalik, senior editor of The Toy Insider, joins Cheddar News to break down all things toy related.
Smart data capture company Scandit recently announced a $150 million Series D funding round led by Warburg Pincus, propelling the company to unicorn status with a valuation of more than $1 billion. Scandit develops augmented reality and mobile computer vision technologies that tap into the cameras on smart devices. The startup's platform can be used to interact with retail items and have a more personalized experience while shopping. Scandit says its technology is also being used by industries like transportation, healthcare, and manufacturing. Samuel Mueller, co-founder and CEO of Scandit, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
A new report shows nearly 240 former officials in Congress, the White House, and regulatory agencies have changed careers to work in the crypto industry.
February 20 marks what would have been Kurt Cobain’s 55th birthday, and NFT gateway Pop Legendz will be offering up a collection of rare images from a 1991 Nirvana show in Philadelphia that took places days before their monster hit album "Nevermind" was to be released. Faith West, the founder of Pop Legendz, music journalist, and the photographer who captured it on film joined Cheddar News to talk about the historic event and the NFT sales where half the proceeds will go to charities like the Trevor Project and GRID Alternatives. “I showed up at a small club, 150 people, not quite know what to expect, brought my camera, and halfway through the show I knew music history was being made," West said of the iconic evening.
Arkansas corporations, private investors and the government are coming together in the hopes to make the state a global leader in the future of transportation. Governor Asa Hutchinson joined Cheddar News to relay the council's plans. "I created the Council on Future Mobility to look at expanding drone delivery, to be able to utilize autonomous or driverless vehicles in delivery, and then also to be able to look at the future and whether you can have driverless or flying cars that can be imagined," he said. Hutchinson also stated that the council will take the safety measures needed before bringing along potentially unsafe tech.
Ford is reportedly considering separating its Electric Vehicle business from its other operations, in hopes of it becoming even more valuable as the company shifts toward electric vehicles. Dan Ives, Managing Director of Equity Research, Wedbush Securities joined Cheddar's 'Opening Bell' to discuss where the company stands in the race toward electrification.
Hertz is teaming up with UFODRIVE, a self service electric vehicle rental company, as part of its commitment to lead the future of mobility. Based in Europe, UFODRIVE is the first all-digital all-electric car rental service controlled from an app. Jayesh Patel, senior VP of corporate strategy at Hertz, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss the partnership and how it will propel the transition to electric vehicles.
Equip is a virtual treatment platform for eating disorders, and recently raised $58 million in a Series B round led by The Chernin Group. The company aims to revolutionize treatment for eating disorders by delivering virtual care teams and clinical expertise directly to families' homes. Equip says the need for its platform has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Eating Disorder Association's helpline has had a 107% increase in contacts since the start of the pandemic. Kristina Saffran, CEO and co-founder of Equip, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
