Roku is dominating the US streaming market (Playstation is #2)

[Madmick]

Roku is dominating the US streaming market and it isn't even close

Recap: Roku announced plans to lend its streaming platform to smart TV makers in 2014 and has found tremendous success with partners including TCL, Insignia, Sharp and Philips, among others.

More than 30 percent of streaming TV platforms sold in the US during the first quarter of 2019 used Roku's operating system according to a recent report from Strategy Analytics.

With the impressive showing, Roku further extended its lead in the streaming TV platform category. According to the research firm, there are now more than 41 million Roku-based streaming devices in use including standalone Roku media streamers and Roku-based smart TVs which accounts for 15.2 percent of all media streaming devices.

Strategy Analytics reports that Roku now enjoys a 36 percent lead over the next major platform, Sony’s PlayStation, which is expected to stretch to nearly 70 percent by the end of the year.

David Watkins, a director at Strategy Analytics and the report’s author, credited Roku’s extensive content offering, comprehensive search function and intuitive UI as well as affordable hardware and regularly updated software as key factors in its success.

Roku aside, Amazon’s Fire TV OS was the second most sold streaming platform, capturing 12 percent of quarterly sales. Samsung’s Tizen finished third with 11 percent of sales and devices running Google (Android and Chromecast) accounted for nine percent of sales.

FireOS is complete shit. It's been three and a half months since they announced the standoff with Google had ended, and there is still no native YouTube app on the platform (you have to use an internet browser).

I'm surprised the Apple TV hasn't gained more traction, but I suppose that's because of the high entry price ($149). Apple is attempting to address that, and crack into a whole new "services" market, with their upcoming Apple Arcade subscription. They desire it to become the fourth major competitor in the Gaming Console market (Sony Playstation, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Apple TV).

Some might say the NVIDIA shield is already that, but it isn't, because dual-analog controller gaming is still a niche in the larger Android world, and NVIDIA has no control over that. Still, for those who bought it when it released in 2015, no dedicated HTPC device has been a better overall purchase.

There's been a crackdown on the Android TV "Kodi Boxes".

Roku putters along because most people don't want to be bothered with discrete devices. People want to buy a TV, and be done with it. Rise of the TV overlords.

Who are our Roku owners here? How do you compare your experience to other platforms?

 

[Krixes]

I use a Roku 3, it's super fast and reliable. I used to use my Xbox but it doesn't even compare, the Xbox is like dial up in terms of speed difference.

 

[GODZILLA213]

I had a roku 4 before i bought a new tv and it was really easy to use and the remote was excellent. I bought it to replace an Apple tv actually.

 

[Headkicktoleg]

I have two of the $25 roku's. They work great. Never had any issues like I used to have with my PS4

 

[90 50]

I use a Roku 3, it's super fast and reliable. I used to use my Xbox but it doesn't even compare, the Xbox is like dial up in terms of speed difference.

Interesting , which Xbox do you have? My one never felt “slow “ to me, infact it’s much faster imo than the Apple TV my mom has.

Even my 360 isn’t “slow” for me streaming apps, and is also faster than our Apple TV.

I would like to see the chart separated out with “stand alone” roku’s Vs the other devices I would bet they are crushing them.

It’s the now native in tv’s at Best Buy and Walmart that are making them the new juggernaut I don’t have a new enough tv to have built in apps, but I’ve never needed it.

PlayStation just now barely took over Xbox, and they are acting like it’s killing it and has been the way that’s written.

The most interesting in the rizing trend for the “tizan” I have no idea what that is?

Native streaming ap in Asian tv market perhaps?

 

[marioh]

i sat thru a presentation by people at Roku a few years back, and was impressed by their ambition and their focus on what they wanted the Roku to be. it looks like mission accomplished for them, or at least for now.

 

[JonesBones]

Their stock has been a rocket too. I sold it in the 50s. It was a tough call, I thought they could be wiped out at any time. I liked it the first time I tried it at my parents. It makes it so easy. Perfect for them and many others. My main concern was it was just another hardware product a person bought once and they never paid the company again. You buy Roku and then that's it. Now they have commercials and other shit though. Other streams of revenue beyond just buying the remote.

 

[MFIC]

I’ve been using Hulu live for tv service. I’m happy with it, but I don’t really watch tv. I really only got it to watch postseason hockey. It’s $45 per month which is more than I wanna pay for something I hardly use. I’m gonna cancel my subscription.

Is Roku comparable to Hulu live? And if so, how much does it cost?

 

[Jack Stevonovich]

which roku do you guys recommend?

 

[Krixes]

Interesting , which Xbox do you have? My one never felt “slow “ to me, infact it’s much faster imo than the Apple TV my mom has.

Even my 360 isn’t “slow” for me streaming apps, and is also faster than our Apple TV.

I would like to see the chart separated out with “stand alone” roku’s Vs the other devices I would bet they are crushing them.

It’s the now native in tv’s at Best Buy and Walmart that are making them the new juggernaut I don’t have a new enough tv to have built in apps, but I’ve never needed it.

PlayStation just now barely took over Xbox, and they are acting like it’s killing it and has been the way that’s written.

The most interesting in the rizing trend for the “tizan” I have no idea what that is?

Native streaming ap in Asian tv market perhaps?

It's a 360, I don't even play video games anymore so we've had that system for quite some time. I'm not sure why it was slower, it just took longer for Netflix, Amazon apps to load and open.

 

[Headkicktoleg]

I’ve been using Hulu live for tv service. I’m happy with it, but I don’t really watch tv. I really only got it to watch postseason hockey. It’s $45 per month which is more than I wanna pay for something I hardly use. I’m gonna cancel my subscription.

Is Roku comparable to Hulu live? And if so, how much does it cost?

It's a device that you stream from. So if you don't have a smart TV or console you can use Netflix, prime, hulu etc

 

[90 50]

It's a 360, I don't even play video games anymore so we've had that system for quite some time. I'm not sure why it was slower, it just took longer for Netflix, Amazon apps to load and open.

Weird, I use my 360 a lot for streaming and it is slower than my one, but much faster than the Apple TV.

But I wouldn’t call it “slow”

 

[Fedorgasm]

I'm shocked at this. Everyone I know uses firetv.

I never would have guessed Roku would be beating it.

I have 2 rokus but they're both really old. They still work great for Netflix but psvue runs horribly on them. Not rokus fault though. I should buy a newer model.

My fireTV has been pissing me off lately. Not being able to cast to YouTube is a huge pain. And the device freezes up periodically or my Netflix app crashes. You can't tell me that's Netflix's fault. They are the one company in this world that makes sure their shit works right every time.

 

[90 50]

I'm shocked at this. Everyone I know uses firetv.

I never would have guessed Roku would be beating it.

I have 2 rokus but they're both really old. They still work great for Netflix but psvue runs horribly on them. Not rokus fault though. I should buy a newer model.

My fireTV has been pissing me off lately. Not being able to cast to YouTube is a huge pain. And the device freezes up periodically or my Netflix app crashes. You can't tell me that's Netflix's fault. They are the one company in this world that makes sure their shit works right every time.

I’ve never had my Netflix crash on my Xbox.

It’s not Netflix causing it.

 

[MFIC]

It's a device that you stream from. So if you don't have a smart TV or console you can use Netflix, prime, hulu etc

Ah ok. I thought it was it’s own streaming service. I have smart TVs with all the streaming services built in. On my old tv I just used a firestick.

 

[DespicablePeep]

Have a Xiomi Mi Box very good, good control, also have an Apple TV for bike trainer stuff running Zwift. I just bought an Firestick and now regret knowing they don´t have Youtube wtf

 

[Scott Parker 27]

Interesting, I have two old Rokus that are just gathering dust. One I got firesticks and figured out how to use all of the "legal" streaming services for moves like Kodi the Rokus got the boot. I havent messed with the new software since the old streaming service went down, cant remember the name now, but what does everyone use to stream now, still Kodi?

 

[CubicleGangster]

Used both Roku and Firstick. Roku is far superior. Only thing that sucks is the lack of Twitch on the device. You can only run an old version of the App.

 

[HunterSdVa29]

Firestick used to have a YT app, then about a year ago it was removed and now you have to use the Browser

seriously, wtf son

 

[Deleted member 220895]

I own both

 

[HunterSdVa29]

I have one of the newer Roku SE's from last black Friday, it does work like blazingly fast

I mainly just use my Xbone, however the lack of true HD Audio (through either Bitstream or PCM) is kinda annoying. You can bitstream DD or DTS, but not DDHD or DTSHD. It comes w/ a 4k blu ray ffs, that makes no sense. Plus the PS3 had that capability, cmon son