This week started with some big tech news: Fox Corporation will buy streaming device maker Roku for $22 billion. The Murdochs will gain ownership of Roku’s streaming devices and platform, including free ad-supported (FAST) streaming service the Roku Channel.
One of Roku’s advantages has been that it’s a “neutral” platform. It wasn’t owned by a major tech company (like Apple’s Apple TV, Amazon’s Fire TV, or Google’s Android TV/Google TV), and just focused on providing various apps, from Netflix to Shudder, in an easy-to-use interface. That said, Roku has been shifting away from this neutrality in recent years. It’s started relying more and more on ad revenue, both in its interface and through the launch of the Roku Channel. It also became the default interface in numerous smart TV brands. As such, Fox is gaining access to a very large advertising resource and streaming platform; Roku is currently in 100 million households. Nielsen states as of March, the Roku Channel pulls in 3% of TV usage in the United States, versus 7.2% for all of Fox’s platforms, which include: the over-the-air Fox network; FAST service Tubi; sports cable channel FS1; and the infamous Fox News. The two combined would come in at just over 10%, or slightly behind second-place Disney (Disney+, Hulu, ABC, various cable channels).
Needless to say, all of this has gone over like a lead balloon online. While the other streaming platforms also have flaws, a Fox-owned Roku has the specific flaw that it’ll be owned by the Murdoch family, the purveyors of Fox News. Many people, myself included, don’t like the idea of their hardware indirectly supporting Fox News and the Murdochs, even if they have no Fox-related apps installed. The fact there’s a popular dramedy about a parody of the Murdochs says a lot—even Elon Musk doesn’t have that.
That said, I expect Roku’s hardware to stay as-is, while its user interface will probably just plug Fox-related assets more. Roku users should expect more plugs for Tubi, Fox Sports, the Fox One paid streaming service, and—yes—Fox News.
The best Roku alternatives
There aren’t really many Roku alternatives that fall under “ideologically pure,” i.e. not supporting a large tech conglomerate and/or owned by awful right-wing billionaires. The only such option left is to plug in a computer into a TV and watch Netflix, Hulu, etc. through a browser. Unfortunately, that tends to be fairly clunky compared to a dedicated streaming device. There’s also possible technical obstacles, such as digital rights management (DRM) issues, not to mention fewer high-end features in the browser-based versions of Netflix, etc. (which could irritate hardcore home theater enthusiasts). And of course, the general public just want an appliance, not a chore to maintain or having to learn new tech skills (installing PC updates, etc.).
Otherwise, the best Roku alternatives I can think of at this point:
- Apple TV. Apple’s streaming device is considered nice to use, plus has an ad-free interface (save for plugs for Apple’s own stuff). Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most expensive mainstream streaming devices on the market. Prices start at $129 for a WiFi-only model with 64GB of storage, or $149 for one with Ethernet support and 128GB storage.
- Onn 4K. Walmart sells its own store-brand Google TV device; it’s basically the same as Google’s own devices, but cheaper. Oddly, Walmart hasn’t put any of its own branding on the Onn devices; it’s just a stock Google TV interface. Since there’s full Google Play store access, the device also allows installing third-party user interfaces. One such alternative is the Projectivy Launcher, which lets one customize the interface and avoid seeing Google’s ads/promoted content. (You can also set an app-only option within Onn’s preferences, without needing to install any third-party launchers, though it’ll still show some promoted content at the top of the screen.) One downside: the remote isn’t as nice as Roku’s remote.
- Nvidia Shield. An Android TV-based option, this streaming device seems popular with some techies for its robust specs. However, it’s the most expensive streaming device available, with prices starting at $149.
I use an Onn 4K box running Projectivy Launcher. It runs all of my streaming services adequately, and I haven’t had any major problems. Otherwise, I’d recommend the Apple TV if one has the budget.
Image by mjimages from Pixabay
