Roku Unveils a Better TV Advertising Experience at First In-Person NewFront

Rhea-AI Summary

Roku hosted its inaugural IAB NewFront at Chelsea Factory in NYC, highlighting its position as the leading TV streaming platform with 61.3 million active accounts. The event unveiled new advertising solutions across The Roku Channel and OneView, aimed at enhancing marketer experiences in TV streaming. Key announcements included new shoppable ads integrated with Roku Pay, a partnership with Microsoft for audience insights, and a diverse range of Roku Originals. Roku emphasizes innovation to drive ad dollars toward TV streaming.

Positive

• Roku boasts 61.3 million active accounts as of Q1 2022, reinforcing its market leadership.
• Introduction of shoppable ads on OneView could drive additional revenue for marketers.
• Collaborative initiative with Microsoft for audience insights enhances Roku's advertising capabilities.
• Launch of new Roku Originals broadens content offerings, potentially increasing viewer engagement.

Negative

• None.

Roku announces new shoppable ad experiences in OneView, new collaboration with Microsoft, and new Roku Originals and Roku Brand Studio programs

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Roku, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROKU) today hosted its first in-person IAB NewFront at the Chelsea Factory in New York City. As America’s #1 TV streaming platform* with 61.3 million active accounts as of Q1 2022, Roku revealed new advertising solutions to create a better TV advertising experience for marketers in the streaming decade.

For the first time ever in Q1 2022, TV streaming devices surpassed legacy pay-TV in weekly reach among adults 18-49 in the U.S., according to Nielsen. To help marketers accelerate their shift to TV streaming in this Upfront, Roku announced innovation across The Roku Channel, Roku Brand Studio, and OneView.

“Our mission is to create a better TV streaming experience for everyone,” said Alison Levin, Vice President, Ad Revenue & Marketing Solutions, Roku. “Marketers turn to Roku for data, commerce, and measurement tools that they can’t get anywhere else to accelerate the shift of ad dollars to TV streaming. This upfront, TV starts here.”

Roku’s NewFront presentation highlights include:

The Roku Channel

The Roku Channel is the home of free and premium entertainment on the Roku platform, creating a better TV viewing experience. The Roku Channel was a top 5 channel on the Roku platform in the U.S. by active account reach and streaming hour engagement in Q1 2022.

Roku unveiled new Roku Originals with portfolio strength across Drama & Comedy, Lifestyle, and Reality & Competition. Renewed titles include “Die Harter,” starring Kevin Hart, “Most Dangerous Game: New York,” starring David Castañeda and Christoph Waltz, “Children Ruin Everything,” starring Meaghan Rath and Aaron Abrams, and “Chrissy’s Court," starring Chrissy and Pepper Teigen. New titles include “WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story,” starring Daniel Radcliffe and Evan Rachel Wood, “SLIP,” starring Zoe Lister-Jones, “The Great American Baking Show,” starring Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, “Honest Renovations,” starring Jessica Alba and Lizzy Mathis, new lifestyle shows starring Martha Stewart, Emeril Lagasse, Christopher Kimball, and more.

Roku Brand Studio

The award-winning Roku Brand Studio creates a better TV storytelling experience for marketers by going beyond the traditional TV spot. Roku announced:

• “The Short List,” in partnership with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, will bring brands into 12 short-form films across four genres – Drama, Comedy, Documentary, and Animation – all created by the most promising and diverse new minds in entertainment.
• “Roku Recommends” will return for a second season on The Roku Channel in September. Roku also revealed an exclusive partnership with Variety to share the Top-10 Roku searches each month.
• Weekly Shows help viewers find the best in streaming from pop culture (“The Pop-Off"), social media trends (“In Case You Missed It”), and fun DIY projects (“Live and Let DIY”).

OneView

OneView, the ad platform built for TV streaming, creates a better TV advertising experience for thousands of marketers. Roku announced:

• Roku announced a new program for retailers to pair shoppable ads with Roku Pay to make it simple to sell the products right from ads on the TV screen.
• Microsoft Audience Insights: An industry-first collaboration with Microsoft to explore how TV advertising - both linear and streaming - impacts online searches.
• Recent launches of Dynamic Linear Ads, Roku’s Advertising Watermark, Roku’s clean room, and an expanded measurement partner program with Marketing Mix Modeling.

Celebrity hosts Maria Menounos and Andrew “Hawk” Hawkins from “Roku Recommends” emceed Roku’s NewFront, with special in-person appearances from Daniel Radcliffe, David Castañeda, Meaghan Rath, Aaron Abrams, Chrissy and Pepper Teigen, Kevin O’Connor, Martha Stewart, Emeril Lagasse, Christopher Kimball, Lizzy Mathis, and more.

To learn more about Roku’s NewFront presentation, visit https://advertising.roku.com/tv-starts-here-2022.

*America’s No. 1 TV streaming platform is based on hours streamed according to Hypothesis Group, October 2021

About Roku, Inc.

Roku pioneered streaming to the TV. We connect users to the streaming content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers. Roku streaming players and TV-related audio devices are available in the U.S. and in select countries through direct retail sales and licensing arrangements with service operators. Roku TV™ models are available in the U.S. and in select countries through licensing arrangements with TV OEM brands. Roku is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. U.S.A.

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements that are based on our beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us on the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements include but are not limited to the timing, availability, and benefits of content on the Roku Channel and the Roku platform; trends related to TV streaming; the features and benefits of the OneView ad platform; and the features, benefits, growth, and reach of The Roku Channel and the Roku platform. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially are detailed from time to time in the reports Roku, Inc. files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on Roku’s website and are available from Roku without charge.

Roku is a registered trademark of Roku, Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries. Trade names, trademarks and service marks of other companies appearing in this press release are the property of their respective holders.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220503005216/en/

Sarah Saul

ssaul@roku.com

Source: Roku, Inc.

FAQ

What new advertising solutions did Roku announce at the IAB NewFront?

Roku announced new shoppable ads integrated with Roku Pay as part of its advertising solutions, aiming to enhance the TV advertising experience.

How many active accounts does Roku have as of Q1 2022?

Roku has 61.3 million active accounts as of Q1 2022, solidifying its position as the leading TV streaming platform.

What is the significance of Roku's partnership with Microsoft?

The partnership with Microsoft aims to provide audience insights that analyze the impact of both linear and streaming TV advertising on online searches.

What new content was announced by Roku at the event?

Roku announced new titles for its Originals, including 'WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story', and renewed popular series like 'Die Harter' starring Kevin Hart.