Roku integrates free streamer FreeCast into subscriptions library
Roku integrates free streamer FreeCast into subscriptions library
Roku users can sign up for FreeCast, which delivers thousands of free streaming channels and on-demand titles.
The Roku platform is one of the most customer-friendly streaming interfaces available. Not only does it make it simple to find and stream the content viewers want, but it also allows viewers to sign up for additional subscriptions and aggregate their bills in one, easy-to-find place. Roku is adding a new selection to that lineup this week, announcing the rollout of the free streamer FreeCast.
Key Details:
- FreeCast offers more than 500 streaming channels, with selections in every genre.
- The service also carries half a million movies and TV episodes on-demand.
- Viewers can pay for FreeCast’s “Value Channels” package to get local channels and more in some areas.
Viewers can head to Roku now and sign up to FreeCast to get instant access to the 500+ free streaming channels the service has available. It’s a great way for customers who want to watch even more free content than they can find on The Roku Channel to expand and see more shows and movies.
If you want to sign up for FreeCast through the Roku Channel, you should be aware the company is going to show you some fairly targeted ads. FreeCast uses “experiential data” from its unique view into consumers’ streaming behaviors across different apps, services, and devices, to deliver hyper-targeted ads.
“Roku is unique; they were one of the first to foresee the shift to streaming, and build technology to support that, rather than just throw Android on a set-top box. In that way, they’re a lot like FreeCast,” FreeCast CEO William Mobley said. “We’re not just launching another VOD app, we’re building a complete media experience for consumers and solution for the media industry, so we’ve had to be thoughtful in how we approach this platform. Now we’re ready to launch the first piece of that experience on Roku devices with a roadmap for bringing our full offering there.”
An update following soon after the initial launch of FreeCast on Roku will see the streamer’s 500,000 on-demand TV episodes and movies become available as well. FreeCast also offers a paid channel package called “Value Channels,” which can deliver local channels like ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC in specific areas around the United States.
Roku has been busy adding new streaming plans to its subscription library. Earlier this week, the platform welcomed the ad-supported tier of BET+, and earlier this month it also brought on two plans of Warner Bros. Discovery’s service Max.
Roku Channel
The Roku Channel is a free, ad-supported streaming service that offers a broad mix of movies, TV shows, live linear channels, and original programming. Available to all viewers — not just Roku device owners — the service features licensed content from major studios alongside Roku Originals, which include exclusive series, movies, and specials previously produced for Quibi, as well as new original projects developed specifically for the platform.