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Roku Takes on Amazon Channels, Helps Customers Subscribe to Premium Channels

Roku announced this morning their much anticipated Amazon Prime Video Channels competitor. Premium Subscriptions from 15+ launch partners including Showtime, Starz, EPIX will now be available via The Roku Channel.

Premium Subscriptions on The Roku Channel will allow customers to browser content prior to signing-up and offer free trials for all subscriptions. Once you decide to subscribe, you have the option of a one-click sign-up with subscription management in your Roku account.

In addition to the 10,000+ free ad-supported movies and TV episodes on The Roku Channel, you will be able to browse, search, and watch your premium subscriptions all in the same place. The content will be streamable via Roku players, Roku TVs, and the Roku mobile app for iOS and Android. The service will be available to select Roku customers in late-January and all customers in early 2019.

It does not come as a surprise that Roku is taking on Amazon Channels. This comes as reports expect Amazon’s Prime Video Channels business to net $500+ million from their streaming partners. Amazon currently drives 53% of HBO’s direct-to-consumer subscribers, so streaming companies are hoping to expand their acquisition channels.

They aren’t the only company looking to take on Amazon either. Both Apple and Facebook are also in preparations of launching similar services in 2019.

About Premium Subscriptions for The Roku Channel

Premium Subscriptions will offer “one-click” signup and easy subscription management. Free, live and subscription content will be presented together in The Roku Channel, making it simple to browse, subscribe to and watch a wide variety of streaming entertainment.

Free for all users

The Roku Channel will continue to include thousands of free, ad-supported titles available without a subscription and is available on a range of devices; users do not need any subscriptions or memberships in order to access quality free, ad-supported content.

Wide variety of subscription partners

Premium Subscription partners at launch include SHOWTIME, Starz, EPIX, Baeble Music, CollegeHumor’s DROPOUT, CuriosityStream, FitFusion, The Great Courses Signature Collection, Hopster, Magnolia Selects presented by Magnolia Pictures, MHz Choice, NOGGIN, Smithsonian Channel Plus, Tastemade, Viewster Anime and more.

One-click subscriptions

Customers will be able to start a free trial or subscribe to new Premium Subscriptions with one click using their existing Roku account information once they visit the subscription page.

Free trials

All premium content can be trialed for at least seven days with reminders sent before each free trial expires and billing starts.

Single bill

Subscriptions will be managed directly from my.roku.com. Customers will receive one monthly bill for all premium subscriptions on The Roku Channel.

Want to Learn More About Live TV Streaming Services?

  • You can read our full review comparing 7 different cord-cutting services including DIRECTV NOW, PlayStation Vue, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, Philo, Sling TV, and YouTube TV.
  • Use our Channel Finder to add your favorite channels, shows, and sports teams and we’ll tell you the best service for you.
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DIRECTV STREAM Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $50 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for DIRECTV STREAM.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new DIRECTV STREAM subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • Purchase must be completed on the DIRECTV STREAM website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Sling TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $25 Uber Eats Gift Card when you sign up for Sling TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Sling TV subscribers to Sling Orange, Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Sling TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Hulu Live TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $35 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for Hulu Live TV.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

  • Only valid for new Hulu Live TV subscribers.
  • Only valid once per household.
  • You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
  • You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Hulu Live TV website.
  • You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
  • Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.