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Fox to buy Roku

wsj.com

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Re: Fox to buy Roku

#101

Post by jubilanti »

dkresge wrote: post #78

Seems like an excellent startup opportunity? Build a clean, no-ads streaming stick with open source firmware upstream of the requisite DRM bits and who wouldn't buy one? Almost like what Roku used to be, and the reason we recommended it, for so many years.

Because it will cost 2-4x compared to a Roku, Amazon Fire, or other device sold below cost and subsidized with ad/VC money. And in order to work on the DRMed streaming platforms, you have to play along with the industry. Can't just relabel a random box from Shenzhen, "upstream of the requisite DRM bits" makes no sense.

The original NVIDIA Shield is more than 10 years old at this point and still sells used for around $100 and people are still paying $200 retail for a new 2019 Pro. Interestingly, that price has basically stayed flat at $200 from 2020 to 2026. You can install Lineage or whatever if you don't care about the DRM. It's exactly what HN people want, and that's how much it costs.

Re: Fox to buy Roku

#102

Post by IAmBroom »

giancarlostoro wrote: post #47
SirFatty wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I never liked the idea of Roku since I always felt like they could "go away at any moment" since that is all they sold basically." That's odd since they've been around for 23 years. I would understand that stance 20 years ago.

I first heard of them in the early 2010s so it was not that odd back then.

But your claim was about "always" feeling that way, not "at first".

Re: Fox to buy Roku

#103

Post by pavon »

legitster wrote: post #75
mleo wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Begin? I haven’t heard anything positive about Roku in 10 years or so. They had to race to the bottom to compete with Amazon and Google. And maybe they mostly survived til now, but all I hear is complaints about ads.

I think the complaint about ads is mostly a knee-jerk reaction by certain online communities. The ads are not particularly obnoxious - they are always off to the side and don't interfere in navigation in any way. Furthermore, I'm on a Roku looking for content and the ads highlight content. It's not that different than seeing posters on the way to a movie theater.

On my Roku the ads aren't just off to the side. When I go to the home screen there are now "recommended" shows above and below my channels, and they are initially selected, so I have to scroll down past them to get to my actual channels.

Re: Fox to buy Roku

#104

Post by SamBam »

mleo wrote: post #62
Noaidi wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, let the enshitification begin. I have never seen a mergre like this not lead to anything but a money grab. They will no doubt remove things like PlutoTV, which is free, and substitutte it with more subscription apps and more data collection

Begin? I haven’t heard anything positive about Roku in 10 years or so. They had to race to the bottom to compete with Amazon and Google. And maybe they mostly survived til now, but all I hear is complaints about ads.

Nah. I have a Roku 3 stick and a brand-new $700 projector with Google TV. The Roku 3 is light-years ahead in terms of speed and UI ergonomics over the Google machine. And both are better than the smart TVs I've used.

But I fear this need means this time is ending, and we'll only be left with crap.

Re: Fox to buy Roku

#105

Post by gaws »

voakbasda wrote: post #43

If this happens, our Roku TV is going in the trash. They locked out their customers of their own devices by pushing updated firmware that forced agreement to new terms. They lost my trust during that episode, and this move shows that was the right decision. Meanwhile, Fox lost my respect decades ago. The idea that they could gain network level access to one of my devices cannot be reconciled with my need to feel secu…

> Anyone wanna take the opportunity to share their favorite brands and models of dumb TVs?

You can find them in your local Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist region.

Re: Fox to buy Roku

#106

Post by gaws »

gdulli wrote: post #61

I switched from Roku to Xbox for Plex because of how Roku has degraded, and not only did I get the primary benefit of being off Roku, but I found the Xbox Plex app has not been updated to the terrible new redesign so it was a double win.

With Xbox's planned "reinvention" under the new CEO, consider the Plex app's days on the console numbered.

Re: Fox to buy Roku

#107

Post by airstrike »

mleo wrote: post #62
Noaidi wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, let the enshitification begin. I have never seen a mergre like this not lead to anything but a money grab. They will no doubt remove things like PlutoTV, which is free, and substitutte it with more subscription apps and more data collection

Begin? I haven’t heard anything positive about Roku in 10 years or so. They had to race to the bottom to compete with Amazon and Google. And maybe they mostly survived til now, but all I hear is complaints about ads.

my household and extended family has been running on roku for literally over a decade, in multiple countries, and not one person has complained. all of us, myself included, are perfectly happy with it

Re: Fox to buy Roku

#108

Post by airstrike »

nrmitchi wrote: post #96

I may be lambasted for saying this, but I do not believe that Fox (or any large media company, really) should be permitted to purchase direct access to the TV hardware of roughly 30-50% of american households.

that law does not exist, probably because not enough people feel that way

Re: Fox to buy Roku

#109

Post by gaws »

anon7000 wrote: post #80

Where is anti-trust in this country? Absolutely absurd the levels of media consolidation we’re seeing under billionaires right now.

You have the Trump administration and the Congressional Republicans to thank.

Re: Fox to buy Roku

#110

Post by yndoendo »

reagan83 wrote: post #70
yndoendo wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

.

I don't see politics as left and right. To me they are in the shape of a Radar chart or Radial Column chart or Sunburst diagram.

People in real life are multi-facet not singularly polar. People with agendas and grifters are polar. Polarization is also for those that want to be self-defined by a party.

I also do not support news or other agencies that reject STEMM or use questions to mask direct lying.

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