Every month the cord cutting market shifts, and with each shift another new streaming service or new streaming device has the opportunity to do what the others don’t. Roku has been around for years and has had ample time and money to adjust and accommodate their customers in every way imaginable. And indeed they have.

On the surface, Roku seems to be just another streaming device with an easy to use interface, but Roku does more than that. Roku allows users to sign up for additional services directly from Roku’s interface without the need to constantly re-enter credit card info. The biggest seller for most with Roku is their search feature. Since they don’t offer a streaming service themselves there is no incentive or possibility to have their own content to take priority in search results.

Roku is the only streaming device that gives users more options in search results. Amazon tends to show Prime content over other services. And Android TV boxes are no match either. Watch out for Amazon though, you might end up paying for a movie you didn’t need to.

Late 2019 Roku bought an ad agency…. yep. Not a big deal seeing as how the ads aren’t intrusive. Plus they’re a publicly traded company and they have to show their investors they can make them money, right?. But this move bookmarked a page in their history and created a footnote for myself and others like me. No shocker that over the next few months Roku began to have issues with content providers. Peacock, Fox and HBO Max.

Losing access to content is a pet peeve for cord cutters and with this, Roku lost 1 of the 3 things they had going for them, Neutrality. The only things they have now is searchability and an easy to use interface, both of which are manageable now that people are really beginning to understand how to cut the cord.

May 2020 TiVo released the TiVo Stream 4k. Just another streaming device right. Maybe so, but the device does offer features that other streaming devices at this price point don’t. One being the integration of other streaming services into a live channel guide.

In addition to the free streaming services like Pluto and Tubi TV, users can select from a list of streaming services and have their content included in their content guide. Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Sling, Prime Video and more. This way only content you are subscribed to will show. This includes movies, tv shows, docs and more.

TiVo Stream 4k is an Android player so you’re able to connect to any bluetooth device you want, including game controllers and mobile devices. The Stream 4k is making it’s way up from the back of the pack and I suspect that in the near future some big changes are gonna come for them to level the competition.

If you have a streaming related question please send it to Antoine@Otantenna.com

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