06:20 PST 1/8/2021
by
Natalie Jarvey
The deal adds 75 of the outdated programs of the short video service to the series of free, ad-supported programs on The Roku Channel.
Roku has agreed to acquire the programming library of the discontinued mobile video launch Quibi, as it wants to expand the free Roku Channel hub, which is supported by ads.
The agreement means that more than 75 short-form programs such as those of Veena Sud are The stranger and Liam Hemsworth’s lead actor Most dangerous game will continue to have a home despite the shutdown of Quibi late last year. More than a dozen programs shot and completed for Quibi but not released before being turned off will also be available to viewers on Roku for the first time, distributing it in the US, Canada and the UK.
Roku and Quibi do not disclose the terms of the agreement, but a source familiar with the agreement says the content library values significantly less than $ 100 million.
“We are delighted that these stories, from the surreal to the sublime, have found a new home on The Roku Channel,” Quibi founder Jeffrey Katzenberg said in a statement.
Quibi began in April when the pandemic boosted the lives of many Americans. The main idea that people wanted to watch expensive short programming along the way was difficult to test when people were hiding at home. The service, which was only available on mobile phones and did not have support for paired TVs at launch, struggled to lure subscribers out of the gate. Katzenberg and Meg Whitman, CEO of Quibi, announced just six months later that they would close the app and return money to investors. Since then, they’re looking for a buyer for Quibi’s library.
Roku has been aggressive over the past few years in building up its media business to reduce its dependence on set-top box sales. The programming will help Roku build up the content offering of the three-year-old Roku Channel, where it brings together programs from the various entertainment programs available on its platform. According to the company, the channel reaches nearly 62 million people and is a top 10 channel on its platform in terms of streaming hours and total active accounts.
Roku does not disclose how it will present the Quibi programming to viewers within the Roku channel. All programs – previously offered at a subscription fee – are free to viewers who advertise.
Although Quibi became the point of jokes due to his poor performance, several of his shows were nominated in 2020 for the short form of Emmys, and the drama produced by Antoine Fuqua #FreeRayshawn took home two trophies from the show. “We think they’ve created great content,” said Rob Homes, a Roku target, in an interview. The executive adds that a large part of the program will ‘be new to the vast majority of viewers’.
Roku is working on the existing licenses of Quibi for the shows. The service, to attract high profile talent, has drawn unique offerings with creators. After two years, they would get the chance to play the short screenings in a full-length film or feature-length TV series. After seven years, the rights will be fully returned to the studio owner. Holmes did not want to provide details on how these agreements would play out under Roku’s new agreement.
Although Quibi apps are designed for mobile viewing, Holmes says he expects them to play well on Roku’s TV-centric experience. “It’s just TV,” he says, adding that he enjoys watching cooking Disassembled with his children. “If you’re in a relaxed environment, you can let it go. It actually works very well for ad interruptions.”