Roku simply launched a brand new $3 ad-free streaming service

Roku’s streaming catalog is about to increase much more due to the launch of its new budget-friendly streaming service, referred to as Howdy.

Howdy, which is ad-free, prices $3 a month and launches within the US on August 5. It can function a wide range of content material, with Roku stating it should provide “almost 10,000 hours” of leisure. Roku has secured offers with Lionsgate, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Filmrise to incorporate a few of their content material on the platform, together with “choose Roku authentic titles.” Some motion pictures out there on Howdy embrace Mad Max: Fury Street, The Blind Facet, Weeds, and Children within the Corridor.

“Priced at lower than a cup of espresso, Howdy is ad-free and designed to enhance, not compete with, premium companies,” mentioned Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wooden in a press release. “We’re assembly an actual want for customers who need to unwind with their favourite motion pictures and reveals uninterrupted and on their phrases.”

Howdy’s $3 value is right here to remain

Roku says the low price is not an introductory promo

What’s most interesting about Howdy is little doubt its low $3 month-to-month price, which is extraordinarily inexpensive in at this time’s world of rising streaming costs. For reference, Netflix’s fundamental advert plan begins at $8 a month, so Howdy is a couple of dollars cheaper and ad-free.

Roku even identified that the $3 price ticket is supposedly right here to remain, and is “not an introductory or trial value.” If Roku can preserve this value for Howdy, I will be impressed, contemplating how steadily streaming companies have elevated prices up to now few years.

At launch, Howdy will solely be out there on Roku’s streaming units and TVs. Roku says it has plans to roll out “on cellular and extra platforms within the close to future.” Roku is well-known for its free-ad-supported tv (FAST) channels, so will probably be attention-grabbing to see the way it builds out Howdy, a paid service. This is not Roku’s first subscription video on-demand (SVOD) service both. Earlier this yr, Roku acquired Frndly TV, which streams Stay TV channels for as little as $7 a month.