Roku is launching a brand new 24/7 sports channel in the United States on August 12, aptly called the Roku Sports Channel. It’s a FAST (free ad-supported TV) streaming service, meaning you don’t need to subscribe or open an account to get access. All you need to watch is either the official app on your smartphone, a device from the company, or the Roku Channel website.
According to the announcement, the channel will broadcast a wide range of sports and sports-related content “that Roku owns and licenses,” including live broadcasts of Major League Baseball games through MLB Sunday Leadoff, Formula E racing, talk shows like Good Morning Football: Overtime, and even some original programming.
Beyond traditional sports, Roku’s channel will also host “exclusive partner content,” including archived fights from Top Rank Boxing, MMA fights via combat sports platform Swere Sport, and even poker games from PokerGO.
The company plans to expand its exclusive programming in the future. Roku promises that it will eventually broadcast NBA G-League games and minor basketball leagues in the US. In addition, an original documentary about former WNBA player Renee Montgomery is also in the works.
Live sports streaming
The launch of the Roku Sports Channel comes at an interesting time as other platforms look to expand into the sports space. Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery announced back in May that they were working together to develop Venu, a streaming service dedicated exclusively to broadcasting live sports.
Not much is known about Venu yet, other than what content it will include. It could launch in the coming months, as the three companies are aiming for a fall 2024 launch. Then, on Christmas Day, Netflix is scheduled to air two professional football games back-to-back as part of a new partnership with the NFL.
Roku’s channel will offer sports fans a free alternative despite rising subscription costs, and its early release date gives it an advantage over competitors that are still in the pipeline. However, we are concerned about the content it will host.
Keep in mind: The Sports Channel only shows “programs that Roku owns and licenses,” which leads us to believe their library may not be as extensive as, say, ESPN Plus. That wouldn’t surprise us, as subscription-based streaming services typically have better content offerings. We’ve reached out to Roku for more information and will update this story if we hear back.
While you’re here, be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best TVs for 2024.
