Roku streaming player
New streaming competition for Apple, Amazon and Google
Roku comes to Germany with several streaming players.
© Roku, Inc.
The US company Roku wants to start conquering the German streaming market with three devices.
If you want to stream your favorite series or a blockbuster, you can do so in the future via a player from the US streaming veteran Roku. At the start of Germany, the company is presenting several devices in different price ranges. The players can be used to stream audio and video content from Netflix, Spotify, Disney +, Amazon Prime Video and other services, including on TVs that do not otherwise support this.
Three devices straight to the start
With its streaming players, Roku competes with Apple (Apple TV HD / 4K), Amazon (Fire TV devices) and Google (Google Chromecast), among others. For the start in Germany, three versions will be available from Saturn, MediaMarkt, Amazon, Expert, Euronics and Otto.de from September 28th.
As an entry-level device, the Roku Express for HD streaming is available at a price of 29.99 euros. Roku Express 4K meanwhile also allows viewing of 4K content for 39.99 euros. And the Roku Streambar is a soundbar with a built-in streaming player that will be available in stores for 149.99 euros. In October, the compact Roku Streaming Stick 4K will appear, which will be available for 59.99 euros.
In addition to the services already mentioned, users can also access content in the ARD and ZDF media libraries, via Sky Ticket, DAZN, TV Now, ProSieben and Sat.1. The streaming players are based on the Roku OS operating system. Providers can be sorted according to your own preferences on a customized start screen.
A search function makes it possible to find out which service has a film or series on offer. The search results indicate whether the content can then be viewed free of charge with an existing subscription or whether the film has to be rented individually, for example. The whole thing can be operated using the associated remote control or app for iOS and Android. This also offers the “private listening” function. This allows users to hear the audio track of content streamed on the TV via headphones connected to the smartphone.