Weekly Rewind
Roku’s app ultimatum: As I’ve written in the past, Roku has a lingering app problem. Many Roku apps are based on an aging set of templates that look outdated next to modern streaming apps and are incapable of providing cutting-edge features. The PlayStation Vue Roku app is the perfect example, as it lacks the channel guide and background viewing that’s avaiable on other devices. While Roku does offer more modern developer tools, app makers haven’t been given much incentive to overhaul their software.
That changed last week, when Roku announced plans to retire its old app templates. New apps won’t be able to use those templates after July 1, and any updated apps much switch to Roku’s newer tools by January 2018. Roku plans to eliminate those templates entirely after January 2019, which means all apps must modernize by then.
I assume some developers won’t be happy with the ultimatum, and it’s unclear what will happen to first-generation Roku players that can’t run newer apps. But in the long run, Roku is right to start nudging developers if it wants to remain a viable streaming platform.
ESPN’s standalone service: ESPN has been talking about doing its own streaming service for months; now the worldwide leader says it’s happening in 2017. We still don’t know many details, except that it won’t be equivalent to the cable channel, and will consist largely of niche and college sports.
Meanwhile, ESPN is putting its cable channels into streaming bundles like Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, DirecTV Now, and Hulu’s upcoming bundle. Cord-cutting has hit ESPN especially hard–penetration just fell below 75 percent of U.S. homes for the first time–so the network is now trying to adapt.
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