It’s May 20th, so you know what that means…
Oh you don’t either? Well, apparently, it’s National Streaming Day. And this isn’t just any National Streaming Day — it’s the 10th anniversary of the holiday, first declared by Roku in 2014. Break out the champagne — or at least have a few brewskis in Roku City.
More than just the screensaver’s majestic skyline has changed in the past decade. Occupying the penthouse of the largest skyscraper in all of streaming is Netflix, which currently has about 270 million global paid subscribers; 10 years ago the tally was 46 million subs, and the platform had just released “House of Cards” Season 2. Do you think Kevin Spacey’s life has changed at all since then?
On May 20, 2014, Netflix still did DVDs (in addition to streaming), it swore off ads, and would not touch live sports. Well, the DVDs have since been recycled,...
Oh you don’t either? Well, apparently, it’s National Streaming Day. And this isn’t just any National Streaming Day — it’s the 10th anniversary of the holiday, first declared by Roku in 2014. Break out the champagne — or at least have a few brewskis in Roku City.
More than just the screensaver’s majestic skyline has changed in the past decade. Occupying the penthouse of the largest skyscraper in all of streaming is Netflix, which currently has about 270 million global paid subscribers; 10 years ago the tally was 46 million subs, and the platform had just released “House of Cards” Season 2. Do you think Kevin Spacey’s life has changed at all since then?
On May 20, 2014, Netflix still did DVDs (in addition to streaming), it swore off ads, and would not touch live sports. Well, the DVDs have since been recycled,...
- 5/20/2024
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Many of those shuttling around New York City this week for the upfronts, on the heels of the NewFronts two weeks ago, may find themselves trying to synthesize all of the claims and counter-claims, the big data and bigger spectacle.
Evan Shapiro, veteran of many an upfront during his time as a cable network chief and more recently a consultant, producer and self-described “media cartographer,” has a way to process it all. A new event he is shepherding, Streaming Media NYC, kicks off Monday at the Intercontinental New York Barclay hotel and runs through Wednesday. Shapiro calls it an “idea festival” designed to bring together “the smartest people in media to have frank conversations about the industry’s biggest challenges.”
The roster of executive speakers is slated to include Roku’s Charlie Collier, Rob Caruso from Google, Danielle Carney from Amazon and Steve Ellis from Paramount Global. The world beyond...
Evan Shapiro, veteran of many an upfront during his time as a cable network chief and more recently a consultant, producer and self-described “media cartographer,” has a way to process it all. A new event he is shepherding, Streaming Media NYC, kicks off Monday at the Intercontinental New York Barclay hotel and runs through Wednesday. Shapiro calls it an “idea festival” designed to bring together “the smartest people in media to have frank conversations about the industry’s biggest challenges.”
The roster of executive speakers is slated to include Roku’s Charlie Collier, Rob Caruso from Google, Danielle Carney from Amazon and Steve Ellis from Paramount Global. The world beyond...
- 5/14/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Roku has sealed a multi-year deal for rights to Major League Baseball, setting a slate of 18 games to stream live and for free every Sunday.
Billed as Sunday Leadoff, the early-window games appeared last season on Peacock. The shift to Roku marks a milestone in the ongoing migration of sports to streaming, with Roku being the first non-subscription outlet to carry live games from a major sport. Already, MLB has shown a considerable appetite for streaming, setting a season-long deals with Amazon and Apple TV+. Amazon is also a stakeholder in the Yes network, whose lead partner is the New York Yankees.
The first Roku telecast will be this Sunday, May 19, on The Roku Channel. Under the deal, the companies will also create MLB Zone, which will help viewers in Roku’s nearly 82 million households find MLB content, including games. Most of the telecasts will be the first MLB game of the day,...
Billed as Sunday Leadoff, the early-window games appeared last season on Peacock. The shift to Roku marks a milestone in the ongoing migration of sports to streaming, with Roku being the first non-subscription outlet to carry live games from a major sport. Already, MLB has shown a considerable appetite for streaming, setting a season-long deals with Amazon and Apple TV+. Amazon is also a stakeholder in the Yes network, whose lead partner is the New York Yankees.
The first Roku telecast will be this Sunday, May 19, on The Roku Channel. Under the deal, the companies will also create MLB Zone, which will help viewers in Roku’s nearly 82 million households find MLB content, including games. Most of the telecasts will be the first MLB game of the day,...
- 5/13/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
(Stock image via Pexels, Graphic by The Desk)
Roku has secured the exclusive distribution rights for Major League Baseball (MLB) games played early Sunday morning, the company announced on Monday.
The multi-year deal will see Sunday morning baseball games stream for free on The Roku Channel, Roku’s free, ad-supported streaming television platform. The Roku Channel is offered natively on all supported Roku streaming devices and Roku TVs, and a free app is also available for Android TV (Google TV) and Amazon Fire TV in the United States.
“As television programming, live sports, and the leagues have fragmented across networks, apps, and multiple packages, Roku — home to all of them — plays an increasingly crucial role for viewers and advertisers,” Charlie Collier, the President of Roku Media, said in a statement. “With this deal, Roku delivers free, live, weekly Sunday baseball and 24-7 baseball curation, destinations, and channels across our platform.
Roku has secured the exclusive distribution rights for Major League Baseball (MLB) games played early Sunday morning, the company announced on Monday.
The multi-year deal will see Sunday morning baseball games stream for free on The Roku Channel, Roku’s free, ad-supported streaming television platform. The Roku Channel is offered natively on all supported Roku streaming devices and Roku TVs, and a free app is also available for Android TV (Google TV) and Amazon Fire TV in the United States.
“As television programming, live sports, and the leagues have fragmented across networks, apps, and multiple packages, Roku — home to all of them — plays an increasingly crucial role for viewers and advertisers,” Charlie Collier, the President of Roku Media, said in a statement. “With this deal, Roku delivers free, live, weekly Sunday baseball and 24-7 baseball curation, destinations, and channels across our platform.
- 5/13/2024
- by Matthew Keys
- The Desk
Roku has landed exclusive multiyear rights for Major League Baseball’s Sunday Leadoff live games, a package previously with NBCUniversal’s Peacock.
Starting May 19, Roku will stream Sunday MLB games for free on the Roku Channel. The company also will launch a new MLB Zone to help baseball fans find live and upcoming games, nightly recaps, highlights, a fully programmed MLB free, ad-supported streaming TV channel, and other content across the Roku platform. The game telecasts will be produced in collaboration with MLB.
On most Sundays throughout the MLB season, Roku will be the home for the league’s first games of the day, with an exclusivity window during airtime as well. In addition, paying subscribers of MLB.TV can watch all 18 matchups blackout-free from anywhere in the world.
Roku has worldwide rights to the MLB Sunday Leadoff games and in addition to the U.S. plans to also stream games...
Starting May 19, Roku will stream Sunday MLB games for free on the Roku Channel. The company also will launch a new MLB Zone to help baseball fans find live and upcoming games, nightly recaps, highlights, a fully programmed MLB free, ad-supported streaming TV channel, and other content across the Roku platform. The game telecasts will be produced in collaboration with MLB.
On most Sundays throughout the MLB season, Roku will be the home for the league’s first games of the day, with an exclusivity window during airtime as well. In addition, paying subscribers of MLB.TV can watch all 18 matchups blackout-free from anywhere in the world.
Roku has worldwide rights to the MLB Sunday Leadoff games and in addition to the U.S. plans to also stream games...
- 5/13/2024
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
For 18 Sundays, Roku will broadcast Major League Baseball games for free across its streaming devices and app.
During the 2022 and 2023 Major League Baseball seasons, an exclusive slate of Sunday morning games streamed exclusively on Peacock. However, when the schedule for the 2024 season was announced, there were no games assigned to the NBCUniversal streamer. Then, a few weeks into the season, reports began to circulate that the free, ad-supported Roku Channel streaming platform was interested in taking over the package. Now, that interest has become a reality as it was announced on Monday that the “Sunday Leadoff” slate of games will begin airing on Roku starting this week, on Sunday, May 19.
Key Details: Roku will take over the early Sunday game package that Peacock had owned for the past two seasons. All of the games will be available on The Roku Channel for free without blackout restrictions. The games will be...
During the 2022 and 2023 Major League Baseball seasons, an exclusive slate of Sunday morning games streamed exclusively on Peacock. However, when the schedule for the 2024 season was announced, there were no games assigned to the NBCUniversal streamer. Then, a few weeks into the season, reports began to circulate that the free, ad-supported Roku Channel streaming platform was interested in taking over the package. Now, that interest has become a reality as it was announced on Monday that the “Sunday Leadoff” slate of games will begin airing on Roku starting this week, on Sunday, May 19.
Key Details: Roku will take over the early Sunday game package that Peacock had owned for the past two seasons. All of the games will be available on The Roku Channel for free without blackout restrictions. The games will be...
- 5/13/2024
- by Matt Tamanini
- The Streamable
(Courtesy image)
At its annual Iab NewFront presentation in New York City, Roku, Inc. debuted new video experiences, game-changing ad solutions, and exciting new content partnerships. In the U.S., Roku is the number one TV streaming platform by hours streamed, and our Home Screen reaches households with nearly 120 million people every day. The Roku experience simplifies TV for viewers, super-serving them with intuitive, smart curation that makes streaming enjoyable and fun, all while putting brands right up front.
“Given Roku’s unmatched scale, we have a unique opportunity to solve some of the industry’s biggest challenges, including massive audience fragmentation and the splintering of viewer attention,” said Charlie Collier, President of Roku Media. “Viewers in the Roku experience are engaged in our uncluttered, elevated ad environment well before dispersing to apps, networks, and paywalls. For advertisers and publishers of all kinds, this makes Roku the broadest reach lead-in to all of television.
At its annual Iab NewFront presentation in New York City, Roku, Inc. debuted new video experiences, game-changing ad solutions, and exciting new content partnerships. In the U.S., Roku is the number one TV streaming platform by hours streamed, and our Home Screen reaches households with nearly 120 million people every day. The Roku experience simplifies TV for viewers, super-serving them with intuitive, smart curation that makes streaming enjoyable and fun, all while putting brands right up front.
“Given Roku’s unmatched scale, we have a unique opportunity to solve some of the industry’s biggest challenges, including massive audience fragmentation and the splintering of viewer attention,” said Charlie Collier, President of Roku Media. “Viewers in the Roku experience are engaged in our uncluttered, elevated ad environment well before dispersing to apps, networks, and paywalls. For advertisers and publishers of all kinds, this makes Roku the broadest reach lead-in to all of television.
- 5/1/2024
- by The Desk
- The Desk
Ty Burrell and Bryan Cranston are set to walk a Tightrope! for the Roku Channel.
The two Emmy winners are teaming up for a comedic reworking of a short-lived detective drama from the late 1950s (exclamation point very much included). Burrell will star in and executive produce the six-episode series, while Cranston is an executive producer.
Roku made the announcement Tuesday at its newfronts presentation to advertisers, where it also showcased upcoming programming including a travel series from Tracee Ellis Ross, culinary competition Best Bite Wins hosted by Josh Peck and a talk show from John Cena, among others.
Tightrope! aired for one season in 1959-60 on CBS. The drama starred Mike Connors as an undercover police officer who infiltrated various criminal organizations. The Roku show will “reshape the drama of the vintage 1950s series into a slapstick comedy, where Burrell plays a lone wolf detective following cases city to...
The two Emmy winners are teaming up for a comedic reworking of a short-lived detective drama from the late 1950s (exclamation point very much included). Burrell will star in and executive produce the six-episode series, while Cranston is an executive producer.
Roku made the announcement Tuesday at its newfronts presentation to advertisers, where it also showcased upcoming programming including a travel series from Tracee Ellis Ross, culinary competition Best Bite Wins hosted by Josh Peck and a talk show from John Cena, among others.
Tightrope! aired for one season in 1959-60 on CBS. The drama starred Mike Connors as an undercover police officer who infiltrated various criminal organizations. The Roku show will “reshape the drama of the vintage 1950s series into a slapstick comedy, where Burrell plays a lone wolf detective following cases city to...
- 4/30/2024
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Roku CEO Anthony Wood collected a total pay package of $20.2 million in 2023, according to the company’s latest proxy filing.
Charlie Collier, the veteran former TV exec who now leads Roku Media, got $6.8 million. The tally was far below the $53.3 million he took home in 2022, with the bulk of that payday coming in the form of stock options and a stock award vesting over four years. Collier left his previous role as CEO of Fox Entertainment to join Roku in September 2022. Among his duties at the streaming provider is overseeing the company’s roster of original programming, with breakout titles including the recent series Spiderwick Chronicles.
Wood made a base salary of $1.2 million, with the rest primarily consisting of stock and options awards.
CFO Dan Jedda, who joined the company last May, received a total of about $18 million. Steve Loudon, his predecessor, got $7.8 million for a partial year of service,...
Charlie Collier, the veteran former TV exec who now leads Roku Media, got $6.8 million. The tally was far below the $53.3 million he took home in 2022, with the bulk of that payday coming in the form of stock options and a stock award vesting over four years. Collier left his previous role as CEO of Fox Entertainment to join Roku in September 2022. Among his duties at the streaming provider is overseeing the company’s roster of original programming, with breakout titles including the recent series Spiderwick Chronicles.
Wood made a base salary of $1.2 million, with the rest primarily consisting of stock and options awards.
CFO Dan Jedda, who joined the company last May, received a total of about $18 million. Steve Loudon, his predecessor, got $7.8 million for a partial year of service,...
- 4/26/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Anthony Wood, founder, chairman and CEO of Roku, had a pay package worth just over $20.2 million in 2023, while Roku’s media boss, Charlie Collier, received $6.8 million in salary.
Wood’s compensation last year included salary of $1.2 million, stock awards worth $7.57 million and stock option awards valued at $11.43 million, according to Roku’s proxy statement filing Friday with the SEC. It was 3.7% below his overall $21 million package in 2022.
Collier’s 2023 compensation included salary of $6.825 million and $18,825 worth of medical and life insurance premiums paid by the company. Collier opted to forego $1 million of his salary 2023 in exchange for monthly grants of vested stock options at an intended valuation of that amount.
For 2022, Collier’s pay package was worth $53.3 million — most of it in stock equity awards and stock options that vest over a period of four years, subject to the exec remaining employed with Roku. In 2022, Collier left his post as...
Wood’s compensation last year included salary of $1.2 million, stock awards worth $7.57 million and stock option awards valued at $11.43 million, according to Roku’s proxy statement filing Friday with the SEC. It was 3.7% below his overall $21 million package in 2022.
Collier’s 2023 compensation included salary of $6.825 million and $18,825 worth of medical and life insurance premiums paid by the company. Collier opted to forego $1 million of his salary 2023 in exchange for monthly grants of vested stock options at an intended valuation of that amount.
For 2022, Collier’s pay package was worth $53.3 million — most of it in stock equity awards and stock options that vest over a period of four years, subject to the exec remaining employed with Roku. In 2022, Collier left his post as...
- 4/26/2024
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Fox Entertainment is restructuring its operations into three divisions: network, studios and content sales.
As part of this re-org, Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade has promoted Michael Thorn to president of Fox Television Network and upped Fernando Szew to head of Fox Entertainment Studios. Both will report directly to Wade.
A search is currently underway for the head of sales and licensing unit Fox Entertainment Global, previously run by Szew. In the meantime, the division will be run by Tony Vassiliadis, executive vice president of Feg, reporting directly to Wade. When a new permanent head is named, Vassiliadis will take on a different role at the studio unit.
Most recently chief of unscripted content at Fox network, Allison Wallach will move under Szew, serving as head of global unscripted programming for Fox Entertainment Studios.
Szew will oversee all Fox studios, including Bento Box Entertainment, Fox Alternative Entertainment, Fox scripted studios,...
As part of this re-org, Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade has promoted Michael Thorn to president of Fox Television Network and upped Fernando Szew to head of Fox Entertainment Studios. Both will report directly to Wade.
A search is currently underway for the head of sales and licensing unit Fox Entertainment Global, previously run by Szew. In the meantime, the division will be run by Tony Vassiliadis, executive vice president of Feg, reporting directly to Wade. When a new permanent head is named, Vassiliadis will take on a different role at the studio unit.
Most recently chief of unscripted content at Fox network, Allison Wallach will move under Szew, serving as head of global unscripted programming for Fox Entertainment Studios.
Szew will oversee all Fox studios, including Bento Box Entertainment, Fox Alternative Entertainment, Fox scripted studios,...
- 3/27/2024
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade is to keynote at this year’s Banff World Media Festival.
The U.S.-based British exec will take the helm of the 45th edition of the popular fest, which is held in the mountain ranges of Canada. Past summit series have had speakers including Jeffrey Katzenberg, Paula Kerger, Pearlena Igbokwe, Bela Bajaria, Ted Sarandos and Maverick Carter.
Wade became CEO of Fox in 2022 upon Charlie Collier’s departure. He oversees the network, scripted and unscripted studios, international sales house, and partnerships with the likes of Studio Ramsay. He joined Fox seven years ago. Before that, he was showrunner on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and Head of Entertainment Development at BBC Worldwide.
“Being part of Banff’s 45th milestone year is quite an honor,” said Wade.
“This annual must-attend festival is like no other, uniting our industry in celebration of creativity and forward-thinking innovation.
The U.S.-based British exec will take the helm of the 45th edition of the popular fest, which is held in the mountain ranges of Canada. Past summit series have had speakers including Jeffrey Katzenberg, Paula Kerger, Pearlena Igbokwe, Bela Bajaria, Ted Sarandos and Maverick Carter.
Wade became CEO of Fox in 2022 upon Charlie Collier’s departure. He oversees the network, scripted and unscripted studios, international sales house, and partnerships with the likes of Studio Ramsay. He joined Fox seven years ago. Before that, he was showrunner on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and Head of Entertainment Development at BBC Worldwide.
“Being part of Banff’s 45th milestone year is quite an honor,” said Wade.
“This annual must-attend festival is like no other, uniting our industry in celebration of creativity and forward-thinking innovation.
- 2/27/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The future of media, tech and advertising — both their promise and peril — was the topic of the day at the Variety Entertainment Summit at CES 2024, held during the technology industry’s huge annual confab in Las Vegas.
Speakers at the full-day event included Roku Media president Charlie Collier, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, Jenefer Brown, Lionsgate’s EVP & head of global products and experiences, John Harrison, Ey’s Americas leader for media and entertainment, Tony Isetta, VP and head of content marketing for the NFL, and Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy.
Spotted among the event’s attendees were Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman among other Mouse Housers, who were there alongside panel speaker Rita Ferro, Disney’s president of global advertising.
Here are key takeaways from the Variety Entertainment Summit, held Jan. 10 at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas:
Netflix bulks up ad user base,...
Speakers at the full-day event included Roku Media president Charlie Collier, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, Jenefer Brown, Lionsgate’s EVP & head of global products and experiences, John Harrison, Ey’s Americas leader for media and entertainment, Tony Isetta, VP and head of content marketing for the NFL, and Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy.
Spotted among the event’s attendees were Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman among other Mouse Housers, who were there alongside panel speaker Rita Ferro, Disney’s president of global advertising.
Here are key takeaways from the Variety Entertainment Summit, held Jan. 10 at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas:
Netflix bulks up ad user base,...
- 1/11/2024
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
The more things change, the more things stay the same.
That may as well be the motto for the five broadcast networks heading into the 2023-24 season as their corporate parents are increasingly focused on cutting costs, restructurings and streaming. To that end, three of the five networks have made leadership changes in the past year.
The biggest change comes at The CW, which is now majority controlled by Nexstar with former Pop topper Brad Schwartz now tasked with making the younger-skewing network profitable for the first time following the unexpected departure of TV’s longest-tenured president, Mark Pedowitz. Over at CBS, Kelly Kahl and his top lieutenant Thom Sherman and their sizable paydays were bounced in favor of former head of current Amy Reisenbach. Over at Fox, Charlie Collier — who led the network following the sale of its studio counterpart — bailed for Roku with the broadcaster tapping unscripted chief...
That may as well be the motto for the five broadcast networks heading into the 2023-24 season as their corporate parents are increasingly focused on cutting costs, restructurings and streaming. To that end, three of the five networks have made leadership changes in the past year.
The biggest change comes at The CW, which is now majority controlled by Nexstar with former Pop topper Brad Schwartz now tasked with making the younger-skewing network profitable for the first time following the unexpected departure of TV’s longest-tenured president, Mark Pedowitz. Over at CBS, Kelly Kahl and his top lieutenant Thom Sherman and their sizable paydays were bounced in favor of former head of current Amy Reisenbach. Over at Fox, Charlie Collier — who led the network following the sale of its studio counterpart — bailed for Roku with the broadcaster tapping unscripted chief...
- 12/8/2023
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In an unexpected Madison Avenue shake-up, NBCUniversal has poached Alison Levin, a senior advertising executive at Roku, who will take on one of the media giant’s most senior sales roles.
Levin, who was named a president of NBCU’s ad-sales unit, will report to Mark Marshall, global chairman. Levin, who will join NBC in December, will take oversight of ad-sales work across national and local media as well as sports and Olympics efforts. She will also be charged with shaping strategy as NBCU — and its rivals — focus increasingly on helping advertisers connect with specific types of consumers across a broad portfolio of media properties. Levin was just last month promoted to head of global revenue at Roku in a reorganization.
NBCUniversal also elevated Karen Kovacs to president of client partnerships, also reporting to Marshall. She will be tasked with working more closely with chief marketing officers at various advertisers.
Levin, who was named a president of NBCU’s ad-sales unit, will report to Mark Marshall, global chairman. Levin, who will join NBC in December, will take oversight of ad-sales work across national and local media as well as sports and Olympics efforts. She will also be charged with shaping strategy as NBCU — and its rivals — focus increasingly on helping advertisers connect with specific types of consumers across a broad portfolio of media properties. Levin was just last month promoted to head of global revenue at Roku in a reorganization.
NBCUniversal also elevated Karen Kovacs to president of client partnerships, also reporting to Marshall. She will be tasked with working more closely with chief marketing officers at various advertisers.
- 11/8/2023
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Shares of Roku soared 12 percent in after hours trading Wednesday after the company beat Wall Street revenue expectations and saw improvements in its advertising business.
The company reported total net revenue of $912 million, up 20 percent year-over-year. Platform revenue at Roku, which is primarily generated from ads, has also been increasing, reaching $787 million, up 18% year-over-year, the company says, thanks to “diversifying demand sources of advertisers” on the platform, as well as expanding the number of partnerships with companies such as Spotify and Walmart.
“In Q3, the macro environment continued to pressure the overall U.S. advertising market, with ad spend on traditional linear TV down 12% YoY, and traditional TV ad scatter down 27% YoY (according to Smi). Conversely, we saw continued signs of rebound: In Q3, the YoY growth of video advertising on the Roku platform outperformed both the overall ad market and the linear TV ad market in the U.S,...
The company reported total net revenue of $912 million, up 20 percent year-over-year. Platform revenue at Roku, which is primarily generated from ads, has also been increasing, reaching $787 million, up 18% year-over-year, the company says, thanks to “diversifying demand sources of advertisers” on the platform, as well as expanding the number of partnerships with companies such as Spotify and Walmart.
“In Q3, the macro environment continued to pressure the overall U.S. advertising market, with ad spend on traditional linear TV down 12% YoY, and traditional TV ad scatter down 27% YoY (according to Smi). Conversely, we saw continued signs of rebound: In Q3, the YoY growth of video advertising on the Roku platform outperformed both the overall ad market and the linear TV ad market in the U.S,...
- 11/1/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Roku has promoted several executives as Charlie Collier continues to build up the company’s media ambitions.
Among the changes, Alison Levin has been promoted to vice president of global media revenue, where she will assume global responsibility for all revenue efforts across the segment. Kristina Shepard has been elevated to vice president of global advertising sales and partnerships.
Within the content segment, David Eilenberg, Roku’s head of content, will also take responsibility for the Roku Brand Studio, which puts all studio work, including Roku Originals, Roku Studios/This Old House and the Brand Studio under Roku’s content department. Joe Franzetta will officially take over as head of sports.
“I am energized by what we have accomplished, and excited about the opportunities ahead. Roku will become more valuable for its clients and partners, providing solutions and partnerships that help build their businesses. I hope you share my enthusiasm about the future,...
Among the changes, Alison Levin has been promoted to vice president of global media revenue, where she will assume global responsibility for all revenue efforts across the segment. Kristina Shepard has been elevated to vice president of global advertising sales and partnerships.
Within the content segment, David Eilenberg, Roku’s head of content, will also take responsibility for the Roku Brand Studio, which puts all studio work, including Roku Originals, Roku Studios/This Old House and the Brand Studio under Roku’s content department. Joe Franzetta will officially take over as head of sports.
“I am energized by what we have accomplished, and excited about the opportunities ahead. Roku will become more valuable for its clients and partners, providing solutions and partnerships that help build their businesses. I hope you share my enthusiasm about the future,...
- 10/17/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As he approaches his one-year anniversary as president of Roku Media, Charlie Collier is setting his first restructuring of the company’s leadership team, including naming Alison Levin head of global media revenue, upping Kristina Shepard to vice president of global advertising sales and partnerships, giving head of content David Eilenberg oversight of Roku’s Brand Studio segment and formally naming Joe Franzetta head of sports.
Levin and Eilenberg will continue to report directly to Collier, while Shepard is under Levin and Franzetta is under Eilenberg.
Additionally, Julian Mintz, also a member of Levin’s sales team, has been named senior director of enterprise ad sales. Levin will be looking to fill two additional roles: one overseeing Roku’s global ad marketing and the other leading a newly combined department overseeing supply and demand, pricing, inventory management, revenue ops and publisher partnerships.
Elsewhere, Louqman Parampath will continue to lead ad...
Levin and Eilenberg will continue to report directly to Collier, while Shepard is under Levin and Franzetta is under Eilenberg.
Additionally, Julian Mintz, also a member of Levin’s sales team, has been named senior director of enterprise ad sales. Levin will be looking to fill two additional roles: one overseeing Roku’s global ad marketing and the other leading a newly combined department overseeing supply and demand, pricing, inventory management, revenue ops and publisher partnerships.
Elsewhere, Louqman Parampath will continue to lead ad...
- 10/17/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Tucked within an SEC filing on Wednesday that Roku would be laying off 10 percent of its workforce, or about 300 people, is another surprise, which is that even Roku is getting in on the trend of removing content from its streaming service for taxes purposes.
Roku will incur an impairment charge of between $55-65 million “related to removing select existing licensed and produced content from Company-operated services on its TV streaming platform.” So like Max, Disney+, Paramount+, and others before it, Roku will permanently remove licensed and original content from its streaming platform The Roku Channel.
The filing did not say which content would be removed or how much, but it’s part of a “strategic review of its content portfolio” and an overall “continuing evaluation of its operations.”
As IndieWire has previously articulated, the trend of taking content write downs during a restructure is different than rotating in and out licensed content.
Roku will incur an impairment charge of between $55-65 million “related to removing select existing licensed and produced content from Company-operated services on its TV streaming platform.” So like Max, Disney+, Paramount+, and others before it, Roku will permanently remove licensed and original content from its streaming platform The Roku Channel.
The filing did not say which content would be removed or how much, but it’s part of a “strategic review of its content portfolio” and an overall “continuing evaluation of its operations.”
As IndieWire has previously articulated, the trend of taking content write downs during a restructure is different than rotating in and out licensed content.
- 9/6/2023
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Roku will lay off 10% of its workforce, equating to over 300 employees, in an effort to reign in company costs, according to an SEC filing on Wednesday.
The company has made the decision to reduce its operating expenses by additionally removing specific licensed and owned programming from the platform after a “strategic review of its content portfolio,” which will result in an estimated charge of between $55 million and $65 million.
Roku’s moves are intended to “bring down its year-over-year operating expense growth rate by consolidating its office space utilization…reducing outside services expenses, and slowing its year-over-year headcount expense growth rate through a workforce reduction,” according to the filing.
For Roku’s second fiscal quarter of 2023, the company beat Wall Street expectations, reporting a smaller-than-expected net loss of $107.6 million, or 76 cents per share. The company’s total revenue increased 11% year over year to $847 million.
In the third quarter of this year,...
The company has made the decision to reduce its operating expenses by additionally removing specific licensed and owned programming from the platform after a “strategic review of its content portfolio,” which will result in an estimated charge of between $55 million and $65 million.
Roku’s moves are intended to “bring down its year-over-year operating expense growth rate by consolidating its office space utilization…reducing outside services expenses, and slowing its year-over-year headcount expense growth rate through a workforce reduction,” according to the filing.
For Roku’s second fiscal quarter of 2023, the company beat Wall Street expectations, reporting a smaller-than-expected net loss of $107.6 million, or 76 cents per share. The company’s total revenue increased 11% year over year to $847 million.
In the third quarter of this year,...
- 9/6/2023
- by Natalie Korach
- The Wrap
Roku is laying off around 10% of staff as it “performs a strategic review of [its] content portfolio.”
The media company will be hit with a restructuring charge of around $45 million to $65 million following the redundancy process, which will hit around 300 staffers. The redundancies and charges should have concluded by the end of this year, Roku said.
Roku made the announcement via an SEC filing early this morning U.S. time, with the filing declaring adjusted revenue and Ebitda Q3 estimations of $835 million to $875 million for the former and negative $20 million to $40 million for the latter. In Q2, Roku revenue jumped to $847 million despite a difficult market, although it had an operating loss of $126 million.
Alongside the layoffs, the California-headquartered outfit is also “performing a strategic review of its content portfolio, reducing outside service expenses” and “consolidating office space utilization.”
Roku expects to record an impairment charge in a preliminary estimated range...
The media company will be hit with a restructuring charge of around $45 million to $65 million following the redundancy process, which will hit around 300 staffers. The redundancies and charges should have concluded by the end of this year, Roku said.
Roku made the announcement via an SEC filing early this morning U.S. time, with the filing declaring adjusted revenue and Ebitda Q3 estimations of $835 million to $875 million for the former and negative $20 million to $40 million for the latter. In Q2, Roku revenue jumped to $847 million despite a difficult market, although it had an operating loss of $126 million.
Alongside the layoffs, the California-headquartered outfit is also “performing a strategic review of its content portfolio, reducing outside service expenses” and “consolidating office space utilization.”
Roku expects to record an impairment charge in a preliminary estimated range...
- 9/6/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Roku will cut more than 300 staffers — laying off 10% of its workforce — as the streaming-platform company continues its battle to control costs.
In addition, Roku will remove certain licensed and owned content from its platform as part of a “strategic review of its content portfolio,” resulting in an impairment charge of up to $65 million in the current quarter, the company disclosed in an SEC filing Wednesday.
Other cost-cutting measures Roku outlined are consolidating office space and reducing outside services expenses. The goal is to reduce year-over-year operating expense growth rate, the company said.
Roku’s stock price jumped more than 9% in early trading Wednesday on the cost-cutting announcement.
The layoffs represent Roku’s third round of job cuts in less than a year, after it pink-slipped 200 staffers in November 2022 and another 200 in March 2023. As of the end of 2022, Roku had approximately 3,600 full-time employees. The company, in addition to the layoffs, said...
In addition, Roku will remove certain licensed and owned content from its platform as part of a “strategic review of its content portfolio,” resulting in an impairment charge of up to $65 million in the current quarter, the company disclosed in an SEC filing Wednesday.
Other cost-cutting measures Roku outlined are consolidating office space and reducing outside services expenses. The goal is to reduce year-over-year operating expense growth rate, the company said.
Roku’s stock price jumped more than 9% in early trading Wednesday on the cost-cutting announcement.
The layoffs represent Roku’s third round of job cuts in less than a year, after it pink-slipped 200 staffers in November 2022 and another 200 in March 2023. As of the end of 2022, Roku had approximately 3,600 full-time employees. The company, in addition to the layoffs, said...
- 9/6/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Roku executives spent some time today talking about M&e and the company’s Media & Entertainment advertising business that they expect to take a hit in the second half of the year as Hollywood strikes disrupt the television calendar.
“As an illustration of the M&e marketplace change, it’s taken place in really less than one year,” said President Charlie Collier, the former Fox and AMC exec who joined Roku last fall, on a conference call after the company’s quarterly earnings.
“It feels like a long time ago, but in just August and September of last year, that’s when HBO Max, now Max, launched its Game of Thrones spinoff [House of the Dragon]. It’s when Amazon launched its Lord of The Rings, The Rings of Power TV show. And you’re not going to see anything like that this year for all sorts of obvious reasons. And...
“As an illustration of the M&e marketplace change, it’s taken place in really less than one year,” said President Charlie Collier, the former Fox and AMC exec who joined Roku last fall, on a conference call after the company’s quarterly earnings.
“It feels like a long time ago, but in just August and September of last year, that’s when HBO Max, now Max, launched its Game of Thrones spinoff [House of the Dragon]. It’s when Amazon launched its Lord of The Rings, The Rings of Power TV show. And you’re not going to see anything like that this year for all sorts of obvious reasons. And...
- 7/28/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
“Barbie” got a surprising shout-out during Roku’s second quarter earnings call Thursday thanks to the movie’s takeover of the video streaming hub, part of the all-in Warner Bros. marketing blitz to boost the film.
Tied to the premiere of the Greta Gerwig hit, “Barbie” was part of a takeover of the streaming hub on Roku devices. Roku users were treated to a bright pink main page featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling that included a link to the trailer. When users scrolled to their channels, a giant pink “B” complete with Barbie and Ken appeared on the righthand side.
But the collaboration’s most discussed aspect was perhaps its subtlest.
Barbie’s Dream House was incorporated into Roku City, the scrolling screen saver of an urban vista users see on TVs when the app hasn’t been used in a while. Charlie Collier, Roku’s president of media,...
Tied to the premiere of the Greta Gerwig hit, “Barbie” was part of a takeover of the streaming hub on Roku devices. Roku users were treated to a bright pink main page featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling that included a link to the trailer. When users scrolled to their channels, a giant pink “B” complete with Barbie and Ken appeared on the righthand side.
But the collaboration’s most discussed aspect was perhaps its subtlest.
Barbie’s Dream House was incorporated into Roku City, the scrolling screen saver of an urban vista users see on TVs when the app hasn’t been used in a while. Charlie Collier, Roku’s president of media,...
- 7/27/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Paramount+ Picks Up ‘Twisted Metal’ In Canada
Sony action-comedy Twisted Metal, which is based on the classic PlayStation series, has been picked up in Canada by Paramount+. More markets are to come, according to the streamer, which will launch the Anthony Mackie-starrer on August 10. Executive produced by Will Arnett, Twisted Metal follows a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a badass axe-wielding car thief, he’ll face savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown named Sweet Tooth who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck. The series comes from Sony Pictures Television and is based on an original story by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Zombieland), with Michael Jonathan Smith (Cobra Kai) penning. “Twisted Metal is unlike anything in the market today,...
Sony action-comedy Twisted Metal, which is based on the classic PlayStation series, has been picked up in Canada by Paramount+. More markets are to come, according to the streamer, which will launch the Anthony Mackie-starrer on August 10. Executive produced by Will Arnett, Twisted Metal follows a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a badass axe-wielding car thief, he’ll face savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown named Sweet Tooth who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck. The series comes from Sony Pictures Television and is based on an original story by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Zombieland), with Michael Jonathan Smith (Cobra Kai) penning. “Twisted Metal is unlike anything in the market today,...
- 7/20/2023
- by Max Goldbart, Zac Ntim and Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Roku has named Jeff Blackburn, the longtime Amazon executive who led the retail giant’s streaming and content business, to its board of directors.
Blackburn most recently served as Amazon’s svp for global media and entertainment, where his purview included Prime Video, Amazon Studios, Amazon Music, Audible and Twitch, among other divisions. The executive retired from Amazon earlier this year after more than two decades at the company, which he first joined in 1998 after helping Amazon with its IPO while working at Deutsche Bank.
Blackburn will join Anthony Wood, Ravi Ahuja, Mai Fyfield, Jeff Hastings, Laurie Simon Hodrick, Neil Hunt, Gina Luna and CEO Ray Rothrock on the board.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Roku’s Board of Directors at such a pivotal time in the industry as more entertainment continues to move to TV streaming,” Blackburn said in a statement on Thursday. “I look forward to working...
Blackburn most recently served as Amazon’s svp for global media and entertainment, where his purview included Prime Video, Amazon Studios, Amazon Music, Audible and Twitch, among other divisions. The executive retired from Amazon earlier this year after more than two decades at the company, which he first joined in 1998 after helping Amazon with its IPO while working at Deutsche Bank.
Blackburn will join Anthony Wood, Ravi Ahuja, Mai Fyfield, Jeff Hastings, Laurie Simon Hodrick, Neil Hunt, Gina Luna and CEO Ray Rothrock on the board.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Roku’s Board of Directors at such a pivotal time in the industry as more entertainment continues to move to TV streaming,” Blackburn said in a statement on Thursday. “I look forward to working...
- 6/8/2023
- by J. Clara Chan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“We have to love the creative and we have to love the business model.”
That’s what Fox CEO Rob Wade told reporters Monday ahead of his network’s upfront presentation to Madison Avenue ad buyers, as he and his fellow broadcast network executives usher in a harsh new reality that confronts the nearly flatline linear ratings for pricey scripted originals.
That’s also how Wade described the decision to let 911 — Fox’s highest-rated scripted show — move to ABC for the upcoming 2023-24 broadcast season while still keeping its lower-rated spinoff, Lone Star.
Wade, who took over as CEO for Charlie Collier in October 2022, is one of few broadcast execs who carved out time for the press during upfronts week. What has historically been a busy week lined with numerous press calls and presentations for television trade press has now become an afterthought of sorts as Fox, for the second year in a row,...
That’s what Fox CEO Rob Wade told reporters Monday ahead of his network’s upfront presentation to Madison Avenue ad buyers, as he and his fellow broadcast network executives usher in a harsh new reality that confronts the nearly flatline linear ratings for pricey scripted originals.
That’s also how Wade described the decision to let 911 — Fox’s highest-rated scripted show — move to ABC for the upcoming 2023-24 broadcast season while still keeping its lower-rated spinoff, Lone Star.
Wade, who took over as CEO for Charlie Collier in October 2022, is one of few broadcast execs who carved out time for the press during upfronts week. What has historically been a busy week lined with numerous press calls and presentations for television trade press has now become an afterthought of sorts as Fox, for the second year in a row,...
- 5/15/2023
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In one of the biggest twists of the 2023 upfront, Fox opted not to renew its highest rated scripted series, 9-1-1. As Deadline reported first, the drama, produced by 20th Television, was instead picked up for a seventh season by 20th TV sibling ABC.
While the announcement came earlier this month, during Fox’s pre-upfront press call Monday morning, the network’s CEO Rob Wade revealed that the decision for 9-1-1‘s run to end with Season 6 was actually made a year ago by his predecessor, Charlie Collier, as part of the difficult, down-to-the-wire renewals of 9-1-1 and The Resident, which finally closed a couple of hours before the network’s upfront presentation.
“But needless to say, you look at shows in two different ways. It’s first and foremost from the creative lens and how much we love to create, and the second thing is really the economics of that,...
While the announcement came earlier this month, during Fox’s pre-upfront press call Monday morning, the network’s CEO Rob Wade revealed that the decision for 9-1-1‘s run to end with Season 6 was actually made a year ago by his predecessor, Charlie Collier, as part of the difficult, down-to-the-wire renewals of 9-1-1 and The Resident, which finally closed a couple of hours before the network’s upfront presentation.
“But needless to say, you look at shows in two different ways. It’s first and foremost from the creative lens and how much we love to create, and the second thing is really the economics of that,...
- 5/15/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
“Show me the money,” Cuba Gooding Jr. famously tells Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire. Wall Street has been pressuring Hollywood to do the same, as investors push for streaming profits amid economic headwinds. Key parts of the solution for industry players, from Disney to Amazon Studios, have been cost cuts. But while entertainment companies have been showing the door to thousands of staffers, they have also shown their top executives the money — again.
In a case of bad timing, disclosures of higher (or lower, but still very healthy) CEO compensation in regulatory filings in March and April have made for a sharp contrast with layoffs and the start of the writers strike. This executive pay reporting season didn’t repeat last year’s picture of several bosses joining the very exclusive nine-figure club, starring Endeavor’s Ari Emanuel ($308.2 million) and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav ($246.6 million). But several top...
In a case of bad timing, disclosures of higher (or lower, but still very healthy) CEO compensation in regulatory filings in March and April have made for a sharp contrast with layoffs and the start of the writers strike. This executive pay reporting season didn’t repeat last year’s picture of several bosses joining the very exclusive nine-figure club, starring Endeavor’s Ari Emanuel ($308.2 million) and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav ($246.6 million). But several top...
- 5/8/2023
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Roku City is about to get a bit more crowded.
The recognizable screen saver on Roku devices is best known for featuring locations, buildings and characters from beloved films and TV shows (like King Kong scaling the Empire State building, or a fire house that looks suspiciously like the headquarters for the Ghostbusters).
But at its Newfront presentation to marketers on Tuesday, Roku unveiled a much requested new offering: Roku City brand experiences, which will let brands “become unmissable to the nearly 40 million homes that enjoy Roku City each month,” per the company. First up is fast food giant McDonald’s.
While the Roku City real estate may be the headline offering this year, Roku also leaned into its scale, with Weird Al Yankovic opening its Newfront event to tout his recent film, and new Roku content and advertising chief Charlie Collier telling assembled buyers and brands that “Roku is not...
The recognizable screen saver on Roku devices is best known for featuring locations, buildings and characters from beloved films and TV shows (like King Kong scaling the Empire State building, or a fire house that looks suspiciously like the headquarters for the Ghostbusters).
But at its Newfront presentation to marketers on Tuesday, Roku unveiled a much requested new offering: Roku City brand experiences, which will let brands “become unmissable to the nearly 40 million homes that enjoy Roku City each month,” per the company. First up is fast food giant McDonald’s.
While the Roku City real estate may be the headline offering this year, Roku also leaned into its scale, with Weird Al Yankovic opening its Newfront event to tout his recent film, and new Roku content and advertising chief Charlie Collier telling assembled buyers and brands that “Roku is not...
- 5/2/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Charlie Collier, who segued last fall from lengthy exec stints at Fox Corp. and AMC Networks to a top post at Roku, took the stage at his first NewFronts pitch Tuesday to invite advertisers to bring their messages to the stream.
“Roku is not fighting for turf in the streaming wars,” he told the crowd at Chelsea Factory in New York. “Roku is the turf. The streaming wars are not happening to Roku. We’re not in the streaming wars. The streaming wars are playing out on our platform.”
After a brief introduction by “Weird” Al Yankovic, whose life and music served as the backdrop of Roku’s 2022 original movie Weird, Collier began by paying homage to Roku’s origins. Founder and CEO Anthony Wood, he said, is the inventor or the DVR and then devised of a piece of hardware capable of delivering video images via the internet because...
“Roku is not fighting for turf in the streaming wars,” he told the crowd at Chelsea Factory in New York. “Roku is the turf. The streaming wars are not happening to Roku. We’re not in the streaming wars. The streaming wars are playing out on our platform.”
After a brief introduction by “Weird” Al Yankovic, whose life and music served as the backdrop of Roku’s 2022 original movie Weird, Collier began by paying homage to Roku’s origins. Founder and CEO Anthony Wood, he said, is the inventor or the DVR and then devised of a piece of hardware capable of delivering video images via the internet because...
- 5/2/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Roku is making a franchise out of its original unscripted rom-com, Meet Me in Paris.
But instead of the Champs-Élysées or Luxembourg Gardens, the second Meet Me reality rom-com will see a new group of young women traveling to Rome in search of love. Production for the 90-minute film, Meet Me in Rome, is set to begin later this year and will debut at a later date on The Roku Channel.
Like Meet Me in Paris, Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and Zoe Saldaña’s Cinestar Pictures will return to co-produce the film. Witherspoon, Saldaña, Sara Rea, Sue Kinkead, Cisely Saldaña, Mariel Saldaña and Angela Rae Berg will serve as executive producers.
“Meet Me in Paris was a dream to make,” Rea, who leads unscripted for Hello Sunshine, said. “We witnessed three exceptional women becoming dear friends as they searched for love in one of the most romantic cities in the world.
But instead of the Champs-Élysées or Luxembourg Gardens, the second Meet Me reality rom-com will see a new group of young women traveling to Rome in search of love. Production for the 90-minute film, Meet Me in Rome, is set to begin later this year and will debut at a later date on The Roku Channel.
Like Meet Me in Paris, Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and Zoe Saldaña’s Cinestar Pictures will return to co-produce the film. Witherspoon, Saldaña, Sara Rea, Sue Kinkead, Cisely Saldaña, Mariel Saldaña and Angela Rae Berg will serve as executive producers.
“Meet Me in Paris was a dream to make,” Rea, who leads unscripted for Hello Sunshine, said. “We witnessed three exceptional women becoming dear friends as they searched for love in one of the most romantic cities in the world.
- 5/2/2023
- by J. Clara Chan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The deadline for public companies working on calendar fiscal year to disclose their top executives’ pay made for unfortunate optics. It fell on April 28, only three days before the current WGA contract with the studios is set to expire — and the parade of eight-figure packages for top executives at some of the same media companies from which writers are seeking minimum pay increases has raised eyebrows.
Amid a media-industry reset over the past year, studios have been pointing to the rough times they’ve been going through while countering WGA’s pay-increase proposals, including tanking stocks, layoffs and other cost-cutting measures, inflation and recession fears.
Despite all that, many entertainment CEOs got hefty raises in 2022, with the stream of announcements coming as the WGA-amptp negotiations entered their final weeks.
CEO compensation last year averaged about $32 million for 13 CEOs at 12 media companies (Netflix has co-CEOs), with several executives crossing the $50 million mark.
Amid a media-industry reset over the past year, studios have been pointing to the rough times they’ve been going through while countering WGA’s pay-increase proposals, including tanking stocks, layoffs and other cost-cutting measures, inflation and recession fears.
Despite all that, many entertainment CEOs got hefty raises in 2022, with the stream of announcements coming as the WGA-amptp negotiations entered their final weeks.
CEO compensation last year averaged about $32 million for 13 CEOs at 12 media companies (Netflix has co-CEOs), with several executives crossing the $50 million mark.
- 5/2/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith and Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
After an enviable career working for traditional TV outlets, Charlie Collier surprised many a media executive late last year by leaving a senior job running entertainment programming for the Fox broadcast network to join Roku, the company that gives millions of Americans their access to the world of streaming.
He hopes advertisers will follow.
On Tuesday, Collier, 53, now heading Roku’s ad sales and development of content on its own platforms, will be pressed to show potential sponsors why. Roku, which boasts 71.6 million active accounts, will make a big pitch to Madison Avenue as part of a group of industry “newfront” sessions. Even though NBCUniversal, Disney and their rivals won’t make similar outreach until May, presentations this week from digital players such as Amazon and Roku are seen as an aggressive bid to win ad dollars that might previously have gone to the TV companies. After all, the networks,...
He hopes advertisers will follow.
On Tuesday, Collier, 53, now heading Roku’s ad sales and development of content on its own platforms, will be pressed to show potential sponsors why. Roku, which boasts 71.6 million active accounts, will make a big pitch to Madison Avenue as part of a group of industry “newfront” sessions. Even though NBCUniversal, Disney and their rivals won’t make similar outreach until May, presentations this week from digital players such as Amazon and Roku are seen as an aggressive bid to win ad dollars that might previously have gone to the TV companies. After all, the networks,...
- 5/1/2023
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Amid an advertising downturn, media planners will be making their more selective bets after attending the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s Newfronts this year, set for May 1-4 in New York. As executives ready their pitches, here are a few key questions for the main presenters.
Amazon
It’s already an advertising powerhouse, quietly generating more than $37 billion in ad revenue last year. But most of that ad revenue was tied to its retail business, where sellers are fighting to get in front of consumers. The Newfronts are more focused on video, where Amazon’s live sports properties and Freevee free streaming service are expected to have top billing. Thursday Night Football has quickly become the most popular live-streamed programming available, and the company is betting that its video ad business has room to expand. And there’s Twitch and the Fire TV platform, which also are expected to play a part in the pitch.
Amazon
It’s already an advertising powerhouse, quietly generating more than $37 billion in ad revenue last year. But most of that ad revenue was tied to its retail business, where sellers are fighting to get in front of consumers. The Newfronts are more focused on video, where Amazon’s live sports properties and Freevee free streaming service are expected to have top billing. Thursday Night Football has quickly become the most popular live-streamed programming available, and the company is betting that its video ad business has room to expand. And there’s Twitch and the Fire TV platform, which also are expected to play a part in the pitch.
- 4/28/2023
- by Alex Weprin, Caitlin Huston and J. Clara Chan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Roku executive Charlie Collier received a total compensation package of $53.3 million in 2022, marking a lucrative initial year for the executive after he joined the company in October.
Collier earned a base salary of $1.075 million, with a stock awards package of $23,279,331 and option awards of $28,925,320, a company’s SEC filing published Thursday revealed. Other compensation totaled $25,245. Much of that compensation represented a stock grant awarded to Collier as a newly hired executive, vesting over the course of four years.
Notably, Collier’s pay package more than doubled that of founder CEO Anthony Wood, who took home $20.9 million. Wood, however, owns about 12.8% of the company stock, worth a little over $1 billion, and maintains voting control over the company through ownership of a special class of shares.
Collier exited his position as CEO of Fox Entertainment last year to join Roku as president of Roku Media, presiding over the Roku Channel’s content and ad sales.
Collier earned a base salary of $1.075 million, with a stock awards package of $23,279,331 and option awards of $28,925,320, a company’s SEC filing published Thursday revealed. Other compensation totaled $25,245. Much of that compensation represented a stock grant awarded to Collier as a newly hired executive, vesting over the course of four years.
Notably, Collier’s pay package more than doubled that of founder CEO Anthony Wood, who took home $20.9 million. Wood, however, owns about 12.8% of the company stock, worth a little over $1 billion, and maintains voting control over the company through ownership of a special class of shares.
Collier exited his position as CEO of Fox Entertainment last year to join Roku as president of Roku Media, presiding over the Roku Channel’s content and ad sales.
- 4/27/2023
- by Jose Alejandro Bastidas
- The Wrap
Charlie Collier, who took over as President of Roku Media in late October, had a pay package that topped $53 million in the last three months of 2022.
Collier earned a base salary of $1.075 million, with a stock awards package of $23,279,331 and option awards of $28,925,320. The equity awards were made in 2022 and vest over four years. Other compensation totaled $25,245.
Collier left his position as Fox Entertainment CEO to take the top spot at Roku in September. He runs Roku Media globally, managing its ad platform business as well as content for Roku’s owned-and-operated channels including The Roku Channel.
During his time with the Fox linear network, which came largely after the sale of most of 21st Century Fox to the Walt Disney Company, he was responsible for launching Studio Ramsay Global with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, launching Blockchain Creative Labs and acquiring Bento Box Entertainment and MarVista Entertainment.
Related: Bento Box...
Collier earned a base salary of $1.075 million, with a stock awards package of $23,279,331 and option awards of $28,925,320. The equity awards were made in 2022 and vest over four years. Other compensation totaled $25,245.
Collier left his position as Fox Entertainment CEO to take the top spot at Roku in September. He runs Roku Media globally, managing its ad platform business as well as content for Roku’s owned-and-operated channels including The Roku Channel.
During his time with the Fox linear network, which came largely after the sale of most of 21st Century Fox to the Walt Disney Company, he was responsible for launching Studio Ramsay Global with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, launching Blockchain Creative Labs and acquiring Bento Box Entertainment and MarVista Entertainment.
Related: Bento Box...
- 4/27/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Charlie Collier, the new president of Roku media, earned total compensation of $53.3 million in 2022, after joining the streaming and device company in late October of that year.
Collier, who joined Roku after serving as CEO of Fox Entertainment, brought in a base salary of $1.075 million, alongside a stock awards package of $23,279,331 and option awards of $28,925,320. These are both new hire equity awards that vest over four years. All other compensation amounted to $25,245.
CEO Anthony Wood earned $20.99 million in 2022, up from $18.1 million in 2021. Wood’s base salary of $1.2 million has remained the same for the past three years. But he received $19.8 million in option awards this year, up from $16.9 million in 2021.
Roku CFO Steve Louden saw his total salary increase to $8.5 million from $5.5 million in 2021. His base salary hit $1.6 million in 2022, after receiving $700,000 for the prior two years, and his option awards increased to $6.9 million from $4.8 million.
Collier is seen as...
Collier, who joined Roku after serving as CEO of Fox Entertainment, brought in a base salary of $1.075 million, alongside a stock awards package of $23,279,331 and option awards of $28,925,320. These are both new hire equity awards that vest over four years. All other compensation amounted to $25,245.
CEO Anthony Wood earned $20.99 million in 2022, up from $18.1 million in 2021. Wood’s base salary of $1.2 million has remained the same for the past three years. But he received $19.8 million in option awards this year, up from $16.9 million in 2021.
Roku CFO Steve Louden saw his total salary increase to $8.5 million from $5.5 million in 2021. His base salary hit $1.6 million in 2022, after receiving $700,000 for the prior two years, and his option awards increased to $6.9 million from $4.8 million.
Collier is seen as...
- 4/27/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Charlie Collier, who joined Roku last fall as president of its newly created media division, had a compensation package worth $53.3 million last year — more than twice as much as his boss, CEO Anthony Wood, took home.
Collier left his post as CEO of Fox Entertainment to head up Roku Media, where he now oversees content and ad sales for the Roku Channel. Roku’s recruitment of the high-profile TV exec — who brought such hits as “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad” and “The Walking Dead” to AMC — signaled that the company plans to spend more on original content. That said, Roku has been taking steps to cut costs, including laying off about 400 employees, after its revenue growth slowed dramatically in the last two quarters.
In 2022, Collier’s pay package included $1.075 million in base salary along with a boatload of stock: $23.3 million worth in stock grants and $28.9 million in stock options, according to...
Collier left his post as CEO of Fox Entertainment to head up Roku Media, where he now oversees content and ad sales for the Roku Channel. Roku’s recruitment of the high-profile TV exec — who brought such hits as “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad” and “The Walking Dead” to AMC — signaled that the company plans to spend more on original content. That said, Roku has been taking steps to cut costs, including laying off about 400 employees, after its revenue growth slowed dramatically in the last two quarters.
In 2022, Collier’s pay package included $1.075 million in base salary along with a boatload of stock: $23.3 million worth in stock grants and $28.9 million in stock options, according to...
- 4/27/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Roku pared down its operating losses in the first quarter of 2023 to $212.5 million, after several quarters of growing losses.
This is an improvement from its Q4 operating losses of $249.9 million, and comes after Roku had set out a plan to tighten expenses moving forward, with a plan to reach positive adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in 2024.
Total active accounts inched up to 71.6 million from 70 million in the previous quarter. Streaming hours reached 25.1 billion, up 4.2 billion hours or 20 percent year-over-year, and above the 23.9 billion in the previous quarter.
Roku reported total net revenue of $741 million, above their guidance of $700 million and net income loss of $193.6 million, compared to their guidance of a loss of $205 million.
As part of its plan to tighten expenses, and amid a difficult ad environment, at the end of March, Roku announced it would cut another 200 jobs, or about 6 percent of its workforce, after...
This is an improvement from its Q4 operating losses of $249.9 million, and comes after Roku had set out a plan to tighten expenses moving forward, with a plan to reach positive adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in 2024.
Total active accounts inched up to 71.6 million from 70 million in the previous quarter. Streaming hours reached 25.1 billion, up 4.2 billion hours or 20 percent year-over-year, and above the 23.9 billion in the previous quarter.
Roku reported total net revenue of $741 million, above their guidance of $700 million and net income loss of $193.6 million, compared to their guidance of a loss of $205 million.
As part of its plan to tighten expenses, and amid a difficult ad environment, at the end of March, Roku announced it would cut another 200 jobs, or about 6 percent of its workforce, after...
- 4/26/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Roku City wants to colonize Times Square.
The purple-hued metropolis, the backdrop of the popular screen-saver Roku introduced in 2017, is invading New York City’s so-called “Crossroads of the World” in a bid to make the streaming platform more top of mind in the Big Apple just as the advertising world gets ready to hear pitches from a variety of new-tech video players.
Roku wants to remind both consumers and advertisers about its relevance in the weeks leading up to the NewFronts, a set of annual presentations by digital-media outlets to advertisers. In 2023, streaming has gained new scale and Madison Avenue is looking for ways to weave commercials into the consumers’ broadband experience. Digital advertising is projected to grow 9% in 2023, according to Interpublic Group’s Magna, compared with a decline of 4% for linear advertising formats.
Roku intends to promote its presence as a sort of gateway to streaming activity, and...
The purple-hued metropolis, the backdrop of the popular screen-saver Roku introduced in 2017, is invading New York City’s so-called “Crossroads of the World” in a bid to make the streaming platform more top of mind in the Big Apple just as the advertising world gets ready to hear pitches from a variety of new-tech video players.
Roku wants to remind both consumers and advertisers about its relevance in the weeks leading up to the NewFronts, a set of annual presentations by digital-media outlets to advertisers. In 2023, streaming has gained new scale and Madison Avenue is looking for ways to weave commercials into the consumers’ broadband experience. Digital advertising is projected to grow 9% in 2023, according to Interpublic Group’s Magna, compared with a decline of 4% for linear advertising formats.
Roku intends to promote its presence as a sort of gateway to streaming activity, and...
- 4/17/2023
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Roku is promoting a number of execs in its originals team following a shakeup last week.
Brian Tannenbaum / Olivia Laroche / Lydia Antonini (Roku)
Deadline revealed last week that Colin Davis, who was Roku’s Head of Scripted Originals, was moving to oversee comedy development at Sony Pictures Television with alternative chief Brian Tannenbaum taking over as Head of Roku Originals on an interim basis.
That move is now permanent, as we forecast, with Tannenbaum now reporting directly to David Eilenberg, who was recently promoted to VP, and Head of Content, Roku Media.
Elsewhere, Lydia Antonini, who was previously Head of Creative Affairs, becomes Head of Scripted Originals and non-scripted exec Olivia Laroche has been promoted to Head of Alternative Originals.
Both Antonini and Laroche now report to Tannenbaum.
Elsewhere, Roku’s Content Acquisition team will now report directly to Eilenberg, who reports to former Fox CEO Charlie Collier, who is now President,...
Brian Tannenbaum / Olivia Laroche / Lydia Antonini (Roku)
Deadline revealed last week that Colin Davis, who was Roku’s Head of Scripted Originals, was moving to oversee comedy development at Sony Pictures Television with alternative chief Brian Tannenbaum taking over as Head of Roku Originals on an interim basis.
That move is now permanent, as we forecast, with Tannenbaum now reporting directly to David Eilenberg, who was recently promoted to VP, and Head of Content, Roku Media.
Elsewhere, Lydia Antonini, who was previously Head of Creative Affairs, becomes Head of Scripted Originals and non-scripted exec Olivia Laroche has been promoted to Head of Alternative Originals.
Both Antonini and Laroche now report to Tannenbaum.
Elsewhere, Roku’s Content Acquisition team will now report directly to Eilenberg, who reports to former Fox CEO Charlie Collier, who is now President,...
- 3/24/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Cable was still coming of age when the original “Night Court” aired on NBC in the ’80s and early ’90s. Forget Netflix; when Harry Anderson first sat behind the gavel as Judge Harry Stone, Napster founder Sean Parker had just turned 4. This “Night Court” starring Melissa Rauch as Judge Abby Stone exists in another century, but it may as well be another world.
However, showrunner Dan Rubin (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) knows he has an advantage other freshmen do not. “It’s great if you have that name recognition,” he told IndieWire.
This is not the heyday of broadcast TV, but there’s always room for a hit like Fox’s “Accused,” NBC’s “Night Court,” and CBS’ “Fire Country.” The path to making it from idea to air is both similar and different. These days, we have summer originals, straight-to-series orders, smaller episode counts; a midseason premiere is no longer a sign of desperation.
However, showrunner Dan Rubin (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) knows he has an advantage other freshmen do not. “It’s great if you have that name recognition,” he told IndieWire.
This is not the heyday of broadcast TV, but there’s always room for a hit like Fox’s “Accused,” NBC’s “Night Court,” and CBS’ “Fire Country.” The path to making it from idea to air is both similar and different. These days, we have summer originals, straight-to-series orders, smaller episode counts; a midseason premiere is no longer a sign of desperation.
- 3/8/2023
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Last year, Fox’s in-person Upfront event at the Skylight venue in New York surprised ad buyers with a largely pre-recorded video led by then-boss Charlie Collier.
This year, the network is returning to the Upfronts, but is promising a new format, new venue and a live stage presentation.
The broadcaster, which is now led by Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade, will hold its event on Monday May 15 at the Manhattan Center.
It will join the likes of NBCUniversal, which is also holding its event on May 15, Disney, which is holding its event on Tuesday May 16, and newcomer Netflix, which is getting in on the action after it entered the ad business for the first time on Wednesday May 17, alongside Warner Bros. Discovery. It will not, however, be joined by CBS, whose parent company Paramount is plotting a separate plan.
Fox’s event, coming off the back of a Super Bowl ratings boom,...
This year, the network is returning to the Upfronts, but is promising a new format, new venue and a live stage presentation.
The broadcaster, which is now led by Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade, will hold its event on Monday May 15 at the Manhattan Center.
It will join the likes of NBCUniversal, which is also holding its event on May 15, Disney, which is holding its event on Tuesday May 16, and newcomer Netflix, which is getting in on the action after it entered the ad business for the first time on Wednesday May 17, alongside Warner Bros. Discovery. It will not, however, be joined by CBS, whose parent company Paramount is plotting a separate plan.
Fox’s event, coming off the back of a Super Bowl ratings boom,...
- 2/23/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Despite ballooning operating losses (nearly $250 million) and an advertising downturn, Roku’s stock soared a day after it reported fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 15. Part of this came as the number of active users picked up to 70 million and the Anthony Wood-led firm beat revenue expectations for the quarter. Roku also promised to tighten its expenses moving forward, with a plan to reach positive adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization in 2024.
But, longer term, Wall Street’s view on the stock remains mixed, depending on how much belief there is that Roku can maintain its place as a key gatekeeper in the streaming landscape with its media player. (Roku’s stock sat at $71.59 as of market close on Feb. 17.)
A team of analysts at investment bank Evercore (which has an $80 price target for the firm) note that Roku has an outsized exposure to the scatter ad market (ad...
But, longer term, Wall Street’s view on the stock remains mixed, depending on how much belief there is that Roku can maintain its place as a key gatekeeper in the streaming landscape with its media player. (Roku’s stock sat at $71.59 as of market close on Feb. 17.)
A team of analysts at investment bank Evercore (which has an $80 price target for the firm) note that Roku has an outsized exposure to the scatter ad market (ad...
- 2/20/2023
- by Caitlin Huston
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Roku’s February 15 earnings report was amazing. The company added 4.6 million monthly active users in its fiscal Q4 for 2022 to reach 70 million and crushed Wall Street’s revenue expectations, leading its stock to jump 18 percent on Thursday and inspiring analysts to raise their outlooks.
Where those same analysts are torn is what this really means: Either Roku is on the verge of profitability, or — it could be a brief moment of bliss before big-picture trends hold Roku back.
Let’s start on the rosier side of things. Wedbush analysts love what Roku is selling, maintaining its rating of “Outperform” and raising its target price to 80 (up from 75). Why? When it comes to ad dollars coming over from linear to digital TV, Roku appears to be taking a huge chunk of market share.
“Once macroeconomic trends improve, Roku is poised to return to meaningful profitability as a platform and Fast channel leader,...
Where those same analysts are torn is what this really means: Either Roku is on the verge of profitability, or — it could be a brief moment of bliss before big-picture trends hold Roku back.
Let’s start on the rosier side of things. Wedbush analysts love what Roku is selling, maintaining its rating of “Outperform” and raising its target price to 80 (up from 75). Why? When it comes to ad dollars coming over from linear to digital TV, Roku appears to be taking a huge chunk of market share.
“Once macroeconomic trends improve, Roku is poised to return to meaningful profitability as a platform and Fast channel leader,...
- 2/16/2023
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Roku continued to see operating losses balloon in the fourth quarter to 249.9 million, even as net revenue for the quarter reached 867.1 million and total active accounts crossed 70 million users.
The operating losses represent a 1,270 percent decline compared to the previous year, when Roku reported operating income at 21.4 million during the holiday season. Despite the growing losses, Roku stock surged in after-hours trading by roughly 10 percent due to the company’s better-than-expected revenue performance, which analysts had expected to land closer to 803 million.
Total streaming hours for the quarter rose to 23.9 billion hours, a 23 percent year-over-year increase. Roku’s platform business continued to drive the majority of revenue while the device business — impacted by slower holiday sales — saw an 18 percent decline from the previous year.
For the current first quarter, Roku said it expects the net losses to sustain but shrink to 205 million. Total net revenue is expected to reach 700 million...
The operating losses represent a 1,270 percent decline compared to the previous year, when Roku reported operating income at 21.4 million during the holiday season. Despite the growing losses, Roku stock surged in after-hours trading by roughly 10 percent due to the company’s better-than-expected revenue performance, which analysts had expected to land closer to 803 million.
Total streaming hours for the quarter rose to 23.9 billion hours, a 23 percent year-over-year increase. Roku’s platform business continued to drive the majority of revenue while the device business — impacted by slower holiday sales — saw an 18 percent decline from the previous year.
For the current first quarter, Roku said it expects the net losses to sustain but shrink to 205 million. Total net revenue is expected to reach 700 million...
- 2/15/2023
- by J. Clara Chan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Warner Bros Discovery Inc. has signed deals with Roku Inc. and Tubi to license 2,000 hours of content and launch a series of channels to carry its movies and television shows, the companies said Tuesday.
The pact will see hits like “Westworld” and the reality series “Cake Boss” available for free, part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s efforts to monetize its vast library of movies and television shows.
Roku said in a release that the content comes from HBO, HBO Max, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Television. Both Roku and Tubi, which is owned by Fox Corp., will have the same Fast content, Roku said, but did not provide details.
Tubi said it will launch 11 channels featuring various genres with offerings like “WB Sweet Escapes,” which will feature baking competitions, and others organized by types of programming, such as series, reality shows and family-themed content.
The pact will see hits like “Westworld” and the reality series “Cake Boss” available for free, part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s efforts to monetize its vast library of movies and television shows.
Roku said in a release that the content comes from HBO, HBO Max, Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Television. Both Roku and Tubi, which is owned by Fox Corp., will have the same Fast content, Roku said, but did not provide details.
Tubi said it will launch 11 channels featuring various genres with offerings like “WB Sweet Escapes,” which will feature baking competitions, and others organized by types of programming, such as series, reality shows and family-themed content.
- 1/31/2023
- by Eileen AJ Connelly
- The Wrap
David Eilenberg, who joined Roku last April to head up original programming at the streaming company, has been upped to head of content, Deadline has confirmed.
Eilenberg is well-known in creative circles, having been an exec at ITV, Turner and Mark Burnett’s company during the course of his career. With his elevation, VP of Programming Rob Holmes, who had been with the company for about six years and helped steer initiatives like the launch of the Roku Channel and the acquisition of programming from Quibi, has exited the company.
The moves are the first significant ones in the executive suite since former Fox and AMC Networks exec Charlie Collier arrived last year as president of Roku Media.
Eilenberg’s elevation will bring content at Roku Originals and Roku Studios under one leader. Roku as a company is confronting a soft ad market and overall financial constraints as it looks...
Eilenberg is well-known in creative circles, having been an exec at ITV, Turner and Mark Burnett’s company during the course of his career. With his elevation, VP of Programming Rob Holmes, who had been with the company for about six years and helped steer initiatives like the launch of the Roku Channel and the acquisition of programming from Quibi, has exited the company.
The moves are the first significant ones in the executive suite since former Fox and AMC Networks exec Charlie Collier arrived last year as president of Roku Media.
Eilenberg’s elevation will bring content at Roku Originals and Roku Studios under one leader. Roku as a company is confronting a soft ad market and overall financial constraints as it looks...
- 1/24/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Roku Media President Charlie Collier has implemented his first major executive shake-up since joining the company from Fox Entertainment in November, elevating David Eilenberg to oversee content across the media division, a Roku spokesperson confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
Eilenberg will succeed Rob Holmes, who currently serves as vp programming and is set to depart in March after six years at Roku. During that time, Holmes helped oversee the launch of The Roku Channel and led the company’s transition into original content. In a memo to staff announcing the changes, obtained by THR, Collier said Holmes would focus on “ongoing strategic projects” before his departure. “He’s a partner and friend to many of us, and to be clear, this announcement is by no means Rob’s final send-off; there will be more on Rob and his many contributions in the days ahead. For now, I will simply say thank you,...
Eilenberg will succeed Rob Holmes, who currently serves as vp programming and is set to depart in March after six years at Roku. During that time, Holmes helped oversee the launch of The Roku Channel and led the company’s transition into original content. In a memo to staff announcing the changes, obtained by THR, Collier said Holmes would focus on “ongoing strategic projects” before his departure. “He’s a partner and friend to many of us, and to be clear, this announcement is by no means Rob’s final send-off; there will be more on Rob and his many contributions in the days ahead. For now, I will simply say thank you,...
- 1/24/2023
- by J. Clara Chan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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