Quibi's Ailing Collection of Media Set for Complimentary Access on Roku Devices
From Dust to Roku Stream: The Quibi revolver's content is now blazing on the Roku screen.
It feels like a blink of an eye or an eternity since Quibi, the short-lived streaming endeavor from Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman, went kaput approximately six months after its shaky launch. But before it bit the dust, Quibi managed to pump out a substantial dose of original content that boasted big-time Hollywood stars and studios. Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal whisperered that Roku was eyeing a deal to nab all that content for the Roku Channel. Now, it's all smoke and mirrors.
Roku confirmed the news today that the Roku Channel will become the sole depository for 75+ series and documentaries that Quibi roped in. Roku revealed to Gizmodo that this equals over 200 hours of programming. In addition to titles that previously graced the Quibi platform, more than a dozen new Quibi collaborations will bow on the Roku Channel for the first time. By acquiring Quibi's library, Roku seems to have resurrected Quibi's Twitter specter from the dead:
While the content will be available for free streaming to Roku users, it'll come laced with ads. Before its untimely demise, Quibi featured both a free and ad-free model, but it makes sense that Roku would aspire to recoup some of its investment in the content bonanza (though that figure remains undisclosed). While the company divulged no details concerning which titles that previously inhabited the Quibi platform will respawn on the Roku Channel, the company disclosed that stars like Anna Kendrick, Chrissy Teigen, and Liam Hemsworth will be among them.
This Quibi trove could potentially strike it rich on the Roku Channel sans all the bothersome Turnstyle technology and mandatory mobile viewing. One of Quibi's biggest obstacles was that it was a video service engineered for on-the-go viewing, which frankly wasn't what people were doing much when Quibi debuted smack in the middle of a pandemic. Roku claims it has reached 61.8 million people on its platform, and with very little new content dropping right now, Quibi's catalog may offer a spark of something refreshing for folks who are stuck more to their TVs than usual.
A precise launch date for the Quibi roster on the Roku Channel remains under wraps, but the company hinted vaguely that it'll happen sometime in 2021.
Behind the Scenes:Rumor has it that John Travolta graces "Die Hart," with Kevin Hart playing a leading role in the same series, which is set for a third season[3]. Other tantalizing shows include "Dummy" starring Anna Kendrick, "Survive" with Sophie Turner and Corey Hawkins, and "Most Dangerous Game" featuring Christopher Waltz[4]. However, it's worth noting that certain shows have been axed from the Roku Channel as part of cost-cutting efforts[4].
The "Reno 911!" comeback, initially planned for Quibi, has joined the ranks of the scrapped content[4].
- The Quibi library, which was initially destined for mobile screens, will now be available on Roku, offering over 200 hours of programming.
- Roku announced that it will acquire Quibi's content catalog, including television series and documentaries featuring big-name stars like Anna Kendrick, Chrissy Teigen, and Liam Hemsworth.
- Unlike Quibi, the Roku Channel will not require a mobile device for viewing, potentially appealing to viewers who are spending more time at home due to the pandemic.
- The Quibi content on Roku will be ad-supported, offering a free streaming option to Roku users, unlike the original Quibi model.
