Roku tackles content discovery challenge in live sport

One of the biggest challenges to have emerged from the streaming revolution is the issue of content discovery. As rights become splintered across platforms, viewers find it increasingly difficult to unearth specific programmes. Now, Roku is seeking to address this problem in so far as it relates to finding and watching live sports.

Yesterday, the company unveiled “an all-new Sports experience” that gives users “easy access to live and upcoming sports across the Roku platform and introduces a centralised location for browsing sports content and seeing where it’s available”.

Describing it as a “one-stop-shop for sports streaming”, the company promises “no more clicking through multiple channels or trying to figure out where the game is on. The new Sports experience is a visual, immersive destination on the Roku device that’s accessible from the Home Screen Menu”. The new sports destination makes favourite games and events accessible, without trawling through multiple apps.

The new content discovery solution deploys updated search capabilities to help users find specific games, leagues, and teams. For example, if fans say their favourite team, they will see their live and upcoming games, related content, and more.

Currently, Roku’s US-focused sports experience includes pro and college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, baseball, and soccer from DIRECTV, FOX Sports, FuboTV, Paramount+, Peacock, Prime Video, Sling, The Roku Channel, TNT, TBS, and truTV, as well as games coming over the air through an antenna connected to Roku TV models. More sports and viewing options are expected in the coming months.

Suggesting an increased emphasis on sport, Roku is also making more free Sports content available, including sports and entertainment talk show The Rich Eisen Show and a Roku Original food/sport hybrid series Emeril Tailgates.