Roku is launching a standalone mobile app for Howdy, its newest ad-free streaming service. The platform announced the news on Tuesday, adding another facet to its low-cost streaming option.
The Mobile App
The Howdy mobile app is available on iOS and Android in the U.S. Now, subscribers can watch the platform’s vast library of content on the go.
Before the mobile launch, the platform was available on the Roku Channel and was also recently added to Amazon Prime Video Channels.
The mobile app launch reflects Roku’s goal of growing platform revenue and expanding its roster of third- and first-party subscriptions.
Affordable Streaming
Charging just $2.99 per month, it is the cheapest ad-free streaming service on the market right now, especially amid many streaming price increases. When the platform first launched, Roku said Howdy was meant to complement premium services rather than competing with them.
Gil Fuchsberg, President of Subscriptions, Partnerships and Corporate Development at Roku, said in a press release, “At a time when most things are getting more expensive, Howdy is designed to make premium, ad-free streaming more affordable and accessible for all viewers.”
He added, “Launching the Howdy mobile app on iOS and Android enables us to continue growing the service beyond the Roku platform, bringing Howdy’s unique value and quality entertainment to even more viewers.”
The streaming platform features almost 10,000 hours of content from Roku’s partners, including Lionsgate, Sony Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Warner Bros. Discovery, and FilmRise. The platform also features select Roku Originals.
Howdy on Prime Video
The announcement of the mobile app comes just a week after Roku informed news outlets that the platform was launching on Amazon Prime Video.
This was its first expansion outside the Roku platform, and may be the first of many platform expansions in the coming years.
Roku’s Slate of Services
Roku has a large slate of services, including Howdy, Frndly TV, and The Roku Channel.
Frndly TV was acquired by Roku two months before the launch of Howdy.
The Roku Channel is Roku’s free, ad-supported (FAST) streaming service. It is the most popular FAST service, with more than 125 million users on the platform each day.