Roku’s decided it’s time to join the subscription game—but in true Roku fashion, they’re keeping it cheap. For just $2.99, the new service “Howdy” offers 10,000 shows and movies ad-free, making it the budget-friendliest option out there.
What happened
In a bid to stay ahead, Roku’s launching Howdy as a low-cost alternative to all those other streamers hemorrhaging cash from our wallets. According to Deadline, while competitors keep jacking up prices, Roku plans to keep their new offering dirt-cheap. CEO Anthony Wood notes it’s all about giving viewers what they crave: ad-free library content they can binge without interruptions.
The streaming landscape
Roku’s carved out a leading spot with its free, ad-supported model, standing out while others are piling on ads and fees—because, why not reinvent cable? But let’s be honest, Netflix charging $7.99 for its ad-tier might make some dizzy with nostalgia, back to when that was their ad-free price. Howdy, by contrast, is not just easy on the wallet but also banishes those pesky commercials the “streaming revolution” had promised to ditch.
Streaming but better
Howdy positions itself as the go-to for “comfort” viewing. As their ad reminds us, they might not have everything, but they have what you actually want to watch. The library includes:
- Titles from Warner Bros. Discovery and Lionsgate
- Classic hits like Weeds, Nurse Jackie, Elvis, P.S. I Love You, Dirty Dancing
- Roku Originals
For now, it’s a U.S. exclusive, accessible via any Roku device or Roku’s site and app.
In the swirling madness of streaming wars, Roku’s Howdy could just be the chill oasis we didn’t know we needed—a place where tired eyes can binge on the familiar, uninterrupted.
