Latest news with #Howdy
Stuff.tv
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Stuff.tv
What is Howdy? The new $3 per month streaming service
There's a new face in the streaming crowd, and it's showing up with a smile and no ads. Meet Howdy, a brand-new subscription streaming service from Roku. For just $2.99 a month, you get a no-interruptions pass to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including some big-name hits. So what's the catch? Apparently, there isn't one. This could be a new contender for our best streaming service guide. Here's everything you need to know about Roku's new ultra-affordable streaming service. What is Howdy? Howdy is a subscription video-on-demand service created by Roku, the same company behind the Roku Channel and the Roku TV platform. Unlike many free options that come with ads or premium platforms that charge upwards of $10 a month, Howdy hits the sweet spot: low cost, no ads, lots of familiar content. It's not trying to replace Netflix or Max. Instead, it aims to complement them, offering an easy, low-commitment way to stream favourites without digging through an avalanche of options or getting hit with mid-show commercials. When does Howdy launch? Howdy launched yesterday, August 5, 2025, across the U.S. Initially, it'll be exclusive to Roku devices, but support for more platforms, including mobile, is on the way. To mark the occasion, Roku is taking over digital billboards in Times Square through the end of the month. So if you're in New York, expect a big 'howdy' from above. How much does Howdy cost? Here's the kicker: $2.99 per month. That's not a trial rate, it's the full price. No ads. No contracts. Cancel anytime. It's deliberately priced to feel like a no-brainer, cheaper than a takeaway coffee, with none of the commitment. What content is on Howdy? Howdy launches with around 10,000 hours of TV and films, thanks to partnerships with Lionsgate, Warner Bros. Discovery, and FilmRise, plus a few Roku Originals. Think blockbusters like Mad Max: Fury Road, feel-good favourites like The Blind Side, cult hits like Kids in the Hall, and classic TV like Weeds. Genres range from rom-coms and medical dramas to '90s sitcoms and comfort rewatches – the kind of stuff you can relax to after work without needing a flowchart to follow the plot. What devices are compatible with Howdy? Right now, Howdy is available exclusively on Roku devices, including Roku TVs and streaming sticks. Support for mobile apps and other platforms is coming soon, though no firm timeline has been given yet. In short: if you already use Roku, you're good to go. If not, you might be waiting a little while longer. Liked this? Samsung Smart TVs are getting a free AI update perfect for TV fans
Fast Company
4 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Roku's new streaming service, Howdy, looks like McDonald's. Here's why it's genius
Roku just launched a brand new subscription service, and it looks nothing like the streamers you're used to. Howdy, which was unveiled on August 5, is an ad-free subscription service for viewers on a budget. Whereas an ad-free subscription to popular options like Netflix and Hulu would cost $17.99 per month, Howdy is just $2.99 per month—the trade-off being that it comes with a smaller library of available content. In an interview with USA Today, Roku confirmed that Howdy will initially be available only on Roku devices, but is set to roll out on mobile and other platforms 'in the near future.' Roku appears to be positioning Howdy as a disruptor in a streaming space that has become increasingly preoccupied with implementing more stratified subscription tiers and 'premium' offerings. While streaming services initially lured viewers of pay TV away with the promise of an adless experience, by May of last year, Netflix, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, and HBO Max had all added a lower subscription tier with ads, coaxing subscribers to pay more to avoid commercials. To break into the saturated streaming space, Howdy is betting on both a unique business model and a unique look that's pretty unmissable on the Roku homepage. The brand has embraced a retro wordmark and a color palette of red and yellow—an overall aesthetic that's more evocative of a classic diner than a media platform. A name designed for 'warmth, comfort, and connection' Howdy's branding was designed in-house by Roku's Creative Studio, with assistance from the L.A.-based firm Compadre on the logo animation and sonic. Damon Van Deusen, Roku's VP of brand & creative, says the effort started by 'letting the unique product positioning of the service shape the brand's personality.' The actual brand name itself is inspired by Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood, who frequently uses 'howdy' as a greeting in the office, van Deusen says. 'Bottom line, we chose Howdy because it is a feel-good word that radiates warmth, comfort, and connection—what we want audiences to experience when they tune into the familiar comfort programming that will be available on our new service,' van Deusen says. That playfulness and familiar charm is echoed in the brand's custom wordmark, which was adapted from several existing wood cut and western typefaces. The letters have been inflated for a 'soft, cushion-like' feel, while cut-outs in the characters h, d, and y come together with the word's 'o' shapes to evoke a winking face in the animatic versions of the mark. The chunky, rounded, sans-serif font has a '70s feel that's recently come back into style, appearing in other recent work like Burger King's rebrand and Glossier's pop-up brand logo. Howdy branding goes full ketchup and mustard Perhaps most eye-catching, though, is the brand's red and yellow color scheme, which viewers probably associate most closely with the food and beverage space—more specifically, McDonald's. 'Our 'Chili' and 'Pineapple' colors are part of a visual identity that feels upbeat, friendly, and accessible,' van Deusen says. 'While they may feel loosely familiar from other beloved consumer brands, we liked that these colors would be a proven attention-grabber within streaming and give us a playful and unmissable contrast that helps the brand stand out and connect instantly.' In a streaming landscape that's flooded with blue logos, including Paramount+, HBO Max, Amazon Video, and Disney+, Howdy's color palette speaks for itself, drawing on innate consumer nostalgia while still carving out a new space in the category. 'We leaned into an unexpected palette that felt both emotionally vibrant and visually distinct—a combination that wasn't being used, and now can't be ignored,' van Deusen says.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Roku (ROKU) Launches Ad-Free Streaming Service Called ‘Howdy'
Roku (ROKU) has launched a new streaming service called 'Howdy' that promises to be free of advertisements. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. According to the company, the Howdy streaming platform will cost $2.99 a month and will feature 10,000 hours of movie and television content from entertainment companies such as Lionsgate Studios (LION) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Management said they also plan to produce and make available exclusive programming known as 'Roku Originals' on the Howdy platform. The service is available in the U.S. starting on Aug. 5. The new streaming service is a big shift for Roku, which until now has been known for free, ad-supported content that was supplied by other companies. Streaming Evolves 'With the launch of Howdy, Roku is making beloved content from our catalog accessible to an even bigger audience,' said the company in a news release. Roku, which also makes streaming devices and television sets, launched its free, ad-supported streaming service called the 'Roku Channel' in 2017. Since then, the streaming landscape has evolved and changed considerably. Competitors of Roku, which include Netflix (NFLX) and Walt Disney Co. (DIS), have moved in the opposite direction, adding advertisements to their platforms along with tiered pricing after being ad-free since their inception. The changes come as streaming services seek to capitalize on both growing membership fees and advertising revenue. The new Howdy service will run alongside the existing Roku Channel, which remains free to access, according to the company. ROKU stock is up 13% this year. Is ROKU Stock a Buy? average ROKU price target of $104.37 implies 23.98% upside from current levels.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Roku launches Howdy, a $2.99 ad-free streaming service
Roku is launching an ad-free subscription streaming service called Howdy. The service costs $2.99 per month and features a library of nearly 10,000 hours of content from its partners, including Lionsgate, Warner Bros. Discovery, and FilmRise, alongside select Roku Original titles. The company says subscribers will be able to watch titles like 'Mad Max: Fury Road,' 'The Blind Side,' 'Weeds,' and 'Kids in the Hall,' as well as rom-coms, medical dramas, '90s comedies, and the like. 'Howdy is ad-free and designed to complement, not compete with, premium services,' said Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood in a press release. The move comes two months after Roku paid $185 million to acquire Frndly TV, a streaming service that offers live TV, on-demand video, and cloud-based DVR. Howdy joins the company's Roku Channel, its free, ad-supported (FAST) streaming service. A recent report found that The Roku Channel is the most popular FAST service, ahead of competitors Tubi and Pluto TV. More than 125 million people use the platform every day, Roku says. A key growth driver for Howdy will be Roku's organic reach — the company said earlier this year that it had surpassed 90 million streaming households. Roku last week reported its second-quarter financials, turning in better-than-expected revenue growth of 15%, as streaming hours on the platform came in at 35.4 billion, up 5.2 billion hours from a year earlier. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
Roku Just Launched an Ad-Free Streaming Service for $2.99 a Month
If you're fed up with rising streaming service costs, Roku has some good news for you. Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood says that the company's just-launched streaming service cost 'less than a cup of coffee.' However, he added, it is not meant to directly compete with Netflix and other streamers, but rather, complement them. Roku's new ad-free service, Howdy, dropped today, and it comes at a time when the cost of commercial-free streaming has skyrocketed. It's almost expected now that streamers will raise their prices annually. For example, Netflix hiked its rates earlier this year and its premium plan, which is ad-free and supports 4K streaming, now costs $24.99 a month. And just last month, Peacock bumped up its prices to the point its ad-free plan now costs $16.99 a month. 'We're meeting a real need for consumers who want to unwind with their favorite movies and shows uninterrupted, and on their terms,' says Wood in a press release. Howdy now provides a more budget-friendly option at just $2.99 a month. The service will offer 10,000 hours of content from partners like Lionsgate, Warner Bros. Discovery, and FilmRise, along with some Roku Original titles. This includes classic movies like The Graduate, Reservoir Dogs, and Dirty Dancing. 'With engagement of over 125 million people a day, Roku is the perfect partner to launch a more accessible complement to the higher-priced SVODs,' says Jim Packer, President of Worldwide Television Distribution at Lionsgate. Howdy will be available initially exclusively on Roku devices, but will roll out to mobile and other platforms soon. The new ad-free offering joins the company's other streaming service, the Roku Channel, which is a free, ad-supported TV platform. These services, which include Fox's Tubi and Paramount's PlutoTV, have grown in popularity in recent years and have created a new revenue stream for media companies. The Roku Channel is the most popular of these services and accounted for 2.5% of all television viewing in the U.S. this past June, according to Nielsen. In June, the company signed a major advertising deal with Amazon Ads aimed at making it easier for brands to reach viewers across both companies' streaming platforms. The partnership gives advertisers access to more than 80 million U.S. households through a combination of Roku and Fire TV devices. The launch of Howdy also comes just months after Roku acquired the live-TV provider FrndlyTV for $185 million. The service provides users access to 50 live channels, including the History Channel, A&E, and the Hallmark Channel for plans ranging $8.99 to $12.99 per month.
