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Roku And Amazon Confirmed Among Discovery+ Streaming Partners
Roku and Amazon Fire TV, the two key gateways for streaming in the U.S., have been confirmed among the many distribution partners for the rollout for Discovery+.
The major new initiative by Discovery goes live in the U.S. today and will expand globally throughout 2021. At $5 a month ($7 for an ad-free version), the service represents a strategic shift for Discovery. It marks an entry into direct-to-consumer streaming, as opposed to the company’s previous emphasis on internet-delivered bundle distribution and its own network streaming apps available to its pay-TV customers.
The deal gives the new Discovery service access to Roku’s 46 million active accounts. Other streaming services like HBO Max and Peacock have gone live in recent months without Roku deals, incurring backlash from users. Dealmaking with Roku is challenging, however, given the company’s growth and increasing leverage in negotiations over ad inventory and data.