Roku Blog Feed: “5 things all streamers can be thankful for” plus 1 more

5 things all streamers can be thankful for

Posted: 27 Nov 2019 09:00 AM PST

You know what's coming up. Delicious turkey legs, awkward family encounters, and epic movie marathons! Before you scarf down that drumstick, let's reflect on the things we, as streamers, should be thankful for. Here's our take on at what brought cord-cutters the most joy this year.

roku thanksgiving

Disney+ has arrived.

Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic fans have something to be thankful for this year. Disney's new streaming service, Disney+, launched this year, serving as the one-stop-shop for all that is Disney. With Disney opening up the vault, Disney+ makes you feel like a kid in a candy store. Missing your childhood favorites? Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and other classics are here. Want something new? The Mandalorian, Marvel's Hero Project, and other original programming are ready to go. Disney+ even has 30 seasons of The Simpsons! That's plenty to be thankful for.

Apple TV+ arrived, too.

It's official! This year marks Apple's entry into the streaming game. Unlike its competitors, Apple TV+ doesn’t offer a massive content library. Instead, Apple invested billions of dollars to develop a handful of shows and movies only available on Apple TV+. Some of Apple's most buzzworthy titles include Dickinson, The Morning Show, For All Mankind, and See. In fact, Apple is planning to create approximately six award-winning films every year, each one specifically designed to capture our imaginations. While Apple TV+'s "quality over quantity" strategy is different, we are certainly thankful for it.

There are over 5,000 channels to be explored.

It's easy to get distracted by the new channels, but let's not forget the 5,000+ channels on the Roku platform that gives us access to nearly unlimited content. From the popular picks (Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video) to the hidden gems (Acorn TV, DUSTx, Wildbrain) to The Roku Channel, there really is a channel for everyone. What a time to be a streamer!

Originals are the new norm.

It wasn't that long ago we were desperately flipping through channel after channel, searching for something new to watch. However, Netflix changed the game in 2013 by releasing House of Cards. The wildly popular show opened the floodgates for original digital series, as many companies quickly followed Netflix's move. This year, billions of dollars were invested in original movies and TV shows. With shows like Stranger Things, Fleabag, and Veronica Mars available exclusively on streaming platforms, originals are here to stay. So, before we sit back and enjoy the latest season of our favorite digital original, let's recognize how good us streamers got it.

Epic Black Friday deals.

Don’t miss out on our biggest sale of the year. Save on the new Roku Smart Soundbar, our ultimate streaming player, the Roku Ultra, and much more. Click here for a full rundown of our 2019 Roku Black Friday deals*.

Looking for your next favorite channel? Check out these Roku channel hidden gems!

What are you grateful for? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Happy Streaming!

*While supplies last. Click for full terms.

The post 5 things all streamers can be thankful for appeared first on The Official Roku Blog.

15 must-stream TV show premieres in December

Posted: 27 Nov 2019 07:16 AM PST

‘Tis the season for awesome TV shows! Ready to rock your ugly sweater while watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel? How about knocking back some questionable eggnog while catching the latest episode of Lost in Space? Below is our definitive list of the top TV series premieres this December. So why not avoid shoveling for another hour, turn on your Roku device, and check out this month's hottest shows.

December 2

Team Kaylie – A wealthy teenager tries to prove herself after she’s forced outside of her comfort zone. | Netflix

December 5

Tell Me a Story (Season 2) – An anthology series featuring beloved fairy tales interweaving into a subversive tale of love, loss, greed, revenge, and murder. | CBS All Access

V Wars – Dr. Luther Swann, enters a world of horror when a virus is released in ice melting due to climate change. | Netflix

December 6

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Season 3) – It’s 1958 Manhattan and Miriam “Midge” Maisel has everything she’s ever wanted: the perfect husband, kids, and an Upper West Side apartment. But when her life suddenly takes a turn and Midge must start over, she discovers a previously unknown talent, one that will take her all the way from the comedy clubs of Greenwich Village to a spot on Johnny Carson’s couch. | Prime Video

Reprisal – A woman sets out for revenge against the gang that tried to kill her. | Hulu

Truth Be Told – A true-crime podcaster tries to solve the mystery surrounding a family patriarch’s death. | Apple TV+

December 8

The L Word: Generation Q – Groundbreaking drama series The L Word® revolutionized a generation. This fall the highly anticipated sequel The L Word®: Generation Q debuts. Returning cast Jennifer Beals, Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey will resume their original roles. | Showtime on The Roku Channel

Work in Progress – Abby, a 45-year-old self-identified fat, queer dyke whose misfortune and despair unexpectedly lead her to a vibrantly transformative relationship. Chicago improv mainstay Abby McEnany co-created/stars in this uniquely human comedy series. | Showtime on The Roku Channel

December 13

The Expanse (Season 4) – YA police detective in the asteroid belt, the first officer of an interplanetary ice freighter and an earth-bound United Nations executive slowly discover a vast conspiracy that threatens the Earth’s rebellious colony on the asteroid belt. | Prime Video

Marvel's Runaways (Season 3) – After discovering their parents are super-villains in disguise, a group of teenagers band together to run away from their homes in order to atone for their parents’ actions and to discover the secrets of their origins. | Hulu

December 20

The Witcher – Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. | Netflix

December 24

Lost in Space (Season 2) – After crash-landing on an alien planet, the Robinson family fight against all odds to survive and escape, but they’re surrounded by hidden dangers. | Netflix

December 26

You (Season 2) – A clever bookstore manager relies on his savvy Internet know-how to make the woman of his dreams fall in love with him. | Netflix

December 29

Flirty Dancing – Ashley Banjo puts his choreography skills to work helping single people find a partner through the art of dance. Each of two singletons is given one half of a dace routine to perform. | FOX

December 30

Alexa & Katie (Season 3) – Lifelong best friends Alexa and Katie are eagerly anticipating the start of their freshman year of high school. The pals confront a crisis that leaves them feeling like outsiders at a time when what seems to matter most is fitting in. | Netflix