Expanded Roku Aspirations Outshine Quibi's Content Vision

Roku's Ambitions for Content surpass those of Quibi

Roku, the popular streaming platform, has made a significant move into original content production. Last year, the company acquired Quibi's catalog, a deal rumoured to be valued under $100 million. This acquisition includes more than 75 shows and documentaries, which are expected to become available for free on Roku Channel in 2021.

The Quibi content will be supported by ads, and Roku has listed a position for a Lead Production Attorney to focus on its expanding slate of original content. The role will handle development and production agreements, including option purchase agreements, script acquisition agreements, life rights agreements, agreements to hire writers, actors, directors, and individual producers, production services agreements, below-the-line agreements, location agreements, clearances, prop rental agreements, likeness releases, and credit memos.

However, it seems that Roku's new content development is unrelated to the Quibi content it recently acquired. Digiday reported in the past that Roku had been meeting with media and entertainment firms about creating originals for its platform. This suggests that Roku may be planning to produce its own content separate from the Quibi content.

It's worth noting that Roku isn't the only streaming giant venturing into content creation. Amazon and Apple also create content and offer it through their respective platforms, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV+. Creating content available to its Roku users could potentially help the platform further dominate the streaming space, but the success would largely depend on the quality of the content itself.

In a statement made in March, Roku's spokesperson stated that it wasn't creating any original shows and had no plans to do so. However, recent developments seem to suggest otherwise. Roku declined to comment on its plans for original content development.

The focus on quality content is evident, with reports stating, "Nobody needs another so-so streaming option." As Roku delves into the world of original content, it remains to be seen how it will fare in this competitive landscape.

In the meantime, the acquisition of Quibi's catalog promises a diverse range of content for Roku users in 2021. The Lead Production Attorney role will negotiate agreements and consult on legal matters for Roku's original episodic and feature length productions.

As Roku continues to evolve, it's clear that the streaming giant is positioning itself to be a major player in the content creation arena. Stay tuned for more updates on Roku's original content development.