Roku Is One of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies for 2023

TV streaming pioneer ranks in the top 10 most innovative companies in North America

This year, Fast Company named Roku, Inc. one of the top 10 most innovative companies in North America, for the brand’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies.

“As more and more TV is streamed in the future, we’re committed to innovation that delivers simplicity, delight, and value to viewers, creators, and advertisers alike,” said Anthony Wood, founder and CEO of Roku. “The great news for streamers is that we’re just getting started.”

As the company that pioneered TV streaming, Roku is the #1 selling smart TV operating system (OS)¹ and the top TV streaming platform by hours streamed in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico². Roku has 70 million active accounts, and more than 85 billion hours were streamed across its platform in 2022. The company recently topped Morning Consult’s Fastest Growing Brand Among Gen-Z adults, and in a recent survey, Cord Cutter News found that more than 70% of U.S. cord-cutters use a Roku device.

Marketing Technology News: If Customer Data Platforms Only Had a Brain 

“The great news for streamers is that we’re just getting started.”

In 2022, Roku focused on expanding features on its platform to enhance the connected experience for customers and provide additional value for advertisers. The company launched several new devices, including the Roku Voice Remote Pro; upgraded its most premium player, the Roku Ultra; and expanded its products with a new line of smart home devices such as video doorbells, lights, and plugs integrated into the Roku ecosystem. Recently, the company announced it will launch Roku-branded TVs this spring to offer more choice and innovation to both consumers and Roku TV partners.

Throughout 2022, Roku also updated its operating system (OS), the only OS purpose-built for TV, with more personalization features and enhancements across search, audio, and content discovery, launching The Buzz, Sports, and What to Watch, which provides tailored movie and TV recommendations on the Home Screen Menu. The company also released a new feature for streamers, Photo Streams, that allows customers to display and share photo albums through Roku streaming devices.

Additionally, Roku unveiled Shoppable Ads, a new ad innovation that makes shopping on TV streaming as easy as it is on social media. Viewers simply press “OK” with their Roku remote on a shoppable ad and proceed to check out with their shipping and payment details pre-populated from Roku Pay, its proprietary payments platform. Walmart was the exclusive retailer for the launch, a first-of-its-kind partnership.

Finally, Roku grew its content offering with thousands of apps and watching options for users, including content on The Roku Channel, a top five app by reach and engagement on the Roku platform in the U.S. in 2022. In November, Roku released its first feature film, “WEIRD: The ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic Story,” a biopic starring Daniel Radcliffe. Throughout the year, The Roku Channel added FAST channels from NBCUniversal and the National Hockey League, as well as an exclusive AMC channel featuring its signature drama “Mad Men.” This year, the company announced a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, launching new channels that will include “Westworld” and “The Bachelor,” in addition to 2,000 hours of on-demand content.

Marketing Technology News: MarTech Interview With Jessica Gilmartin, Chief Marketing Officer at Calendly