Telstra announces partnership with Roku

Telstra has announced it is partnering with Roku, Inc., a leading streaming platform, to launch Telstra TV, a new streaming service designed specifically for Australian consumers.

Joe Pollard, Telstra GMD media and marketing, confirmed plans to offer customers the three leading subscription video on demand services - Presto, Stan and Netflix - via the new service, alongside a selection of TV catchup services and the latest new release movies from BigPond Movies, Australia’s leading online movie rental store.

“Australians have enthusiastically embraced video streaming as an entertainment platform and Telstra TV will differentiate Telstra as a provider of streaming content,” Pollard said.

“Rather than restrict our customers’ choices, we want to host all the popular streaming video services on our platforms and make it easy for them to get all the content they want in the one place.

“Roku is renowned for producing streaming devices with an exciting variety of entertainment choices and great value. Roku devices are popular among consumers in the US, Canada and UK. By combining our networks and content with Roku Powered players and the Roku platform, we will offer a brilliant streaming experience in the market designed specifically for Australian consumers.

“We are already the network of choice for video for many customers around Australia and the demand for video content will only increase the need for superior networks to deliver this content,” Pollard added.

Andrew Ferrone, vice president of pay TV at Roku, said, “The Roku Powered program enables Telstra to easily launch a streaming service that gives consumers access to top entertainment choices accessible through our award-winning streaming players.”

Telstra TV will add to Telstra's existing entertainment services, which include TBox and Foxtel from Telstra products. It will be available for purchase in September 2015, with pricing and more specifics around content and the streaming player available closer to launch.

Source: Telstra