Android TV Not Roku Experienced Massive Growth Q4 2021

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Android TV Not Roku Experienced Massive Growth Q4 2021

Post by BenjaminLinus » Thu Feb 10, 2022 8:36 am

Conviva released their latest report for the State of The Stream for Q4 2021. And the results are surprising.

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While Apple TV, PlayStation, and XBOX all lost streaming growth...

Android TV had a whopping 42% growth rate in viewing time during Q4 2021. Which blew away all competitors. Leading Smart TV makers LG had a growth rate of 36% and Samsung with 27% which are behind Android TV. Roku came in even much further behind, with only 12% more growth than they achieved the last quarter of 2020.


Why the Sudden Interest in Android TV and Decline in Roku Streaming?

It's simple economics 101, Roku when they came out, they used to be a much more open platform. They have made some drastic changes. And they locked down their platform to become the most restrictive streaming platform available today.

Anyone following history could have seen this one coming. When Roku came out, users flocked to their less restrictive media streamer. Apple was busy doing everything they could to lock their Apple TV down. Jailbreaks at the time let you use an Apple TV, to watch KODI, which back then was XBMC.

Apple, who did what Roku is doing now, was forcing users of their devices to only add content that they controlled from their App Store. It did not take long for consumers to get annoyed and vote with their dollars. And the Apple TV quickly fell out of favor and Roku ruled the streaming world.

Apple learned from their attempts at becoming the world's most fully locked down media streamer. While still restricted, they are not nearly as restrictive as Roku is now. KODI can even be added to an Apple TV with a developer's account.

Searching the Apple app store, there are now 10 IPTV streaming apps available for an Apple TV. While not a single one, available any longer on Roku.


Is it Android TVs Turn to Shine?

An Android media streamer can side-load a long list of apps that offer full access to all kinds of TV and movie content from the Internet. This now makes Android TV streamers and not Roku, the most open media streamer available today. Users need to be careful though, because some of these apps lead to illegally hosted files.

But pretty much every legal app you can find on Roku is also now available on Android TV. So there is no longer much of a difference in content. The Roku platform is still simpler to learn. But Android TV has come a long way and offers a nice interface as well.

With record inflation, and massive price increases happening across our economy, along with a new low cost Android TV Chromecast with Google TV, which, when on sale it can be found for $39. The newest model now also includes a remote control. And it works very well.

It's a given that Android TV will become even more popular. Then there is the very popular Nvidia SHIELD, with its impressive hardware specs that Roku hardware just can't touch.

Yet, Roku keeps doubling down on making their platform even more restrictive. They recently announced plans to eliminate private channels all together. With their popular private Adult channels also leaving their platform. Other than using AirPlay, mirroring or casting, you won't be able to watch content directly from Roku private channels on Roku next month.

Finally late last year, Google was threatening to remove YouTube completely from Roku. This came during the busy holiday shopping season. Both companies came to an understanding, but this and several other high-profile disputes did not instill confidence. Meanwhile, Android, Apple TV and Fire TV users were blissfully unaffected by these types of disputes.

But Roku still holds onto a formidable market share, 42% VS Android TVs meager 3%. The only question is, can Roku continue to hold on to this lead going forward? Or, are the last quarter results a harbinger of a rocky future ahead for Roku. Only time will tell if cord cutters stick with Roku, or start looking for other more inviting alternatives.

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