Roku set to unveil FAST Premium Sports Channel

Roku has announced the upcoming launch of a free, ad-supported premium sports channel on August 12. The Roku Sports Channel will consolidate sports content that Roku owns or licenses into one FAST service. This channel will broadcast live Major League Baseball games through The Rich Eisen Show, live Formula E races, Top Rank boxing matches,  MLB Sunday Leadoff, and Roku Originals that are sports-themed created in collaboration with major professional sports leagues.

As major streaming platforms increasingly invest in sports rights, there has been a surge in FAST channels providing premium sports content. Streamers like Pluto TV, Tubi, and The Roku Channel have been expanding their entertainment offerings as well.

This trend is driven by viewers seeking more affordable alternatives to costly subscription-based streaming services. Paid streaming platforms are tying  content offerings together to reduce costs and hold on to audiences, while traditional linear TV channels face declining audiences due to the rise in cord-cutting and the shift to online viewing.

The Roku Sports Channel is also entering a market where Fox Corp, Walt Disney, and Warner Bros Discovery have proposed launching a sports streaming com,bined venture called Venu Sports.

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