Roku's ad-free streaming service was already a great deal - now it's adding Disney movies
Roku's budget streaming service is adding major studio content, including Disney films, for just $3 per month.
Roku is significantly bolstering the value proposition of its Howdy streaming service through new content partnerships. The company recently announced licensing agreements with Disney and a deepened partnership with Warner Bros., which will bring a rotating selection of films from these studios to the platform. This move adds major studio content to a service that CEO Anthony Wood originally positioned as a complement, not a competitor, to premium offerings. The core appeal remains its price: at just $3 per month for ad-free viewing, Howdy undercuts virtually every other subscription video-on-demand service on the market.
The service's existing catalog consists largely of older content, with films typically from before the last five years and TV shows from the 2000-2020 period. Titles include shows like 'Nip/Tuck,' 'Longmire,' and 'The Conners.' The new deals, which also include Sony Pictures, will inject higher-profile movies into the mix, though they are not expected to include the very latest theatrical releases. For now, Howdy is exclusive to the Roku platform, with plans to expand to additional devices and a mobile version in the future. This strategy allows Roku to leverage its hardware ecosystem to offer a uniquely priced tier in the crowded streaming market.
- Howdy costs $3/month for ad-free streaming, undercutting major competitors by a significant margin.
- New deals add rotating Disney films and Warner Bros. titles, including from their 2025-2026 theatrical slate.
- The existing catalog focuses on older TV shows (2000-2020) and films, positioned as a complement to pricier services.
Why It Matters
It creates a new, ultra-low-cost tier in the streaming market, pressuring competitors on price and appealing to budget-conscious consumers.