When Roku launched its first product in May 2008, it was the first device able to stream Netflix to TVs. The company has since added more than 2,000 channels available through its platform, but older models provide access to only 1,200 of those.
Roku had the No. 1 selling streaming devices last year in the U.S., with 34% share of units sold, according to Parks Associates estimates. As of Q1 2015, among American broadband households that owned a streaming device, 37% had a Roku, followed by Google Chromecast at 19%, Apple TV at 17% and Amazon Fire TV devices at 14%, per Parks’ research.
The company, in explaining why it was dropping support for its older models, said that streaming technology has evolved “and so have our Roku streaming players.”
From the article "Roku Drops Support for ‘Classic’ Streaming Boxes" by Todd Spangler.
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Last August, market analysts at Parks Associates found that more than any other streaming media device -- including those from Amazon, Apple, and Google -- Roku was the leading brand and had increased...
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