Possible Roku Killer?

[CaliTVguy]

So, it looks like the popular OTA antenna manufacturer, Mohu, Home of the #1 Rated Indoor HDTV Antenna - Mohu
is getting geared up to produce a box that combines what Roku currently offers along with a consolidated guide for OTA channels along with your streaming content. All in one place to help make things a bit easier on the consumer.
Relevant news here:
Mohu Channels Is A Roku Alternative For Cord Cutters - Forbes
Mohu Channels - Digital Media Receivers - CNET Reviews

The one downside that I could see is there not being a built-in PVR on the initial release. Add that in, and I think you do have a commercial Roku killer. What do you think?

 

[Aaron62]

Looks nice, but Roku is so far ahead of the game with their public and private channels. It's kind of strange that Mohu is going to Kickstarter for money too.

 

[CaliTVguy]

I know! I would have thought that Mohu would have had sufficient capitol on their own or through the bank to move in this direction.

 

[Jim1348]

.....What do you think?

I think that Roku is getting some pretty good name recognition. in fact, if Roku comes out with a newer device that adds an Over The Air tuner, DVR, and channel guide, they could really make DISH, Direct TV, and the various cable companies a bit more nervous.

 

[FWAmie]

I think that no matter what anyone does, Roku will most likely never really die.

 

[Rickideemus]

In the time spent demoing Mohu Channels, I was able to access all the content I currently watch through my Roku box,

Wait. Really!? Can you get all the Roku channels on this box? All the free channels, including private 3rd party stuff?? Doesn't that violate Roku's copyright? Or is this just clever wording, as in "all the content I currently watch", and who the heck knows what THAT is?

That's really the crux of the matter. If you can get all the Roku content -- if you can subsume their entire infrastructure, built up over so many years, just by making a little box -- then Roku really is dead meat. What about the program guide information? Isn't that put together by Roku? They can't just steal that, can they??

Naaaaaaawww, CAN'T BE. If that was possible, there'd be open source PC programs that pulled up all Roku content on a laptop. But if I'm wrong, I really wanna know!

Rick

 

[Lily13]

I might have already stated that opinion of mine somewhere here-I'm always glad when a new player comes into the game. No matter how bigtheir chances are. Competition between the big companies always ends up in theclient being given more benefits and content

 

[FWAmie]

@Lily13: I have to agree that the big companies always end up in the client being given more benefits and content. But what do the companies ask for in return for the benefits and content given? They always want something in return.

 

[SJ Coryell]

Maybe in time they might be able to compete with Roku but I think that is a few years off before they even become serious competition. Roku has an established base and a reputation. There is a lot they would have to compete against in order to replace Roku, so I dont see that happening any time soon.

 

[tmcmeekin]

It's kind of strange that Mohu is going to Kickstarter for money too.

Doing a Kickstarter isn't just about the money raised. Companies hope that they'll get some good, cheap PR out of it (from all the sites that write news about Kickstarter projects). Even people who don't contribute may buy the device later on. It also helps show the big investors that there is a market for the product already.

I think that the Mohu device looks interesting, but I don't think it will be a Roku killer. I think that there's enough room in the marketplace right now for several devices, just the way there are many companies that manufacture TVs or computers.

 

[Cadus]

Looks nice, but Roku is so far ahead of the game with their public and private channels.

In all honesty, I'd never even heard of Roku before a couple of weeks ago. The way you guys are all going on about it I'd assume it was the best thing since sliced cheese.

And I agree with Rickideemus. There's some violation of something somewhere if it's consolidating "what Roku currently offers." There's a piece missing somewhere.

 

[SJ Coryell]

In all honesty, I'd never even heard of Roku before a couple of weeks ago. The way you guys are all going on about it I'd assume it was the best thing since sliced cheese.

Well for some of us it is LOL I haven't had cable since I was a kid, so when Roku came around it was like an answered prayer.