Roku issued an e-mail to their subscribers noting that NBC-owned channel apps, which includes the USA Network, will no longer be available on the service as early as this weekend, which stems from the ongoing dispute between Roku and NBCUniversal in regards to carriage rights for NBC’s new streaming service Peacock.
The e-mail reads, “Dear Roku customer, Comcast informed Roku that they plan to take away consumers’ access to NBCUniversal’s TV Everywhere channels on the Roku platform. TV Everywhere channels allow Roku users to stream channels that are part of the traditional Pay TV package they subscribe to. Comcast may require Roku to delete these channels as early as this weekend. This is deeply disappointing and the wrong way to treat subscribers, many of whom are Comcast customers, who pay access to these channels via their cable TV subscriptions and now will no longer be able to view these TV Everywhere channels on Roku, their platform of choice.
While these NBC TV Everywhere apps represent a very small number of streaming hours on our platform, we believe they are convenient to people who use them, especially when so many Americans are at home. Comcast is removing these channels in order to try to force Roku to distribute its new Peacock service on unreasonable terms. Roku’s goal is to bring you a wide selection of content and to help content producers build large audiences. We asked Comcast to extend our existing arrangement for their TV Everywhere channels as-is so that they remain accessible while we continue to work towards a Peacock agreement. Comcast declined to extend and also refused fair and normal business terms for the distribution of Peacock.
Fortunately, Roku customers can still access NBCUniversal’s channels many ways on Roku devices. Existing Xfinity, Charter, or AT&T TV customers can stream NBCUniversal’s channels on the Xfinity Stream, Spectrum TV and AT&T TV channels available in the Roku Channel Store. You can also watch NBCUniversal’s networks through other Live TV providers such as AT&T TV Now, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV, many of which offer free trials. Comcast’s decision does not affect access to the Xfinity Stream app.
We know that you stand to benefit from Comcast and Roku reaching an agreement that preserves access to TV Everywhere channels, expands choice in free content and respects your desire to watch content on the platform of your choosing. We are committed to trying to achieve that goal. Regards, Roku.”
In a statement issued to Deadline, NBC responded with the following, “We are disappointed Roku is removing its users’ FREE access to NBCUniversal programming – 11 network apps, 12 NBC-owned station apps, 23 Telemundo-owned station apps – and continues to block access to the only free premium streaming service available in the market, Peacock. Roku’s unreasonable demands ultimately hurt both their consumers and their consumer equipment partners to whom they’ve promised access to all apps in the marketplace.”