Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Roku introduces Cloud DVR functionality for Peacock Premium Plus subscribers, allowing users to pause, resume, and restart live content through The Roku Channel.
- Tech Advisor reports this feature is currently exclusive to US Roku users and stems from a five-year partnership agreement with NBCUniversal.
- Additional cloud DVR features are expected later this year, potentially expanding to other streaming services beyond Peacock’s $16.99 monthly offering.
As part of a five-year agreement with NBCUniversal, any Roku users who sign up to Peacock Premium Plus via the Roku Channel app can also access cloud DVR for more options when watching live content.
In the first iteration of the feature, it means that Peakcock subscribers using a Roku can now live pause, resume, and start over – giving users far more control over their viewing experience. We all need an emergency cup of tea sometimes.
Although DVR services were popularised by companies such as TiVo and Sky, they’ve largely fallen out of fashion with the advent of streaming services and on-demand content. Still, for live sports and events that aren’t available after they’ve been aired, DVR is the only way to relive what’s happened.
Roku says that more features may be on the way, stating: “We do not yet support live recording and cloud storage of live content and can’t give an estimate on when those features will be available, but can confirm that more features from our cloud DVR roadmap will be rolling out this year.”
Bear in mind that the cloud DVR feature is only available if you subscribe to Peacock Premium Plus via the Roku Channel, so anyone who subscribes to the same tier via Peacock directly won’t be able to access it.
Roku
At the time of writing, Peacock Premium Plus costs $16.99 a month, although there is a slightly cheaper annual price of $169.99 available. On top of live sport, the service also comes with ad-free streaming, offline downloads and unrestricted access to the full Peacock catalogue.
Given just how many streaming boxes and sticks are available nowadays, with great options from Apple, Amazon and more, it makes sense for Roku to invest in a feature like this to give its devices the upper hand on the market.
Alongside the announcement, Roku has teased that cloud DVR may be coming to more services later this year. Given that Netflix and Disney+ are starting to invest more heavily in live sports on their respective platforms, it wouldn’t be too surprising if Roku is looking to bring them into the cloud DVR fold.
At present, this feature is only available to Roku users in the US, but it’s hard not to imagine an appetite elsewhere in the world.
