Electronic maker TCL is bringing its free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) platform TCL TV Plus to Roku devices in the United States.
Starting this week, the TCL TV Plus (stylized as TCLtv+) replaces the TCL app on the company’s Roku TV sets, with the app also available to download on non-TCL Roku streaming sticks, pucks and smart TVs.
The updated app brings more than 350 FAST content streams to Roku’s platform, including streaming channels from Comcast’s NBC Universal, Fremantle, the E. W. Scripps Company, Sony Pictures Television, Lionsgate, Fox Corporation, A&E Networks, Hearst Television, the National Football League, Paramount and others.
New Roku customers will see the TCL TV Plus app automatically downloaded when they set up their TCL-branded smart TVs, the company says. Other Roku users, including those with existing TCL-branded TVs, will be able to find the app within the Roku Channel Store.
“TCL’s partnership with Roku powers the distribution of our vast and growing portfolio of premium content to a new audience,” said Haohong Wang, the General Manager of TCL Research America. “TCL TV’s offerings deliver quality programming from some of the most recognizable brands in entertainment, while driving value for our marketing partners. We’re excited about ongoing collaborations with the team at Roku.”
The rollout of the TCL TV Plus app on new Roku devices makes it one of two FAST platforms that is available on TCL Roku TVs by default. The other, called The Roku Channel, offers many of the same linear content streams as TCL TV Plus, along with tens of thousands of hours of on-demand programming.
Roku also supports other FAST platforms and apps offered by third parties, including Paramount’s Pluto TV, Comcast’s Xumo Play, Fox’s Tubi, Plex, Distro TV, Local Now and FreeCast.
“Roku is the number one platform for streaming entertainment in the U.S., and TCL TV Plus is a very welcome addition to our premium offering,” Tom McFarland, the Vice President of Roku TV, said in a statement. “This new channel is a natural next step in our longstanding partnership with TCL, and we are thrilled to continue collaborating with their team.”
In addition to TCL Roku TVs, the TCL TV Plus app is available on supported TCL-manufactured Android TV (Google TV) sets, as well as some TCL-made smartphones.
