Roku looks to be seriously tightening its pursestrings. The company’s laying off a full ten percent of its workforce, over 300 employees, in addition to a conducting a number of other cost-cutting measures, as reported by Variety. These job cuts are just the beginning, as Roku’s also removing streaming content, consolidating office space and reducing outside service expenses. The goal here is a major reduction in the year-over-year operating expense growth rate.

  • varoth@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    I know an even better way for them to save money. Anthony Wood, the CEO, gets like $20,990,000 in total yearly compensation. Like most these fucks most of it is non-salary, so they don’t pay taxes on it right away if at all.

      • BottleOfAlkahest@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        So employees cost more than just their salaries (if they get things like benefits, 401K match, etc.) So you’d have to cut more than half of his total compensation, which I don’t think either of us would be mad about

        • HeyJoe@lemmy.world
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          2 years ago

          I also doubt most of those employees made 100k either so it’s probably still a good estimate.

    • downpunxx@kbin.social
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      2 years ago

      [$10,000 monthly budget on candles.] Help my family is dying, someone help me please. ~ dril

  • eeltech@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    They took a gamble and tried to play the streaming game - and lost

    Did any of y’all Roku owners buy their device for the purpose of their streaming content? I know I didn’t - I bought it because of the promise of an excellent UI to organize all of my other already-existing-and-too-many services in an easy streamlined interface even my dad could use.

  • Reygle@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    I bought a Roku TV when I moved. Used it a few weeks and then realized the level of horrific tracking my pi-hole server was blocking from it. (thanks PiHole) I reset it to factory and no longer allowed it on the network. Now it’s an acceptable TV with a completely dogshit useless remote.

    Sort of related- is it even possible to buy a “dumb” TV anymore or are we stuck paying 8x as much for “digital signage” panels now?

      • Reygle@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        I shouldn’t be this excited about the link, but double-checked the specs on their official site and it’s not even equipped with ethernet/wifi- the world is so shitty these days that I almost squealed like a little girl. Thanks for sharing that.

  • Potatos_are_not_friends@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    I have a Roku TV.

    I liked it at first because it’s just a vehicle for using Netflix, Hulu, or streaming from a HDMI.

    But in the past 6 months, more and more ads keep showing. Things I’m refusing to interact with. Tried blocking and then they circumvented that.

  • ansiz@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    I take this as a good sign that the data tracking market is growing stale. Like what value can tracking my viewing habits provide anyone, other than Roku, that the streaming platforms aren’t already doing on their own? It’s straight double dipping.

  • wjrii@kbin.social
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    2 years ago

    I read this in some other article, but it seems like the margins are slim for their hardware because while (IMHO) the interface is still best in a very poor class, almost everybody else does it more or less adequately, so they can’t charge much of a premium. They’ve been making more money on their ad-supported streaming, both on-demand and their collection of all the free linear streams that you use to convince your rerun-loving gramma not make you climb into the attic to install an OTA antenna. The SAG and WGA strikes have done a number on how much advertisers are buying and at what prices. While I always wonder if there aren’t other places to cut first (coughexecutivecompensationcough) I don’t doubt that they’re in a way worse place than they were a year ago.

    • PopOfAfrica@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      The best streaming device is an old Linux PC with one of those Logitech touchpad keyboards.

      The amount of ads on streaming sticks infuriates me.

      • wjrii@kbin.social
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        2 years ago

        Good suggestion, particularly for folks around here, but it’s not exactly the same product category as a consumer offering. :-)

    • elgordofordo86@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      I have never liked Rokus interface… I prefer android TV. Most people don’t realize there is an app only mode on android TV that is exactly that, just apps in a drawer. No ads, no fuss. I also like that there is much easier side loading on Android TV.