Roku unleashes biggest redesign in 'over a decade' to 100 million as it gears up for 'next era of streaming'

But the redesign isn't just about surfacing new shows, documentaries, films, and sports from the dozens of streaming subscriptions and hundreds of apps installed on your Roku streaming set-top box, Smart TV, or projector.

The update tucks away the menu until you need it.

With a click on the remote, you can expand familiar options like Destinations, Inputs, Search, Settings, and more. The rest of the time, the redesigned homescreen is focused on the entertainment you're about to settle in and watch.

If you want to tweak that behaviour, Roku says there are personalisation options available in settings.

Founder and Roku CEO, Anthony Wood, said: “When we set out to rethink the Home Screen, we knew we should listen to the people who use it every day. So we talked to the viewers, we tested extensively, and we pushed until the design and the data lined up for a meaningful update.

“Now, our new Home Screen puts entertainment at the centre of everything, while staying true to Roku’s simple, intuitive roots. More than 100 million households will feel the difference the moment they turn on their TV—and it opens up a better, more powerful experience for our partners as well.”

As its North Star, teams at Roku used research that showed 82% of streamers would love to turn on their TV, and the show they were looking to watch was right there waiting for them on their homescreen. The US company firmly believes its new experience can do just that, analysing your viewing history to recommend new shows and films based on your interests and helping you dive straight into the shows you want to watch faster than ever.

With billions of possible combinations, Roku says its intelligence models are designed to select the optimum one for you each time you switch on your telly. Here is a quick overview of some of the new features of the overhauled Roku experience rolling out to millions of households right now.

Quick Access

As the name suggests, this feature is designed to help you leap into the app you were looking for.

Powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), it automatically surfaces the most-used apps and shortcuts, so you can jump right in without scrolling. Roku will continuously refresh its suggestions throughout the day to adapt to your routine.

If you're unfamiliar with shortcuts, these are toggles designed to keep everyday features within reach, like Continue Watching, Sleep Timer, Save List, and more.

Roku says it's "confident" that its new Quick Access menu will "pick up on the apps you use most", but if you'd rather take over manually, then you can add or remove any streaming app. The rest of your apps are available in the menu.

Top Picks for You

Taking the top spot on the redesigned homescreen, Roku has included a carousel of recommendations tailored to you. Dubbed Top Picks for You, Roku will spotlight what you love to watch, what’s trending on Roku, and the biggest entertainment of the moment. Roku says no two device owners will see the same mix.

Destinations

If you have a good idea of the sort of genre you're looking to watch — whether you're in the mood to laugh, cry, or be scared — Roku has launched its new Destinations feature. These curated carousels span a variety of genres and moods, pulling from across the streaming services installed on your device, like comedy, thriller, and sports.

Subscriptions is a standalone carousel designed to help you get more out of the apps you’re subscribed to by recommending movies and shows from all of your subscriptions in one place. So, even if you're not sure what you want to watch, but you know that you're in the mood for a Disney+ show, then you can scroll through thier latest selection directly from the Roku homescreen — without launching the app.

Search will be available across all of these newly-launched Roku destinations, adapting to where you’re browsing. So if you're browsing through Sports and you start a search, you’ll only see sports-specific suggestions. Likewise, in the free category, Roku only flags content that doesn't cost extra — so you won't need to reach for your credit card.

Your Daily Scoop

This catch-all hub is designed to bring together the shows that everyone is talking about. Like a digital watercooler, Your Daily Scoop is a real-time carousel within the For You destination, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), that flags breakout shows and cultural trends. Whether it’s a massive movie premiere, a celebrity birthday, or a viral moment everyone is talking about, Daily Scoop helps you discover relevant content tied to each theme.

Roku is rolling out its redesigned homescreen now, starting in the United States. It's coming to Roku-powered Smart TVs, set-top boxes and streaming dongles, and its newly-launched smart projectors. The software update will arrive automatically, so there's no need to keep checking a specific menu to begin installation.

According to Roku, the update, which it describes as the "first significant update of the Roku Home Screen in over a decade" and "guided by deep behavioural insights and viewer input", will be coming to additional countries "in the coming months", so UK device owners should expect to get their hands on the features soon.

Roku owners living in the UK who are jealous of the major overhaul rolling out across the United States right now should take solace in another recent refresh that landed on their devices. Yes, Roku has released a dedicated Football Zone ahead of the World Cup designed to bring together all the action in one spot.

This one-stop-shop offers access to live matches throughout the tournament, so you'll be able to jump straight into the action without knowing whether the match is screened via the BBC (BBC iPlayer) or ITV (ITVX).

Roku will also bring together highlights, plus a catalogue of popular football films, documentaries, and other TV series.