Roku just waved a friendly “Howdy” with its latest subscription service, charging $2.99 a month for ad-free streaming—because, clearly, the world needed another platform to juggle. Right now, Howdy is only available to U.S. Roku users, adding to Roku’s growing lineup alongside The Roku Channel, which serves up free ad-supported content and live TV, plus organizes subscriptions to premium services like Paramount+, Starz, BBC Select, Crunchyroll, Acorn TV, Shudder—and now Howdy.
The Roku Channel app itself isn’t picky, either; you can find it on Amazon Fire TV and Google TV devices as well. Meanwhile, Disney+ is busy folding Hulu’s 17-year solo run into its own service, reminding us all that in the streaming jungle, platforms multiply, merge, and shuffle faster than we can keep track.
What Is Howdy? A New $2.99 Ad-Free Streaming Service from Roku
Howdy is a streaming service that gives subscribers unlimited access to a sizable library of beloved stories, boasting thousands of titles and nearly 10,000 hours of entertainment. Its launch lineup features content from big names like Lionsgate, Warner Bros. Discovery, and FilmRise, alongside select Roku Original titles.
The initial catalog includes award-winning hits such as Mad Max: Fury Road, The Blind Side, Weeds, and Kids in the Hall, plus a mix of rom-coms, medical dramas, ’90s comedies, and feel-good classics—most of which you’ve probably already seen on other streaming platforms.
From Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood: “Priced at less than a cup of coffee, Howdy is ad-free and designed to complement, not compete with, premium services,…We’re meeting a real need for consumers who want to unwind with their favorite movies and shows uninterrupted and on their terms. Howdy is a natural step for us at Roku, extending our mission to make better TV for everyone, by making it affordable, accessible, and built for how people watch today.”
Howdy Streaming Service Highlights: Key Titles and Features
- Only $2.99/month: This isn’t a limited-time deal—it’s the regular, everyday price.
- Ad-Free: Enjoy a high-quality, uninterrupted streaming experience with zero ads (unless your internet decides to act up).
- Content: A diverse library featuring award-winning movies and fan-favorite shows, offering something for every taste.
- Cancel Any Time: No contracts, no hidden fees—if it’s not your thing, you can cancel whenever you want, hassle-free.
From Jim Packer, President of Worldwide Television Distribution, Lionsgate: “We’re excited to continue our longstanding collaboration with Roku on innovative ways to connect with audiences,…With engagement of over 125 million people a day, Roku is the perfect partner to launch a more accessible complement to the higher-priced SVODs. This service has the ability to scale quickly while providing us with a new way to monetize our content, and we’re proud to be part of this new streaming experience.”
From Johnny Holden, Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer at Radial Entertainment, the parent company of FilmRise: “With the launch of Howdy, Roku is making beloved content from our catalog accessible to an even bigger audience.”
The Bottom Line
Howdy positions itself as a low-cost, ad-free alternative in a streaming market crowded with ad-supported budget tiers from Netflix, Disney+, and others. At $2.99 per month, it delivers solid value—but it’s important to temper expectations. The content library lacks the latest blockbusters and high-profile originals you get from major players, and technical features like HDR and immersive Dolby Atmos support remain unclear or absent.
In many ways, Howdy feels like a paid upgrade to free streaming services like Tubi or Pluto TV, rather than a true competitor to Netflix or HBO Max. If you’re okay with waiting longer for new releases and don’t need top-tier video and audio quality, Howdy could be a useful addition. But for anyone seeking a fully loaded streaming experience, it’s unlikely to replace established platforms anytime soon. Roku’s ongoing efforts to expand content partnerships may improve the offering down the line—but for now, Howdy’s appeal is rooted primarily in affordability and simplicity, not premium content or features.
Availability
Howdy can be accessed through Roku media streamers and TVs, online on howdy.tv, or the Roku Mobile app. If it doesn’t show on your Roku Home Page, just add it from the Roku Search feature.
From August 5 to August 31, visitors to Times Square will be greeted with a warm “howdy,” through a branded takeover of digital billboards promoting the service and its notable launch titles.
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ORT
August 8, 2025 at 11:07 pm
Just when you thought it was safe to…
So long as “Howdy” isn’t “doodie” it will succeed. At as the immortal Jerome “Curly” Howard said, “If at first you don’t succeed, keep on sucking til you do succeed!”
People must be content with the content. “Sigh”…
ORT
Ian White
August 9, 2025 at 4:08 pm
ORT,
As if the world needs another streaming platform. I’m starting to miss cable.
IW
Jerry
August 10, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Is it really true? will Howdy offer Big Ten Network with its sports package?