-->
Save your FREE seat for Streaming Media Connect in November. Register Now!

Apple TV and Roku Show Strong Sales

Article Featured Image

The Apple TV revamp appears to be a consumer success, if not quite a category-defining, breakaway hit like the iPad. Apple announced that later this week it expects sales top one million units.

Apple introduced the retooled Apple TV in September of this year. This model sells for a modest $99, making it more of an impulse purchase. It's not much larger than a hockey puck, lacks a hard drive, and can stream movies, TV shows, audio, and podcasts from the iTunes Store. It also works with Netflix accounts.

Apple recently upgraded its iOS operating system to version 4.2, giving users the ability to wirelessly stream content stored on an iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch to an Apple TV. Each device can also work as a remote for an Apple TV.

Surprisingly, Apple's marketing has brought a windfall to competitor Roku. Roku's CEO Anthony Wood told Business Insider than Apple's efforts in marketing the Apple TV brought a lot of attention to the category, which turned into big sales gains for Roku. Woods said that sales doubled after the Apple TV was introduced, and that Roku will sell its one millionth set-top box by the end of the year.

Streaming Covers
Free
for qualified subscribers
Subscribe Now Current Issue Past Issues
Related Articles

Roku Contest Celebrates 1 Million Customers

Add your face to Roku's online mosaic for a chance to win one of over 50 prize packages.

Roku Now Offers 3D Video

Subscription service WealthTV is offering three 3D titles on-demand, with more to come.

TV Remotes Soon to Have Netflix Button

Connected TVs, Blu-ray disc players, and set-top boxes to feature the one-click option.

Set-Top Boxes Go on Holiday (Sale)

Apple TV's re-emergence educates consumers to streaming's promise and pitfalls, benefits entire set-top box market

Apple Releases iOS 4.2

The new OS for iDevices brings long-awaited features and functionality, including TV episode rentals, to the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch

Google TV, Apple TV, and TiVo: More Than Just Pretty Faces

Behind the screens, set-top boxes powered by Apple, Google, and TiVo have their own approaches to online video for the living room

One More Thing: The Apple TV 2

Will Apple's redesigned Apple TV be the one to stand out to buyers this holiday season?