Roku in Talks With Apple About AirPlay 2 Support

Monday February 4, 2019 12:45 pm PST by Joe Rossignol

Roku is in talks with Apple about supporting AirPlay 2, with the two companies currently working out details surrounding the partnership, according to a source familiar with the matter. The plans are not finalized and are subject to change.

roku airplay 2
We're told that ‌AirPlay‌ 2 support is likely to arrive in the form of a Roku OS software update for Roku media players, which can be used with virtually any smart TV. The update would likely extend to smart TVs with Roku OS preinstalled, including select models from Sharp, TCL, Insignia, Hisense, Sanyo, and RCA.

It's unclear when the software update might be released or if it will be limited to select Roku players and TVs. We're told the partnership may extend to Apple Music, suggesting that Roku OS could gain an app to access the streaming music service alongside existing apps for Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pandora.

Last month, we asked Roku if it was willing to work with Apple on ‌AirPlay‌ 2 support and a spokesperson said "we don't have anything to share regarding this now." Roku did not immediately respond to our follow-up request for comment today, while Apple rarely comments on its plans in advance.

With ‌AirPlay‌ 2 support, Roku users would be able to stream video, audio, photos, and more directly from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to their smart TVs. HomeKit is also coming to many smart TVs, enabling users to control volume, playback, and more using Siri or the Home app on an ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, or Mac.

Last month, Apple announced that select ‌AirPlay‌ 2-enabled smart TVs are coming from leading brands such as Samsung, LG, Vizio, and Sony. Samsung's latest smart TVs are also getting an exclusive iTunes app for movies and TV shows.

Tags: AirPlay, Roku

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Top Rated Comments

MattG

92 months ago

Of course they are. This nothing company needs all the help they can get or Apple will just crush them in the long run. They would be stupid to not support it.

Yeah, pretty sure you've got that backwards. Apple is getting crushed in the streaming device market because like usual, they've created a niche device that costs 5x as much as what the competition is selling, without 5x the functionality to back it up. Getting AirPlay into devices like Roku and the new TVs that were announced at CES is a way for Apple to have an "in."

Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Aldaris

92 months ago

Apple will just crush them in the long run. They would be stupid to not support it.

Unless Apple makes a display they won’t be crushing anyone. Samsung, Sony, Vizio, etc are all players bringing different things to the table across this space. Apple is the one who is best served being more concerned with ‘services’.

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

lostczech

92 months ago

Of course they are. This nothing company needs all the help they can get or Apple will just crush them in the long run. They would be stupid to not support it.

I'm fairly certain Roku WANTS AirPlay but need Apple's blessing. I doubt they are the reluctant ones in this equation.

Plus, the "nothing company" is the only set top provider I use as at one point they were the only box that had Amazon Prime outside of Amazon's FireTV (Yes, AppleTV finally has it as well, like 3 years after Roku)

Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Aldaris

92 months ago

More options the better ;)

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

lostczech

92 months ago

It really doesn't matter that it's the only provider you use.

It's a terrible business and it will be absorbed or will die on its own. They've never made money.
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Apple can crush Roku without making a display, lol. Displays are a terrible business. Why would Apple want to do that?

Wonderful sweeping statements made there. They were profitable in Q2 2018 (haven't bothered digging deeper, since I've already put more facts into this than you have), which is quite in contrary to "They've never made money"

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)