As streaming becomes more and more the preferred mode of entertainment during this time of the global coronavirus pandemic, the partnership between devices and the streaming services itself is becoming even more important.
Deadline reports that one partnership that is being discussed is the one between digital media player Roku and the new Warner Bros. streaming service HBO Max. Steve Louden, Roku’s CFO, said at a conference that no agreement had been made with the entertainment company and his company.
That said, Louden said that talks are being held with the streaming service and that while they may not always be first when it comes to making these partnerships, they plan to make the multiple streaming platforms out in the market available on their devices.
Louden also emphasized that Roku has a better knowledge of the market than its competitors and that its user base is larger and more engaged. All of this, he says, makes him confident that a deal with HBO Max would be achieved.
It certainly is a good idea to have HBO Max on Roku devices as the streaming service has been beefing up its library. Just recently, the streamer revealed it had picked up the Pretty Little Liars reboot.
Titled Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, the new series will be set 20 years after the events of the original Pretty Little Liars. It will not be set in Rosewood but would still be happening within the universe of the original show.
Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin will be joining the new version of Gossip Girl on HBO Max, making the streamer an attractive option for audiences looking for something to watch during the pandemic. Big projects like Justice League: The Snyder Cut will also be available on the streaming service.
While HBO Max is still unavailable on Roku, sites like Lifehacker have provided guides on how to view the streaming service on a Roku device. According to the site, the best way to do so is to check if Roku is available on any other device that can connect to your television, such as a smartphone or a tablet.
Once users find another device that has HBO Max, they can then use the mirroring function since Roku devices support this with either an Android or a Windows device. Both devices also need to be connected to the same WiFi network.
Lifehacker also suggests using an HDMI cable to connect your other device directly to your television so you can then watch HBO Max shows there.