# Roku: Anthony Wood

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2022-11-21
- Length: 1h 12m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-21-roku-anthony-wood

## Summary

Anthony Wood, founder and CEO of Roku, recounts his journey from early software ventures to creating the ReplayTV DVR and ultimately launching the Roku streaming platform. He details the strategic decision to license the Roku operating system to TV manufacturers rather than selling hardware directly, and explains how the company monetizes through advertising and revenue sharing with content providers. Wood also discusses the importance of simplicity in product design, the competitive landscape against giants like Amazon and Google, and his philosophy on philanthropy and wealth.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-21-roku-anthony-wood#t=0) Introduction: Anthony Wood and Roku's History
- [5:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-21-roku-anthony-wood#t=335) Early Ventures: Sunrise, iBand, and the Sale to Macromedia
- [15:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-21-roku-anthony-wood#t=910) ReplayTV: Inventing the DVR and Losing to TiVo
- [30:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-21-roku-anthony-wood#t=1821) The Pivot to Streaming: Roku's Origins and Netflix Partnership
- [46:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-21-roku-anthony-wood#t=2806) Business Model: Hardware, Licensing, and The Roku Channel
- [58:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-21-roku-anthony-wood#t=3483) Scaling Roku: TV Licensing, Competition, and Content Strategy
- [1:07:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-21-roku-anthony-wood#t=4066) Philanthropy, Wealth, and Future Outlook

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- ReplayTV (product)
- TiVo (product)
- Philips (company)
- Netflix (company)
- Roku (product)
- Soundbridge (product)
- Photo Bridge (product)
- Xbox (product)
- Apple TV (product)
- The Roku Channel (product)

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- [How to Design and Build Connected Devices | Wai Loong-Lim, Founder and CEO of Y Studios | #AskIoT E023](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-04-17-how-to-design-and-build-connected-devices-wai-loong-lim-founder-and-ceo-of-y-stu) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 1 - Rich Brilliant Willing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing) (Core77 Podcast)
- [4: How The Money Comes In](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-11-12-4-how-the-money-comes-in) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 10 - Joey Roth (11/1)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-10-joey-roth-11-1) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Maximizing ROI for IoT Prototyping and Development | Blynk's Pavel Bayborodin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-08-31-maximizing-roi-for-iot-prototyping-and-development-blynks-pavel-bayborodin) (IoT For All Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-21-roku-anthony-wood. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.