May 2021
Case
HBS Case Collection

Roku 2021

Format:Print
| Language:English
| Pages:13

Abstract

This case is used to explore the strategic concept of "look forward, reason back." Roku in 2021 is trying to figure out the future of television and streaming media. Students are asked to provide a vision for television and streaming media (that is, Look Forward) by the middle of the decade, and then reason back to the strategic choices it should take in 2021. Roku is well positioned, but industry and consumer habits are changing quickly, and Roku must decide whether to focus on creating its own exclusive content, focus on licensing its OS to TV manufacturers, and/or remain the "Switzerland" of the streaming media world, without competing with content players or TV OEMs.