Roku said it has begun the international expansion of its The Roku Channel streaming service with a launch in Mexico.

Viewers in Mexico will be able to stream thousands of movies and TV show episodes, including more than 30 Roku Original programs, for free.

"Launching The Roku Channel in Mexico represents a pivotal moment for our business as we continue to expand internationally and offer streamers free access to great entertainment and news content," said Rob Holmes, VP, Programming at Roku. "In the U.S., The Roku Channel is a top-five channel on the Roku platform, by both reach and streaming hour engagement and we are excited for the opportunity to build this viewership in Mexico. We provide the scale for content providers and brands to reach these critical streaming-first audiences."

Prices for Roku streaming devices in Mexico start at 899 Pesos, or $45 U.S.

Also: Roku Enters the Smart Home Biz

In Mexico, in addition to on-demand content The Roku Channel will have more than 25 live channels. They include Telefórmula, Canela TV, Novelisima, and Runtime Español.

Content comes from Roku's global partners, such as Sony and Lionsgate, and local partners like Telefórmula.

Original programming available in Mexico at launch includes Operación Marea Negra, Natural Born Narco and Mamas.

On November 4, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story arrives on The Roku Channel, starring Daniel Radcliffe and a stellar cast including Evan Rachel Wood and Rainn Wilson.

"Free entertainment is one of the most searched-for categories on our platform, so we are pleased to meet that demand with the launch of The Roku Channel in Mexico," said Mirjam Laux, VP of international advertising and content. "The Roku Channel expands our entertainment offering for our users and increases the value they get from the Roku platform. Brands will also be able to reach engaged consumers through ad-supported content." ■

Five years after entering Mexico, Roku has declared itself the country's No. 1 connected TV platform provider.

The streaming company basis this claim on an October survey 2,534 consumers conducted by Hypothesis Group, which determined that Roku's OS leads Mexico in hours streamed. 

There were 33 million TV homes in Mexico in 2020, about a quarter as many as there are in the U.S. 

Also read: Why the Puck Is Dead: Reviewing the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

In Mexico, Roku has achieved this position through sales of Roku-powered TVs from OEMs including Hisense, InFocus, JVC, Philips, Sharp, TCL, Walmart’s and ATVIO, as well as the recently launched Sanyo Roku TV.

But Roku's real reason for thumping its chest Tuesday seems to be the upcoming introduction of its just-introduced Roku Streaming Stick 4K, which it's selling for 1,499 Pesos (or around $70). 

“We are proud to be the No. 1 TV streaming platform in Mexico, and that is thanks to the consumers who have enjoyed our streaming players over the past six years, our Roku TV partners that chose to build TVs using Roku’s operating system, our retail partners for working with Roku to showcase our products to consumers, and our content partners that have worked with Roku to bring their entertainment to our users,” said Arthur van Rest, VP of international at Roku.

Tubi, which entered the Mexican market back in June, just announced entry into the all-important Roku platform in that region. 

While we couldn’t find a connected TV device market share ranker for Mexico, we do know that Roku launched in Mexico back in 2015, and its operating system now powers smart TVs from nine manufacturers—Hisense, TCL, InFocus, JVC, Polaroid, Philips, Sanyo, Westinghouse and Walmart brand ATVIO. That's more brands than found in the U.S., where Roku is the dominant OTT device platform. 

“Our partnership with Roku in Mexico is instrumental in our mission to have cost-free premium entertainment accessible to everyone,” said Andrea Clarke-Hall, head of global business development at Tubi, in a statement.

For its part, Fox Corp., which purchased Tubi for $440 million in April, said in September that the ad-supported video-on-demand service was up to 33 million monthly active users. (AVOD rival Pluto just touted that it'll surpass 40 million MAUs by the end of the year, so look for some Tubi chest-thumping in the press real soon.)

In the meantime, Fox is revealing bullish ad-revenue forecasts for its AVOD service. 

Speaking at UBS’ investor conference last week, Fox Corp. CFO Steve Tomsic said ad revenue generated by Tubi will soon surpass what the conglomerate makes from broadcasting. 

The House has voted to approve the compromise USMCA trade bill.  

It now goes to the Senate for ratification.  

Related: ITI Tells Hill That USMCA Is Key Vote 

The bill includes first-of-its-kind, cutting-edge digital trade provisions," according to tech group ITI. Those include promoting cross-border data flows, allowing data storage "where it makes most sense," preventing tariffs and tech taxes, protecting source code and algorithms by disallowing divulging those as a condition of doing business, and creating consistent testing and certification of tech goods.  

Related: Sec. 230 Language Remains in USMCA 

“The North American Free Trade Agreement received a welcomed update in the form of USMCA, bringing the agreement into the digital age with strong rules that are critical to the continued growth of the Internet economy," said CCIA president Ed Black. "We applaud House Leadership for working with the Administration to get a deal, and the House of Representatives for their votes today. We encourage the Senate to move quickly in the new year on USMCA.” 

"We applaud the House’s swift vote today on USMCA—the new NAFTA," said Consumer Technology Association president Gary Shapiro. "The Senate now needs to do its part—carry this critical free trade agreement across the finish line and vote on final passage. 

"In addition to facilitating trade with our neighboring countries, the new NAFTA’s digital trade provisions – importantly intermediary liability protections, forced data localization prohibitions and balanced copyright provisions – are especially critical for small businesses. They will provide a solid platform for expanding trade and investment around the innovative technology products America is known for." 

"The USMCA reflects the importance of data, technology, and innovation to the North American economy,” said ITI president Jason Oxman.

Tech companies are telling their representatives that voting for the compromise U.S.-Mexico-Canada [trade] Agreement (USMCA) is a "key vote."  

That came in a letter from the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), with copies to all House members. 

Related: Sec. 230 Language Remains in USMCA 

The association scores items that are must yes votes in terms of the interests of its tech constituency. 

ITI cites "first-of-its-kind, cutting-edge digital trade provisions." Those include promoting cross-border data flows, allowing data storage "where it makes most sense," preventing tariffs and tech taxes, protecting source code and algorithms by disallowing divulging those as a condition of doing business, and creating consistent testing and certification of tech goods. 

"[W]e urge you and your colleagues to support the implementing legislation for the agreement when it comes to the House floor," wrote ITT President Jason Oxman. "American companies of all sizes and across all industries leverage technology, and can expect to benefit from the USMCA’s digital trade and other tech-focused provisions." 

ITI members include Amazon, Apple, eBay, Google, Twitter and Microsoft. 

Computer and other consumer tech companies are concerned about proposed new changes to Mexican tax law that they say discriminate against foreign tech firms and is in conflict with "longstanding global principles." 

They expressed those concerns in a letter to U.S. Trade Representaative Robert Lighthizer, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and U.S. National Economic Council director Larry Kudlow. 

The groups, which include the Consumer Technology Association and Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), said the officials "should discourage Mexico from pursuing these legislative changes, and work to join ongoing multilateral discussions regarding necessary changes to global tax rules in light of digitization."  

“Mexico remains a critical trading partner of the United States, and the landmark digital trade chapter in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will open up opportunities for digital exporters of both markets," said president and CEO Ed Black. "Legislation such as these new tax rules in Mexico will undermine this potential.” 

Pay TV remote technology vendor Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) is moving all manufacturing for its North American clients from China to Mexico, a process it hopes to complete by the fourth quarter of next year.

“We already have a manufacturing facility in Mexico, and are well into the process of shifting certain skews to that facility. Frankly, we have been preparing for this shift because the increasing labor rates in China have made those labor rates less and less favorable over time to those in other countries,” said Paul Arling, chairman and CEO of UEI, speaking to investors during the company’s third-quarter earnings call last month.

With the Trump Administration ramping up a trade dispute with China that could entail 25% tariffs on electronics imports, Santa Ana, Calif.-based UEI said it has begun to reduce staff at its Hong Kong facility, shifting headcount to factories in Mainland China.

“That’s step one,” said Bryan Hackworth, chief financial officer for UEI, speaking alongside Arling.

Related: Smart Home Surge Drives Customer Care Moves

UEI has relationships with most top pay TV operators in the U.S. This includes a warrants agreement with Comcast, for which UEI manufactures the X1 Voice Remote and various home automation electronics, just to name a few pieces of technology.

UEI said it isn’t shifting all of its manufacturing out of China, only the portion affected by the volatility of the ongoing trade dispute.

As for the decision to shift operations to Mexico, the company noted that it has had a factory located in the region already for several years. And it sees Mexico as more stable terrain, at least as far as the Trump Administration is concerned.

“We think that the trade tensions with Mexico have settled somewhat, if not completely,” Arling said. “So we feel pretty safe with that move, particularly for, again the products that are being shifted -- shipped into the United States. So we don't really see the tariff issue getting worse, although, again we could never guarantee what would happen there.”

Arling added that the tariffs could impact nearly half of UEI’s business.

“We will move that which is necessary, in order to provide cost effective solution to the customer. In other words not have them have to absorb the 25 % increase,” he said.

UEI is but one U.S. company serving the telecom sector with strong manufacturing ties to Asia.

Arris noted several months ago, for example, that the tariffs could add $200 million to the cost of manufacturing broadband equipment for all vendors. 

Telemundo Deportes scored a weekday daytime ratings record Monday afternoon with its coverage of the Mexico-Brazil World Cup Round of 16 tournament game.

The contest, won by Brazil to advance into the international soccer tournament’s quarterfinal round, drew a total audience average of 5.5 million viewers across Telemundo, TelemundoDeportes.com, Telemundo En Vivo and NBC Sports apps, according to Nielsen live plus same day fast national ratings and Adobe Analytics digital data. The TV audience was 5 million during the two-hour match window and 4.4 million for the 9:30-noon ET full coverage, per Nielsen.

RELATED: Mexico Loss to Sweden is Still a Win for Telemundo

Mexico-Brazil ranks as Telemundo Deportes’ third-most watched match of the tournament, trailing only the two weekend Mexico matches in the Group Stage, according to the network.

Through 54 matches, Telemundo Deportes’ World Cup presentation has reached 32.8 million viewers, according to the Spanish-language network.

RELATED: Fox, Telemundo Near World Cup Ad Sales Goals

The ratings come on the heels of the Telemundo Deportes announcement Monday that it has teamed with South America soccer ruling body Conmebol to secure U.S. Spanish-language TV rights for the 46 Copa America international men’s soccer championship.

Univision has dropped plans to carry Miss Universe pageants co-owned by Presidential candidate Donald Trump after recent controversial remarks made by Trump regarding Mexican immigrants.

In a statement Thursday Univision said that it is “ending the Company’s business relationship with the Miss Universe Organization, which is part-owned by Donald J. Trump, based on his recent, insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants.”

The Spanish-language network this past January signed a multi-year deal to air the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants, according to published reports. The network was scheduled to air the Miss USA pageant July 12.

In its statement, Univision said it will not be working on any other projects tied to the Trump Organization, adding that “we see first-hand the work ethic, love for family, strong religious values and the important role Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans have had and will continue to have in building the future of our country.”

 The network added that its local news division “will continue to provide comprehensive coverage of all candidates, including Mr. Trump, to ensure our audience continues to have access to all points of view.”

Univision's coverage of Mexico's excruciating loss to The Netherlands in the Round of 16 delivered the largest Spanish-language audience in U.S. TV history.

The June 29 Univision-Univision Deportes Network simulcast of El Tri's 2-1 loss to the Dutch in stoppage time on a controversial foul and penalty kick netted 10.4 million viewers on average, according to Nielsen data. That surpassed the 9.4 million who watched Mexico-Argentina in the same-stage of the 2010 World Cup and the 9 million who viewed the Destilando Amor telenovela on Dec. 3, 2007, which ranks at the biggest entertainment show in Spanish in the States.

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Offiicials said that Univision’s coverage of the Mexico-Netherlands match outdelivered ESPN’s coverage of the match by 57% among  and +68% persons 18-49, as the worldwide leader averaged 6.6 million watchers overall, and 3.5 million in the group that Madison Avenue favors most.

All told,·the June 29 telecast reached 16.2 million watchers who tuned in all or some part of the broadcast.

While simulcasts on Univision and cable service Univision Deportes Network represent the primary plays for the Spanish-language media leader with the 2014 World Cup, UniMas and Galavision will also get in the live game action from Brazil.

Flagship network Univision and the 40-million subscriber UDN, which is carried by all 10 of the top U.S. distributors, save for Comcast, will air 56 of the tourney’s matches. The schedule is highlighted by the host nation meeting Croatia in the event opener on June 12, as well as all three of Mexico’s Group A matches.  Although all of those matches air during the week, they figure to draw sizable ratings for the networks as El Tri faces Cameroon on June 13, Brazil on June 17 and Croatia on June 23.  The game versus Brazil should be gigantic from a Nielsen perspective.

The Univision/UDN combo will also present all of the knockout stage matches, and culminate the tournament with the semifinals on July 8 and 9, and the title game from Estadia de Maracana in Rio de Janiero.  Live match action aside, UDN will become Univision Communications' de facto World Cup during the tourney, presenting encores, as well as preview, review and highlights programming.

For their part, broadcaster UniMas and cable channel Galavision will air eight matches from group stage play. The top telecasts, depending on the prior results figure to be on June 23 with Brazil’s final Group A match versus Cameroon on June 23, and defending champion Spain’s Group B encounter with Australia.

Check out the complete schedule below: