Roku to Make French Connection: Report

Roku will broaden its retail horizons next month by launching its streaming platform in France, 01netreported.

Per the report, Roku will launch at least one of its OTT devices in France on October 20, a move that would expand on its current retail presence in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and the Republic of Ireland. Another publication, Electron Libre, reported in May that Roku was planning to launch in France, Belgium, Luxemoburg and Switzerland by the end of 2015.

Roku has been asked for comment. 

Update: Roku is not commenting on its future international expansion plans. 

Roku has shipped more than 10 million devices in the U.S., a figure that has not been updated by the company in about a year, but has not revealed any international distribution numbers.

Roku is also gaining some international traction with Roku Powered, a licensing program in which pay TV operators tap Roku hardware and customized interfaces to deliver apps and services to the TV.  Telstra, Sky UK, Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia are among those that are on board with that program.

Roku has also expanded distribution of its program through integrated TV deals with CE companies such as Sharp, Haier America,  TCL, Hisense and Insignia (Best Buy’s in-house brand. Hisense is in the process of taking over Sharp’s North and South American TV business.