Roku will launch a free 24/7 sports channel

Roku is preparing to launch a new 24/7 sports channel across its devices, apps, and on its website. Starting on August 12th, the new Roku Sports Channel will start showing sports-themed content that includes live events and original content.

Joe Franzetta, who heads Roku’s sports division, describes the channel as a “curated always-on channel that leads our viewer through the wide variety of premium sports content available for free on The Roku Channel.”

The most “premium” of those will be Sunday Leadoff, the live Major League Baseball games Roku got in a broadcast deal with the MLB earlier this year. But the channel will also feature live Formula E races and other sports broadcasts, including archival boxing matches, NBA G League (minor league basketball) games, and “high-stakes poker entertainment from PokerGO.”

The channel’s originals will include shows like NFL Draft: The Pick Is In and WWE: Next Gen. Folks who want to check it out can do so for free on Roku devices and TVs, the Roku channel site, and in the Roku app on various devices like other smart TVs and iOS and Android phones.