Roku partners with AOL on news service

Over-the-top set-top-box maker Roku has partnered with AOL to add a new integrated news service that can be accessed from the Roku homescreen. 

Powered by AOL On, the US news service includes real-time access to news-related videos from more than eight categories including business, entertainment and technology.

“By delivering premium content from AOL’s owned properties and from our syndication partners, we’re able to provide Roku users with on-demand access to hundreds of continuously-refreshed news videos from the moment they start watching,” said Rob Delacruz, general manager of connected TV and mobile video at AOL.

The news service is available from this week free of charge in the US on the new Roku 2, Roku 1 and Roku LT players, and will automatically roll out as a free software update in the coming weeks to other generations of Roku device.