Roku CEO Sees Every TV With a Streaming Operating System as Stock Surges Post-First Quarterly Results

Roku added 48 percent more “active” user accounts in Q3 than a year earlier, said CEO Anthony Wood Wednesday on the company’s first earnings call since it went public Sept. 28. “If Roku were a traditional cable company or a service operator, we would be the fourth largest in the country,” he said. “Streaming is mainstream, and a huge market. We believe every TV will one day run a streaming OS.” Momentum in licensing to TV makers made Roku the top U.S. streamer, “based on streaming hours,” said Wood. Streaming hours for Q3 were up 58 percent from a year earlier to 3.8 billion, said Chief Financial Officer Steve Louden. Q3 revenue jumped 40 percent to $124.8 million, as the operating loss narrowed to $7.9 million. Roku shares ended Thursday up 55 percent at $29.19.