Roku’s Q2 earnings came with the news that it added 1.9 million new active accounts and became the top selling TV OS in the U.S., according to the company. Roku now touts more than 73.5 million active accounts on Roku Players and Roku TVs, and claims that its number of sets sold beat the next three manufacturers combined. The company posted Q2 revenue of $847.2 million, an 11 percent increase year-over-year, against a net loss of $107.6 million. Advertising-supported Platform sales were up 11 percent, to $744 million, despite continuing troubles sector-wide.

“A few ad categories are picking up, but spending in the media and entertainment category, already challenged industry-wide, is expected to be further pressured by limited fall release schedules, the company said in its letter to shareholders, in a nod to the ongoing writers and actors strikes,” Deadline reports, adding that “device revenue rose to $103 million from $95 million” for sales of Roku-branded smart TVs that the company sells online and through Best Buy.

The strong Q2 performance of the Roku platform was “helped by partners like TCL and the new Roku branded TVs,” with Roku also launching “RCA TVs in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua,” Variety reports.

The company reported “larger screens” as “one of the fastest growing areas” for Roku TVs with a 70 percent year-over-year leap in that category, according to Cord Cutters News.

The company also reported ad sales for unconventional ad units was gangbusters, riding the “Barbie” wave. To support the opening of the Greta Gerwig-directed film, Warner Bros. did a “takeover of the streaming hub on Roku devices,” reports The Wrap. “Roku users were treated to a bright pink main page featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling that included a link to the trailer” and “Barbie’s Dream House was incorporated into Roku City, the scrolling screensaver.”

All was not rosy, as the ongoing WGA writers and SAG-AFTRA actors strikes prompted Roku Media Chief Charlie Collier to note “Roku’s upfront ad-sales negotiations have been proceeding at a slower pace than expected,” according to Variety, which added that CFO Dan Jedda’s Q3 guidance indicates “lower media and entertainment promotional spending.”

“It is a very different year in the upfront for everyone,” Collier said, adding that “it is proceeding at a slower pace than usual [but] we’re methodically working through the market with our agency partners.”

Related:
Why Is Roku’s Stock Soaring? Take a Look at Roku City, Fast Company, 7/28/23
Roku Grows Users and Streaming Hours, TV Technology, 7/28/23