Roku raises streaming stick prices by up to 60 percent - Ars Technica
Fuente: Ars Technica
Roku has significantly raised the prices of its streaming sticks and boxes, with increases of up to 60 percent. The company has updated its website to reflect the new manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRPs), while still listing older prices as temporary sale prices. Customers attempting to purchase devices at the discounted rates are limited to three units per model. Other retailers are expected to continue selling inventory at the lower prices until current stock runs out.
The price hike is attributed to a global shortage of memory and other components, driven largely by the surge in demand from the artificial intelligence industry. This explanation marks a notable reversal from statements made in May by Roku's CEO, Anthony Wood. At the time, Wood told investors that the memory shortage was actually beneficial for Roku, arguing that the company's operating system requires far less memory than competing platforms, giving it a meaningful cost advantage.
Wood had specifically claimed that the RAM shortage was widening Roku's competitive edge, allowing it to undercut rivals on bill of materials costs. He also noted that this efficiency helped Roku secure partnerships with TV manufacturers and major retailers. Just months later, however, the company has been forced to pass on higher component costs to consumers, contradicting the optimistic outlook Wood painted for investors earlier in the year.
Roku is not alone in raising prices due to the memory crunch. Apple recently increased the price of its Apple TV streaming box from $129 to $199 for the 64GB version. However, Apple has long been associated with premium pricing, whereas Roku has built its brand identity around affordability and accessibility for budget-conscious consumers. Analysts suggest Roku may face greater resistance from its core customer base, who have come to expect low-cost hardware from the company.
The price increases come just weeks after Fox Corporation announced a deal to acquire Roku at an enterprise value of $22 billion. The acquisition is still pending regulatory and shareholder approval and is not expected to close until 2027. A Roku spokesperson defended the new pricing, insisting that the company's devices remain competitively priced and pointing to ongoing promotional deals as evidence of continued value for consumers.
Traducción al japonés
Rokuはストリーミングスティックやボックスの価格を最大60%引き上げた。同社はウェブサイトの希望小売価格を更新する一方、旧価格をセール価格として表示し続けている。割引価格での購入は1モデルにつき3台までに制限されており、他の小売業者は在庫がなくなるまで旧価格での販売を続ける見通しだ。
値上げの背景には、AI産業の急成長が引き起こしたメモリや部品の世界的な不足がある。これは、5月にCEOのアンソニー・ウッド氏が投資家に対し「メモリ不足はRokuにとって好都合だ」と述べた発言と真逆の展開だ。当時ウッド氏は、Roku OSは競合より必要メモリが少なく、コスト面で有利だと説明していた。
ウッド氏はRAM不足がRokuの競争上の優位性を拡大させていると主張し、この効率性がテレビメーカーや大手小売業者との提携獲得にも寄与していると強調した。しかし数カ月後、同社は部品コスト上昇分を消費者に転嫁せざるを得ない状況となり、楽観的な見通しを自ら覆す形となった。
価格上昇に直面しているのはRokuだけではない。アップルも最近、Apple TVの価格を64GBモデルで129ドルから199ドルに引き上げた。ただし、アップルはもともと高価格帯のブランドとして知られている。一方、Rokuは低価格を売りにしてきただけに、コア顧客層からの反発は避けられないとみられている。
今回の値上げは、フォックス・コーポレーションがRokuを企業価値220億ドルで買収すると発表してから数週間後のことだ。この買収案件は規制当局や株主の承認を待っており、2027年に完了する見込みだ。Rokuの広報担当者は、自社製品は依然として競争力ある価格帯にあると主張し、消費者にとっての価値は変わらないと強調した。
Vocabulario clave
- MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price)noun
The price that a product's manufacturer recommends it be sold for in stores; also called the list price or sticker price.
和訳: メーカー希望小売価格
The MSRP for the new laptop is $1,200, but many retailers offer it at a discount.
- about-facenoun
A complete reversal of one's position, opinion, or course of action; a 180-degree turnaround.
和訳: 方針転換、手のひら返し
The politician did an about-face on climate policy after the new scientific report was released.
- bill of materialsnoun
A comprehensive list of all the raw materials, components, and parts required to manufacture a product, along with their quantities and costs.
和訳: 部品表、製造原価明細
By reducing the bill of materials, the startup was able to offer its device at a much lower price than competitors.
- pass on (costs)phrase
To transfer a financial burden, such as increased production costs, to another party, typically the end consumer.
和訳: （コストを）転嫁する
When raw material prices rise, manufacturers often pass on those costs to customers through higher retail prices.
