After purchasing the video assets of the now-defunct streaming service Quibi earlier this year, 31 of those short-form shows are now available for free on The Roku Channel. Roku has the rights to more than 75 Quibi shows, so you can expect more content in the future.
Originally geared toward mobile viewing, each episode lasts only around 10 minutes or less. When strung together, however, you'll have a show that approximates a full-length movie. Season 1 of Reno 911, for example, has 25 episodes averaging between 6 and 7 minutes per episode. This adds up to around 2-1/2 hours of entertainment - not including commercials, of course. Roku, however, has promised to air no more than 60 seconds of commercials between each episode, with no breaks during an episode.
Here's a selection of Roku Originals currently available. (Show synopses courtesy of The Roku Channel.)
Comedy
- Reno 911! - "The deputies of the Reno Sheriff's Department are still in the line of duty. And they're ready to do what it takes to keep this city safe." (25 episodes)
- Die Hart - "America's funnyman Kevin Hart wants to be an action star, but in order to land a life-changin role, he first has to get schooled on how to be an action hero." (10 episodes)
Lifestyle
- Murder House Flip - "Home improvement specialists Mikel Welch and Joelle Uzyel renovate infamous homes known for murders and intrigue, taking them from morbid to marvelous." (12 episodes)
- Centerpiece - "Visionary florist and host Maurice Harris interviews creative artists about their process; as they open up about their journey, Maurice uses his incredible flower design skills to create a beautiful centerpiece that reflects their conversation." (7 episodes)
Reality
- Chrissy's Court - "The cases are real, the decisions are legally binding, and Chrissy Teigen is the actual courtroom judge." (12 episodes)
- Thanks a Million - "Celebrities kick-start a chain of kindness by gifting $100,000 to an unsuspecting individual who has had a positive impact on their lives and asking them to pay it forward." (10 episodes)
Documentary
- Blackballed - "Highlighting five days during the 2014 NBA playoffs, when Doc Rivers, Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and the LA Clippers led an unprecedented movement of athletes to old racism accountable." (12 episodes)
- Murder Unboxed - "A samurai sword, tomahawk, a Playboy magazine; unboxing these real-life pieces of evidence and more while hearing from the detectives, prosecutors, and witnesses who helped solve the actual cases." (8 episodes)
How to watch Quibi shows on Roku
Quibi shows are listed as Roku Originals on the home screen of The Roku Channel. The Roku Channel is available not only on Roku, but also on compatible Samsung Smart TVs and Amazon Fire TV devices, The Roku Channel mobile app or Roku mobile app on iOS® and Android™, and online using a web browser on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
On Roku devices, you can access Roku Originals directly from the Roku's home screen through the "Roku Originals" link on the left side of your screen. From within The Roku channel, scroll down to the "Roku Originals" heading to see all available titles. Scroll left and select "See all" to browse by genre.
