One of the first widely available streaming services is about to undergo a major change. According toVariety, Roku has removed at least 35 original shows from its eponymous streaming channel. The slashes are part of a previously announced cost-cutting plan by Roku, which also recently announced a 10% layoff of its workforce.
Among the notable shows beingeliminated by Rokuare episodes of theLuke Kirby-led mystery seriesPanhandle; the revival of the infamous Comedy Central seriesReno 911!; the sex-comedyOddballstarringAnna Kendrick; and thedrama seriesSurvivestarringSophie TurnerandCorey Hawkins.Other shows getting the boot from Roku include theChristoph Waltz-led thrillerMost Dangerous Game; the MTV dating show rebootSingled Outhosted byKeke Palmer; the animated comedyThe Andy Cohen Diaries; a remake ofThe FugitvestarringKiefer Sutherland; theIdris Elba-led stunt-racing showElba vs. Block; and theTye Sheridan-led dramaWireless.
Beyond these mainstay shows that are being removed from Roku, additional series being cut by the streaming platform includeDismantled;The Newsreader; Slip; Moving the Needle With Dr. Woo; Surprise We’re Pregnant; Eye Candy; Murder House Flip; Let’s Roll With Tony Greenhand; About Face; Barkitecture; Big Rad Wolf; You Ain’t Got These; Murder Unboxed; Gayme Show; Iron Sharpens Iron; Squeaky Clean; Fierce Queens; Benedict Men; Memory Hole; Nice One!; Run This City; The Sauce; Gone Mental with Lior; Cup of Joe; andThe Stranger.
Many of these shows wereoriginally productions of Quibi, the infamously problematic streaming platform that was active for less than a year. Rokupurchased Quibi’s assetsand streaming library in 2021, but it seems that the company has soured on the idea of keeping many of these programs. Sources reportedly told Variety that the shows being removed by Roku are ones that are not attracting any new viewers. While these cost-cutting measures will likely help the streamer, Roku said that it would have to pay a “content-impairment charge” of around $60 million in order to remove the licensed programs.
Some of the Removed Programs are Relatively New
Notably, a few of the series that were selected by Roku for removal were still in their infancy, making the choice to delete them somewhat surprising. This notably includesPanhandle,perhaps the most widely anticipated series to be stricken from the platform. The show, which first premiered on Spectrum in 2022, starred Kirby as a sleuth trying to solve his late wife’s murder, while also investigating other murders taking place in the town of Boggsville, Florida.
The first season was released to positive reviews, and Kirby previously toldColliderthat he was hopeful for a second season to be greenlit. “I mean, there is always potential,” Kirby said. “Definitely fingers crossed, for sure. I had a ball working on this show and I loved our cast. I loved being in Savannah, I loved Bellwether and the peculiar world that we got to live in for those months. So yeah, I’d be happy to go back. We shall see.”
