Rob Holmes: Celebs Rumors

EXCLUSIVE: Roku has quickly found its new scripted boss.

David Eilenberg, who joined Roku last April to head up original programming at the streaming company, has been upped to head of content, Deadline has confirmed.

The Roku Channel has now become the exclusive AVOD streaming home for The Jennifer Hudson Show.

Roku will launch Paramount+ as a premium subscription within the Roku Channel later this month, including a dedicated TV guide for all Paramount+ live content — its first for a premium partner. It’s also the first time live sports will be available within premium subscriptions.

Roku is expanding its original series line-up.On Tuesday, as part of its newfronts presentation to advertisers, Roku announced it had inked co-production deals with Marquee Brands and Milk Street Studios to develop seven brand new original series. The shows will star Martha Stewart, Emeril Lagasse and Christopher Kimball and be available to watch on The Roku Channel.“Martha Cooks,” is the first of three shows being developed with Stewart via Marquee Brands.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorRoku is super-sizing its cooking entertainment lineup.The streaming platform announced co-production deals with Marquee Brands and Milk Street Studios to develop seven original series starring lifestyle and culinary personalities Martha Stewart, Emeril Lagasse and Christopher Kimball.The new programming was unveiled as part of Roku’s 2022 NewFronts presentation for marketers. The shows, to premiere exclusively on the Roku Channel, are “Martha Cooks,” “Martha Holidays” (working title), and “Martha Gardens” from Martha Stewart; “Emeril Cooks,” “Emeril Tailgates” from Lagasse: and “Milk Street’s Cooking School” and “Milk Street’s My Family Recipe” from Christopher Kimball.In addition to the all-new original series, the deals will bring complete past seasons of Martha Stewart, Emeril Lagasse and Christopher Kimball series to the Roku Channel — comprising more than 3,000 episodes from the vault for free.

Lionsgate  and The Roku Channel have closed a multiyear theatrical output deal for theatrically released Lionsgate films beginning with the studio’s 2022 theatrical releases, the companies announced on Tuesday.Under the terms of the agreement, The Roku Channel will receive two separate windows for each film, the first of which provides exclusive rights to Lionsgate’s film slate immediately following its first window on Starz.The agreement will include properties such as the “John Wick” action franchise, “Expendables 4,” and Eli Roth’s “Borderlands,” starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis and Jack Black.Also on the Roster, Kelly Fremon Craig’s “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” based on the beloved Judy Blume classic; “White Bird: A Wonder Story,” starring Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson; and the Nicolas Cage meta-action comedy “The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent.”“This agreement affirms the great demand for first-run studio movies across a broad array of platforms,” said Lionsgate president of Worldwide Television Distribution Jim Packer in a statement. “This partnership with The Roku Channel shows our ability to capitalize on opportunities in today’s complex television landscape with a multifaceted, layered approach that meets everyone’s needs.” “We are pleased to expand our relationship with our longstanding partner Lionsgate to provide our audience with exclusive first-time, free access to Lionsgate’s theatrical slate,” said Rob Holmes, vice president of Programming at Roku.

Lionsgate and Roku have struck a deal giving the studio’s feature films an exclusive streaming run on the free, ad-supported Roku Channel after they play on Starz.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorRoku snapped up the rights to the majority of Quibi’s multimillion-dollar portfolio original programming — more than 75 shows in all — and will make them available free to stream in 2021 on the Roku Channel.Following Quibi’s decision last October to shut down after failing to attract a sustainable base of subscribers, Roku acquired Quibi Holdings LLC, the company that holds all of Quibi’s content distribution rights.Financial terms of the pact were not disclosed. Rob Holmes, Roku’s VP of programming, said in an interview, “We do think this deal represents a great value.”“Fundamentally, we think that Quibi has created great, high-quality content,” Holmes told Variety.