This is where things get exciting.
I have the knowledge and experience to see how all the pieces fit together—how Roku leveraged hardware to become the streaming industry’s central nervous system. I understand the historical context, the market shifts, the power dynamics, and most importantly, the opportunity.
Because right now, Roku isn’t just a platform—it’s a freight train. And I see a golden opportunity to grab on and build something powerful. Whether it’s content creation, app development, targeted advertising, or building a bridge between underrepresented creators and Roku’s vast audience, the runway is wide open.
Part 2: The Future of Streaming Is Local — And We’re Driving the DeLorean
Just when it looked like Roku was going to become the people’s platform, they pulled the rug out from under small creators.
Roku recently phased out its easy DIY publishing tools, leaving independent content creators scrambling for a path to get their work onto the platform. In the wake of this shift, third-party developers swooped in—charging an average of $100 per week just to maintain access to Roku for creators. And the more control you want over monetization and branding? The higher the price.
Enter SoAzCINEMA: A Nonprofit Co-op for Independent Creators
Southern Arizona Collective Independent News & Entertainment Media Artists (SoAzCINEMA) is a nonprofit co-op built for this exact moment. With my background in platform development, media, and community organizing, I can personally design and manage a Roku app that serves the diverse needs of our region—customized, cost-effective, and community-driven.
Instead of creators working alone and getting squeezed by middlemen, SoAzCINEMA offers a new model:
• You produce the content.
• You own your content.
• You pay only for your cloud storage.
• You choose your monetization model.
• You keep 100% of your revenue.
And by pooling our work into one platform, we multiply our reach—offering viewers a rich, dynamic feed of Southern Arizona voices, stories, and creativity.
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SoAzTV: The Flagship Channel of the Movement
Under the SoAzCINEMA umbrella, we’re launching SoAzTV—a sub-brand and digital network designed to showcase our region’s talent and provide sustainable income for artists, filmmakers, and creators.
Here’s the plan:
• Step 1: Build the App
We develop and launch the Roku app, featuring locally produced, on-demand content with intuitive navigation and clear branding.
• Step 2: Grow the Audience
With a unified platform, we attract a broader viewership with a mix of variety and quality. Once we have consistent eyeballs, we can:
• Solicit local sponsorships from businesses who want affordable, hyper-targeted advertising.
• Apply for grants and nonprofit funding to help cover production costs.
• Pay creators a liveable wage to develop original shows, segments, and community-driven content.
• Step 3: Localize the Content
We become a digital town square for Southern Arizona:
• A weekly entertainment magazine show featuring local bands, film festivals, theaters, art shows, and street fairs.
• Local + international news produced for and by Southern Arizonans, independent from corporate media and backed by local sponsors.
• A local sports show, powered by local pride and local advertisers.
• A Southern Arizona version of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” meets “SNL”—community improv, satire, and joy.
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Beyond the App: Building the Channel
Once we’ve established a consistent catalog of content and viewership, we’ll apply for a Roku Partnership Channel—a 24/7 streaming broadcast. This takes us from an app into the realm of broadcast networks, giving SoAzTV a stronger footprint, algorithmic visibility, and new revenue streams.
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The Dream: A Local Media Ecosystem That Pays Creators to Create
At the end of the day, this is about more than one app or one project. It’s about building a sustainable media ecosystem—one where local filmmakers, writers, musicians, performers, and producers:
• Earn a liveable wage doing what they love.
• Have direct access to audiences, without middlemen, paywalls, or exploitative gatekeepers.
• Keep control over their content—and 100% of the profits it earns.