Roku has removed the popular iQIYI streaming service from its platform after the two companies failed to reach a new commercial agreement. The channel, which had been available to users of Roku streaming players and Roku TVs in the United States and Canada since its launch in March 2022, disappeared from devices in late October 2026. Subscribers attempting to open the app now encounter messages stating that the channel is no longer available, and searches in the Roku Streaming Store no longer return the title. The sudden removal left many viewers without access on their primary television devices, prompting complaints from customers who had active paid subscriptions billed through Roku. This comes as Roku just lost TCL TV+, the free ad-supported streaming service, last week.
iQIYI, one of China’s largest online entertainment platforms and often described as that country’s equivalent of major Western streaming services, specializes in delivering Asian dramas and related programming to international audiences. Through the service, viewers gain on-demand access to a broad library of Chinese dramas, including historical, romantic, fantasy, and contemporary series produced for the mainland market and then subtitled or dubbed for overseas viewers. The catalog also features Korean dramas, Thai productions, and content from other Southeast Asian markets, alongside anime titles, variety shows, and films. Some episodes of selected dramas are available without a subscription, allowing new users to sample the platform before committing to a paid plan. Paid tiers, historically priced around nine to eleven dollars per month depending on the plan and region, unlock full libraries in high definition, support downloads for offline viewing, and permit concurrent streams on multiple devices.
The platform’s emphasis on Asian dramas has made it a go-to destination for fans of the genre who prefer dedicated catalogs rather than hunting for individual titles across general-purpose services. Users can browse by language, region, or genre, and the service frequently adds new releases alongside older favorites. International versions of the app and website expand reach beyond China, with localized interfaces and subtitles in multiple languages. While the Roku version has been withdrawn, the same content remains reachable on other devices and platforms, including web browsers, mobile apps for iOS and Android, and smart televisions from brands such as Samsung and LG, as well as Android TV and Amazon Fire TV devices where the app continues to be supported.
The removal follows the completion of Fox Corporation’s acquisition of Roku in early November 2026. Roku’s standard support documentation notes that streaming providers may elect to withdraw their apps from the platform or that apps may be removed for other operational reasons, after which the titles can no longer be reinstalled. Customer service representatives at iQIYI have acknowledged the unavailability on Roku and indicated that efforts are underway to address the situation, though no public timeline for restoration has been announced. Affected subscribers have been directed to manage billing and account questions directly with the service provider. The episode underscores the ongoing dependence of specialized streaming apps on distribution agreements with major device platforms, and it highlights how shifts in those partnerships can abruptly limit access for viewers who rely on living-room devices for watching long-form Asian dramas.
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