Tuning into Roku’s AI channel feels like feasting from a buffet.
The allure of free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels has always been their ability to help viewers (re)discover classic films and series. However, Roku’s latest venture in the FAST realm shifts the focus away from traditional entertainment, instead offering a continuous stream of AI-generated content.
Recently, Roku expanded its lineup with four new channels. In addition to dedicated feeds for classic shows like Mad TV, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and a selection of Black sitcoms, the platform introduced a 24/7 stream featuring content from Colin Petrie-Norris’ AI startup, Fairground. This partnership marks a significant milestone for Fairground, which launched in 2025 and is reportedly developing its own AI-generated takes on stories like Robin Hood and Dracula. Yet, watching the Fairground channel gives the impression that Roku may not have gained much from the collaboration beyond the chance to join the AI trend.
Like all FAST channels, Fairground AI Creator TV offers a curated selection of programming meant for passive viewing. While you can skip a few seconds forward or backward, there’s no option to select specific types of videos. This could add an element of surprise if the content was genuinely engaging, but what I encountered during an hour of viewing was largely the same uninspired short-form material that text-to-video models are known for.
The programming on Fairground lacks a consistent theme or genre, as it features a mix of content from various creators who have teamed up with the company. Some videos appear to be generated from footage sourced from professionally made anime, while others resemble poorly executed “lifelike” CGI. Surprisingly, some of the content did have semi-cohesive narratives. I followed a “live-action” horror story about people defeating a demon through mockery, and a fantasy piece about Greek heroes seemed to draw inspiration from The Odyssey.
You can tell that some post-production editing has been applied, given the videos’ length and audio mixing. However, the overall lack of visual refinement suggests they were pieced together from machine-generated clips rather than crafted by human artists. The shoddiness of Fairground’s programming becomes particularly evident when the stream cuts to an ad for one of Roku’s traditionally produced movies and shows.
Fairground’s website highlights that it compensates its content partners for their contributions and provides them with an undisclosed share of the platform’s revenue. However, it doesn’t specify which models are used to create its content or whether it has secured rights for the training data involved. Fairground emphasizes that its programming is designed for “the living room, not the feed,” indicating the niche Petrie-Norris and his team aim to occupy.
Many AI production startups claim they are set to revolutionize the entertainment industry, suggesting that traditional production methods will soon be obsolete. The “Hollywood is so cooked” crowd often argues that AI will soon produce films and shows on par with major studios, but Fairground doesn’t seem to be pursuing that path. Instead of striving to match or exceed the quality of conventional programming, it appears Fairground simply wants its content to exist alongside what viewers might actively seek out. Roku’s decision to feature Fairground’s offerings is disheartening but not entirely surprising as the company embraces this new direction.
While Fairground’s content may not impress, its presence on Roku provides the startup with access to a vast audience of potential viewers. It’s easy to envision an AI company targeting the “looking for something mindless to play in the background” demographic, but this content doesn’t seem like something anyone would genuinely want to watch.
