Media streaming mammoth Roku will be featuring some free episodes of Showtime programs “Shameless” and “House of Lies”. In a cooperative venture between Roku, media cloud content provider Brightcove, and Showtime, select full episodes will be available as samples.

Showtime’s “Shameless” is based on a popular show from the UK by the same name and stars William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum.

“House of Lies” stars Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell. It is about a competitive group of business consultants who stop at nothing to get the client.

Competition for viewers by providing edgy original programming heats up as Showtime features these two new shows to challenge HBO’s stranglehold with the likes of “True Blood” and “Game of Thrones”. Meanwhile, Roku and other streaming platforms vie to loosen the traditional cable provider grip. In the end, it’s all about more viewing choices and more equipment options for the consumer.