Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #7

Hi, everyone !!


Well, here it is... better late than never, right ?!!


For, as the saying goes, "Good things come to those who wait" which (believe it, or not) applies to more than just a pint of the black stuff (did someone say "Guinness", surely not? Oh, go on then !!). No, wait... better not. I need to concentrate, here, to bring you details for the HUGE NUMBER OF CHANNELS that were added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store during this past week. In fact, at one stage, there was even ONE EXTRA new channel added (whose details I won't divulge just yet, in case it re-emerges in the coming weeks) which was swiftly removed again shortly afterwards. There was a link for it's description in the Roku (USA) Channel Store, an image of the Channel Icon & everything PLUS it was fully functional (as I found out, when I added it to my Roku XS) and FREE but STILL it disappeared. So, it seems Roku giveth... and they taketh away. How very dare they ?!!


To make up for it, there is an ADDED BONUS of a Roku Private Channel within the details for one of the NEW ADDITIONS outlined below. It's actually more of a FREE TRIAL VERSION for a NEW PAID CHANNEL that now features in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, as you will find out if you continue reading. So, don't say I never reward you for your loyal readership at this blog... because I do (well, from time-to-time, at least !!) as evidenced below.


Anyway, before we get down to business, let's continue by extending a warm welcome to some new readers of this blog. Again, they have come from far & wide and, since the last 'Weekly RoundUp', we have had visitors from as far afield as Belgium, Serbia, Hungary, Israel, Ghana, Bangladesh & Taiwan... to name but a few. So, as you can see, the word continues to spread around the globe about this fantastic little streaming media player we know as "Roku", however you pronounce it (don't get me started!!), and interest in it now goes way beyond the four principal regions to which it has, thus far, been marketed (i.e. USA, Canada, UK & Ireland). For our part, we aim to make sure that word continues to spread as much as possible, until the 'Roku Revolution' has spread worldwide.


To this recent influx of new readers, and to everyone else who continues to read my Roku-related ramblings, I'd just like to say... "Thanks for stopping by" & long may you continue to do so because, without you, the name of "Roku" will not reach to the far corners of this earth and others may miss out on THE CHANCE TO FULFILL THEIR STREAMS (ahem)... sorry, couldn't resist that one !!


Right, enough of all that... because you've all waited far too long already for this current 'Weekly RoundUp' of NEW ADDITIONS to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store to be published. I've already made my excuses via a SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT over the weekend, so I won't repeat myself here. Instead, we'll get straight onto the details of the TWENTY-FOUR NEW CHANNELS that have been added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store in the past seven days. These latest additions provided FRESH CONTENT to the Film & TV, Games, News, Weather, Sport, Music, Internet TV, Photos & Video, Special Interest, Screensavers & Apps plus Religion & Spirituality genres (i.e. categories). In other words, ALL GENRES, except for the 'Food' (which remains at 19 channels) and the 'International' genre (which lost 'HTC' - Haitian TV Channel - to the "Internet TV" genre, following a rebrand to the 'Onelink TV Network') that, as of now, is comprised of 27 channels.

In keeping with previous installments from the 'Weekly RoundUp' series, details of these new channels have all been listed below, together with links to obtain further information {by clicking on the channel name(s) beneath the channel icon(s) pictured} and to read a 'Roku Guide' review (where available) for each one:-

GEM GIRL............................................COST: £1.49 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

PLEASE NOTE: There are 400+ levels included with the PAID VERSION of the game (above) but you can effectively "TRY BEFORE YOU BUY" if, instead of purchasing it right away, you choose to add the FREE BETA VERSION of this channel. The Gem Girl Beta channel offers FREE ACCESS to 50+ levels of PRE-UNLOCKED puzzling fun and will help you decide if this game is really for you without having to fork out £1.49 for the full paid version of the game. The ACCESS CODE for this BETA version has been very kindly provided by Roku Forum Member and Developer of this channel, Nathan Whitehead, so please be sure to visit the Roku Forums and say "Thank you" to him, by posting a message there. Assuming you enjoy the FREE BETA VERSION of the game, don't forget to show your support for this independent Roku Developer by coughing up for the PAID VERSION afterwards which, as I said before, will then grant you access to 400+ levels, compared with only 50+ levels in the free test version of the game. To take advantage of the FREE BETA VERSION of the Gem Girl game for Roku, please use the following direct link:-

ADD FREE BETA VERSION: Gem Girl Beta

Or, if you'd prefer to first access your Roku Account online (without using the 'ADD FREE BETA VERSION' link, above) you can, instead, use the 'Add a Private Channel' option to then enter the access code manually, yourself. That being the case, the code you will need to type in is:-

CODE: GemGirlBeta

N.B. The channel icon you will see for this FREE BETA VERSION of Gem Girl looks identical to the 

channel icon for the PAID VERSION so, if you go ahead and purchase the full version with the extra levels, I'd recommend either keeping the two versions separate in your channel list (if you intend to keep the free BETA version, that is) or, simply deleting the FREE BETA VERSION before you go through with the purchase of the full PAID VERSION, to avoid any confusion between the two !!

CALENDAR STREAM..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

FFTV - FAMILY FRIENDLY TELEVISION..................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

TMP OUTDOORS....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

ANAND MEDIA.................................COST: £12.00 / £17.00 [Silver Pack / Gold Pack] (MONTHLY)



PLEASE NOTE: The Anand Media channel requires a MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION and YOU WILL BE CHARGED either £12.00 per month (if you opt for the 'Silver Pack', feat. 6 channels) or £17.00 per month (if you choose the 'Gold Pack', feat. 10 channels) until you decide to cancel the service. For details of the exact Terms & Conditions that apply, I would advise that you first contact the Anand Media Sales Team, in London, on: (020) 8586 6511 and discuss it with them because, as of this current time, the Terms & Conditions published on the Anand Media website are a little vague, to say the least. Incidentally, because the 'Anand Media' channel does not currently feature in the Roku (USA) Channel Store, the link beneath the channel icon (above) is for the Official Website of Anand Media instead. Likewise, and no doubt due (again) to the fact that the 'Anand Media' channel has not yet been added to the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, there is no Roku Guide Review available. If, at some time in the future, this situation changes, I will add both links to this post. Meanwhile, here's a list of the various channels that are included with each of the packs:-

SILVER PACK: This includes the following SIX CHANNELS of premium Malayalam TV:-
Kairali, Kairali's We, Kairali's People, Amrita TV, Mazhavil Manorama and Manorama News

GOLD PACK: This includes ALL CHANNELS listed in the Silver Pack (above) PLUS an extra FOUR CHANNELS of premium Malayalam TV:- Asianet, Asianet Plus, Asianet News & Asianet Movies

GO FIGHT LIVE......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]


N.B. Although the GoFightLive channel is FREE TO ADD to your Roku player and does contain SOME FREE CONTENT, it also gives you access to their Pay-Per-View (PPV) and Subscription content - BOTH of which MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FEES. It is also worth noting that you WILL BE REQUIRED TO first ACTIVATE / REGISTER your Roku player, using the code from the GoFightLive channel on your streaming media player, via this link:- gfl.tv/roku BEFORE YOU CAN WATCH THIS CHANNEL. If you have any questions, we suggest using their Twitter Feed: @GFL or the Support and Feedback form, accessed by clicking on the "Contact Us" button which can be found towards the bottom of the page, on their Official Website: gfl.tv

H*E*R*O*................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

BIBLE TALK TV.......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

EVANGEL TEMPLE.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

RIVER OF LIFE.......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

KANTER HEALTH NETWORK..................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

CARTOON CLUB.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

THE ARTISTIC BLOG..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

VICTORY WORLD CHURCH.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

THE VENTURE CHANNEL........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

ROK HARD KUNG FU...........................................................................COST: £1.49 (MONTHLY)

N.B. This is a MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION channel. If you subscribe, YOU WILL BE CHARGED £1.49 per month until you cancel. You can cancel, at any time, from within the Roku Channel Store. Please bear in mind that subscriptions to the ROK Hard Kung Fu channel are non-refundable. If you do cancel, you will still be able to use the channel during the period for which you have paid.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE: That, since this channel does not currently feature in the Roku (USA) Channel Store, the link above is for the Official Website of ROK Global; the parent company of ROK Operations, who developed both the ROK Hard Kung Fu channel & the ROK Cinema channel. If you visit the ROK Global website, you will find their worldwide contact information PLUS their product details & other associated websites. You can also connect with ROK Operations via the ROK Global Twitter Feed: @rokglobal if you'd like to know more about their current / future plans for Roku channel development. Additionally, and no doubt due (again) to the fact that the ROK Hard Kung Fu channel has not yet been added to the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, there is no Roku Guide Review available. If, at some time in the future, this situation changes, I will add a link to this post.

AWARE CHANNELS................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

FIGHTBOX LIVE....................................................COST: £1.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]


N.B. This is a MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION channel. If you subscribe, YOU WILL BE CHARGED £1.99 per month until you cancel. You can cancel, at any time, from within the Roku Channel Store. Please bear in mind that subscriptions to the Fightbox Live channel are non-refundable. If you do cancel, you will still be able to use the channel during the period for which you have paid.

NATURE WINDOW TV LITE.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

PRESS TV..............................................................................................................COST: FREE

PLEASE NOTE: That, since this channel does not currently feature in the Roku (USA) Channel Store, the link above is for the Official Website of Press TV. If you visit the website, you will find details of News, Programs, Interviews, Photos & Documentaries as well as their full schedule PLUS links to their US Desk, Audio Stream & MUCH MORE. You can also connect with Press TV via their Official Twitter Feed: @presstv if you'd like to know more about the news anew going on in the world. Additionally, and no doubt due (again) to the fact that the 'PressTV' channel has not yet been added to the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, there is no Roku Guide Review available. If, at anytime in the future, this situation changes, I will add a link to this post.

ZOE STREAM NETWORK........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

BACK STREET RADIO............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

RETRO SOUL RADIO..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

Well, I'm relieved to say, that is your lot for this week and, whilst it doesn't quite the match-up to the thirty-eight channels which made it into the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store during the same time-frame, I still think we've been pretty fortunate to have been offered SO MANY NEW CHOICES.

Hopefully, you will all manage to find something you like within the twenty-four channels outlined above. In fact, you could even say it's twenty-five channels, if you include the Roku Private Channel with it's ADDED BONUS of the Gem Girl Beta Channel. Not forgetting, of course, that it was very nearly twenty-six new channels and would have been, were it not for the one that got away. Still, let's ignore the numbers for a moment because, when it comes to adding new channels to your Roku player, IT'S YOUR CHOICE and, as with all things Roku... THE CHOICE IS ALWAYS YOURS !!

Meanwhile, be sure to come back in seven days' time for my next 'Weekly RoundUp' and, if you can't wait that long, remember you can always keep up with the UK Roku action (as it happens) throughout the coming week, by following our Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels where up-to-the-minute info on all things Roku-related (here in the UK) is posted on a daily basis (well, almost).

Until the next time, then...

That's all folks !!

Roku 3 UK - UPDATE #3

Hi, everyone !!


Thought I'd better let you know about some news concerning the "new Roku experience" as featured on the Roku 3 player (that is still, shamefully, ONLY AVAILABLE in the USA, by the way) and was supposed to have been rolled out to earlier Roku models (i.e. Roku LT, Roku XS, etc.) sometime this month. It's not really a surprise (to me at least) that nothing has happened in that regard, here in the UK, but there has been A LOT OF UNEASE among our friends from across the pond, who are becoming increasingly concerned over the lack of action on Roku's part, with this particular update.


During the past few days, I came across a tweet by self-confessed "Geek Blogger", Dave Zatz, of zatznotfunny.com who announced, via his Twitter Feed: @davezatz, that the "new Roku UI" had been "pushed from April to May for older boxes" and he supported that claim by including the following image from an official email to Roku Developers by Roku, themselves:-

HINT: Click on the above image to ENLARGE IT for easier viewing

You will notice FROM THE HIGHLIGHTED TEXT at the bottom of the image that the rollout has apparently now been delayed (yet further) and will now happen "by the end of May" and NOT simply "by May" (i.e. completed during April) as we were all led to believe previously. This additional delay has been made even more infuriating by the fact that (in the USA, at least) Roku have, for some weeks now,  been running "Teaser Ads" for the "new Roku experience" on their streaming media players, hinting that it's "Coming Soon" when, as seems likely, this won't be soon enough for most !!

This "Teaser" campaign has also prompted many remarks from owners of older Roku players, several of which were featured comments in a similar news article from engadget.com such as:- 

(i) Mark Schroeder, who says: 

It's terrible to see the tab in the menu talking about the upgraded menu like I have it already. It's just a stupid tease that they need to take down since it's still a month away.

(i) John M. Bergman, who adds: 

I completely agree.  When it first downloaded, I thought it was the actual interface update. I was really excited, but quickly became equally as upset when I found out it was merely a teaser channel that I would prefer to not have at all.

and;

(iii) TBSteph, who summed it all up by saying that:

The coming soon upgrade tease on the Roku 2 Menu is already stale let alone if it is delayed for another month.  At this point it's kind of like waiting for paint to dry - a boring exercise in futility.   

However, there was also a suggestion that these people may have been getting themselves all worked up over nothing because, as pointed out by another engadget.com reader:-

Anjenaire, who commented:

I like the new layout but it isn't really that much quicker than scrolling side to side. Now you get to scroll up and down. It does scroll smoother, and you can hold the button down and it will rotate through without the audible noise, but in the end it is very, very evolutionary rather than revolutionary. 

Although, in fairness, he did finish by saying:

I do like it and will enjoy the interface update when it hits the other boxes but not worth checking every day for.

Before adding:

I too am peeved by the update channel tease. Just roll it out already. 

So, from what I've read elsewhere, it seems like the general opinion is that Roku have been dragging their heels for WAY TOO LONG over this particular matter and, despite their best efforts to reassure people via their own comments on the Official Roku Twitter Feed: @rokuplayer, they really ought to GET THIS SORTED as soon as possible or else risk alienating their existing loyal fanbase.

Overall, from the looks of things, the news is... THERE IS NO NEWS, ONLY DELAYS... which means we'll have to wait AT LEAST ANOTHER MONTH until we know if UK Roku players are going to benefit from this "new Roku experience", or not (as I suspect will be the case). 

And there you have it... that's as much as we've been able to find out thus far. Needless to say, we'll continue to keep our ear to the ground and our eyes on the computer screen for any further Roku 3 UK update or details of any software rollout that may materialise and, rest assured, you will hear about it right here if & when it happens.


Meanwhile, remember that you can keep up-to-date with all things Roku-related in the UK via the companion Twitter Feed to this blog: @ukrokuchannels where (as always) you'll find up-to-the minute information being posted on a daily basis (well, almost).



Until the next time, then...



That's all folks !!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Publication Of New 'Weekly RoundUp' Has Been Delayed !!

Very briefly...


Owing to the HUGE NUMBER OF CHANNELS that have been added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store during the past seven days PLUS subsequent delays in accessing reviews, channel icons, etc. I am unable to bring you the current 'Weekly RoundUp' of NEW ADDITIONS today (Saturday) as I normally would. All being well, I should have everything ready to go by tomorrow evening (Sunday), or else by Monday 29th April 2013 at the very latest.


Apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Roku Tips, Tricks & Tweaks - #2 Faster Menu Scrolling

Hi, everyone !!


In the two months since it was published, there has been a lot of interest in the original post from this series, "Roku Tips, Tricks & Tweaks - #1 Adding A MicroSD Card", so I figured it was about time to offer you another little tidbit of information to help make the use of your Roku player(s) even more enjoyable... dare I even say, pleasurable?!!


Anyhow if, like me, you have more channels installed than the average user... then you've probably noticed that it can take quite some time to get from one end of the main channel list menu to the other, or even to somewhere in the middle, if you've been hesitant with your channel "pruning", as I have on several occasions. So, if I told you there was a way you could scroll through your channels FIVE TIMES FASTER, meaning you would get to your desired channel in a fraction of the time it took before, I bet you'd love to know about it, right? Of course you would !!


For starters, to properly TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE of this particular Roku Tip/Trick, then you will need to "Know Your Roku Remote" as per the 'Quick Start Guide' for your Roku player(s). For those of you that may not have immediate access to those guides, here are some links to view the online PDF's of those guides for both the Roku LT and the  Roku XS which, as I've explained before, are (currently) the ONLY TWO OPTIONS AVAILABLE to Roku purchasers in the UK:-



Roku LT Quick Start Guide (UK)


AND


Roku XS Quick Start Guide (UK)



For ease of reference, viz the purpose(s) of this article, I am also going to include some image scans for the relevant pages from the 'Quick Start Guide' for each of the two models outlined above. This, I hope, will enable you to quickly identify which button(s) to press in order to scroll through your channel list FIVE CHANNELS AT A TIME, instead of repeatedly advancing by just one channel, in either direction. So, if you're not already acquainted, prepare to "Know Your Roku Remote"...



For those of you with a Roku LT player, here is a key to the layout of your remote control:-

HINT: Click on the above image to ENLARGE IT for easier viewing

If, on the other hand, you are the owner of a Roku XS... then your remote layout is like this:-

HINT: Click on the above image to ENLARGE IT for easier viewing

Now, if you've owned your Roku player for a short while then you'll already know that the Roku Remote feels right at home in your hand. You will, no doubt, also be aware that you can move left and/or right (one channel at a time) using the "[LEFT]" and "[RIGHT]" directional button(s) to navigate through your list of channels. If you are still unsure, take a look at the relevant remote control layout (above) for your particular model of Roku player (See Ref. 'D' for Roku LT players and Ref. 'C' for Roku XS players). What is not quite so obvious, perhaps, is exactly what is meant in the Quick Start Guides by, "scroll... one page at a time" or when, where, how and why this function may prove to be useful. Observe, if you will, the "[FWD SCAN]" button (See Ref. 'G' for Roku LT players and Ref. 'I' for Roku XS players, in the respective remote control layouts above). In addition to performing the "Fast Forward" function when playing back media on your Roku, it is this little button which holds part of the secret to the "Faster Menu Scrolling" referred to in the title of this post...


Just try it for a moment... go to your list of channels on your Roku player and, instead of pressing the "[LEFT]" or "[RIGHT]" directional button(s) to navigate through your list of channels one at a time, use the "[FWD SCAN]" button and look closely at your television screen (while you do) so that you notice what happens. At first, you may not believe it, but the simple action of using the "[FWD SCAN]" button in this way will allow you to advance to the right FIVE CHANNELS AT A TIME through your Roku channel list... INGENIOUS !!!


Anyway, you've probably already guessed it by now but, it's the "[REV SCAN]" button which holds the other part of the secret to the "Faster Menu Scrolling" referred to in the title of this post. Yes, indeed, using the "[REV SCAN]" button (normally reserved for the "Rewind" function during media playback) will permit "Faster Menu Scrolling" in the other direction (i.e. to the left). Again, if you are unsure, take a look at the relevant remote control layout (above) for your particular model of Roku player (See Ref. 'E' for Roku LT players and Ref. 'G' for Roku XS players). Similar to before, this will (again) advance you FIVE CHANNELS AT A TIME through your Roku channel list but moving the opposite way to the "[FWD SCAN]" button... EQUALLY INGENIOUS !!!


But, wait, that's not all... oh, no... far from it, because this 'secret' for "Faster Menu Scrolling" can be used within the sub-menus for (as far as I know) ALL OF THE CHANNELS that are installed on your Roku player at any time, too. This proved to be a revelation to me when I first discovered it (by accident, if I remember correctly) and I've been using it ever since. I mean, think about it... with only 20% of the button presses needed to reach any channel on your menu it's not only going to SAVE YOU A LOT OF TIME, but it's also going to make the BATTERIES in your Roku remote LAST A LOT LONGER, and reduce the chances of Repetitive Strain Injuries (R.S.I.'s) from all the button presses associated with moving through the menu, one channel at a time, using the "[LEFT]" and "[RIGHT]" directional button(s). I can virtually guarantee that, ONCE YOU HAVE TRIED THIS particular Roku Tip/Trick, YOU WILL ALWAYS USE IT - unless, of course, you need to move less than five channels in either direction, that is !!


Still, that's about it for this post. Hopefully this little pearl of wisdom was news to some of you, at least, and I'll be sure to offer up more of my Roku knowledge & advice by bringing you additional Roku tips, tricks and tweaks as I continue this series of posts over the coming months. Meanwhile, stay tuned to this blog for more UK-related Roku news and information, as well as the 'Weekly RoundUp' of all the new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store and details of more Roku Private Channels that can be added to your UK Roku streaming media player(s).



Until the next time, then...



That's all, folks !!

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #6

OK... next time I'm gonna keep my big mouth shut !!


After complaining that the collective of Roku developers put in a poor performance last week by not managing to get a single new channel added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, we have been absolutely bombarded with them during these past seven days.


However, before I continue with the details for all those NEW ADDITIONS to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, I must first extend a warm welcome to some new readers of this blog who (as always) have come from far & wide to visit these pages. The list of countries those readers came from includes Malta, Portugal, Guernsey, Botswana, Moldova, Georgia & India... to name but a few. So, it appears that word of "Roku" continues to spread far beyond the realms to which it has currently been marketed (i.e. USA, Canada, UK & Ireland) and we hope to play our part in ensuring that continues. To the recent crop of new readers, and everyone else who continues to read my ramblings on the Roku streaming media player, I'd like to say...


"Thanks for reading" and hope that you will all continue to do so and help spread the word further.


Right... let's get down to business, because there's an awful lot to get through this week, as you will soon discover. Unlikely as it may seem to those of you who read my article from last week, "Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #5", there have been no less than FIFTEEN NEW CHANNELS added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store in the past seven days. These latest additions, to the ever-growing list of Roku channels UK users can access via the channel store, provided fresh content for the Food, Religion & Spirituality, Internet TV, Games, International, News, Weather, Sport, and Film & TV genres (i.e. categories).

In keeping with previous installments from the 'Weekly RoundUp' series, details of these new channels have all been listed below, together with links to obtain further information {by clicking on the channel name(s) beneath the channel icon(s) pictured} and to read a 'Roku Guide' review (where available) for each one:-

SORTED FOOD.......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

THE MESSIANIC CHANNEL.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

KEYS TO KINGDOM LIVING....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

HAL BRADY MINISTRIES........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

NOWHERE CAST..................................................COST: £0.69 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

N.B. This is a MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION channel. If you subscribe, YOU WILL BE CHARGED £0.69 per month until you cancel. You can cancel, at any time, from within the Roku Channel Store. Please bear in mind that subscriptions to the Nowhere Cast channel are non-refundable. If you do cancel, you will still be able to use the channel during the period for which you have paid.

CARIBBEAN FLIX.................COST: $7.99 / $19.99 / $75.99 (MONTHLY / QUARTERLY / ANNUAL)


PLEASE NOTE: Since this channel does not currently feature in the Roku (USA) Channel Store, the link above is for the Official Website of the CaribbeanFLIX channel. If you visit the site, you will see that there is an additional 'Semi-Annual' subscription package available but, since the price offered little or no saving versus the 'Quarterly' package, I chose not to include it here. Quite why the prices quoted for a (currently) UK-only Roku channel are in $USD (U.S. Dollars) seems bizarre to me but that is how they have been quoted both in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store and on the CaribbeanFLIX website... so, there you have it. Also, no doubt due to the fact that the CaribbeanFLIX channel has not yet been added to the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, there is no Roku Guide Review available. If, at some time in the future, this situation changes, I will add a link to this post.

OUTER BANKS TV..................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

i-ITALY TV...............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

DAILY LIVING TV NETWORK...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

GALAGA................................................COST: £2.99 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION.....COST: £2.99 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

FAMILY FUN by BLINKX..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

TWONKY.................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

HELLAS TV - feat. SKAI & MAD WORLD...................COST: $9.99 / $99.99 (MONTHLY / ANNUAL)

PLEASE NOTE: Since this channel does not currently feature in the "Official" Roku (USA) Channel Store, there is no link provided for the Hellas TV channel. Likewise, as a consequence, there is no Roku Guide Review available. If at some time in the future this situation changes, I will be sure to add links for both the channel description from the "Official" Roku (USA) Channel Store and the Roku Guide Review to this post. Lastly, I don't know why they have quoted the prices for a (currently) UK-only Roku channel in $USD (U.S. Dollars) but, as with the CaribbeanFLIX channel (above) that is how they are quoted in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store... so, there you have it. 

PATHOGEN...........................................COST: £1.49 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]



Anyway, that's your lot for this week. Not quite the twenty-three channels that made it into the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store during the same time-frame, but... there you go !!


Hope you all manage to find something you like within the fifteen channels outlined above. If nothing else, you should all make a point of adding Twonky to replace the sadly departed VideoBuzz channel as a sort-of YouTube client for your Roku player(s). Still, as I've said before, when it comes to all things Roku, IT'S YOUR CHOICE, and, in the end... THE CHOICE IS ALWAYS YOURS !!


Be sure to come back in seven days' time for my next 'Weekly RoundUp' and, if you can't wait that long, you can always keep up with the UK Roku action (as it happens) throughout the coming week, by following the Official Twitter Feed for this blog: @ukrokuchannels where up-to-the-minute information for all things Roku-related (here in the UK) is posted on a daily basis (well, almost).

Until the next time, then...

That's all folks !!

NEWSFLASH: VideoBuzz Channel Axed From Roku

VERY BRIEFLY....


I just wanted to make this quick post to draw your attention to some URGENT NEWS concerning the VideoBuzz channel on Roku. Firstly, you should check out the article on Roku Guide, entitled "VideoBuzz YouTube App Banned From Roku",  where I first heard about it.


By reading that, you will be aware that the VideoBuzz channel is going to be withdrawn THIS WEEK, on Wednesday 17th April 2013 (to be precise), which means you now have JUST TWO DAYS LEFT to add and access THE BEST YouTube CLIENT available on the Roku player. If you haven't already installed this AMAZING Roku UK Private Channel on your Roku player, you can do so right now using the direct link below:-


ADD CHANNEL: VideoBuzz


Alternatively, you can access your Roku Account online (without using the 'ADD CHANNEL' link, above) and from there, use the "Add a Private Channel" option to then enter the access code manually, yourself. That being the case, the code you will need to type in is:-


CODE: videobuzz


I fully URGE YOU to sign up and support the developer of this FANTASTIC APP for watching YouTube videos on your Roku player BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE !!!!!!!! Also, if you have an account on Facebook, SHOW YOUR SUPPORT by giving them a 'Like' via the VideoBuzz Facebook Page and help justify their continued development of Roku channels despite this MAJOR UPSET.


You will find more details via the tweets on my companion Twitter Feed to this blog: @ukrokuchannels which you should read and re-tweet to as many people as you can that would benefit from this information. Please be sure to ACT NOW and NOT DELAY because, like I said before, on Wednesday 17th April 2013 the VideoBuzz channel WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE.


Anyway, that's all for now. Just thought you ought to know.


Stay tuned for more, in due course...



See ya!

Roku 3 UK - UPDATE #2

Hello, again !!


Further to my Roku 3 UK - UPDATE #1, last week, I paid a visit to the "Official" Roku (UK) Website and just happened to notice that some of the channel icons from the image in the headline banner (which now claims a mere "450 channels and counting" when, as we have already shown, there are actually far more) had been altered (slightly) since the last time I checked. If you had taken a look for yourself, on the date of this post, this is the image you would have seen:-

Now, unless I am mistaken, the "Angry Birds Space" game DOES NOT FEATURE in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. Nor, as far as I know, can it (currently) be added as a private channel to UK Roku players (which. as of now, remain limited to a choice between the Roku LT and the Roku XS). In fact, unless you have imported a Roku 3 player from the USA (an act which brings with it some problems of it's own, i.e. NO SEARCH FUNCTION when used in the UK) you would not even be able to add this game to your Roku, never mind play it, so why feature it on a UK-specific web page ?!!


The fact that the "Angry Birds Space" icon does feature in the above image, however, raises several questions over it's inclusion as part of the headline banner on the Roku (UK) website. For example:-

1. Does the inclusion of the "Angry Birds Space" channel icon mean that the launch of a Roku 3 UK player is imminent?
2. Does the inclusion of the "Angry Birds Space" channel icon mean that the game is about to be added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store?
3. Was the inclusion of the "Angry Birds Space" channel icon in the Roku (UK) headline banner image simply a mistake inherent from the failure of Roku (USA) to implement a genuine standalone Roku website for the UK (e.g. Roku.co.uk)?

In the first instance, an official Roku 3 UK release would (obviously) be very welcome and is, I'd venture to say, what most people would prefer to be the case, here. Of course, if you've read my previous Roku 3 UK - UPDATE #1 you will also be aware that this could equally mean the arrival of the much rumoured "NowTV" branded Roku player which, depending on the distribution factor implemented, may not prove to be popular with many UK Roku users. Afterall, having boasted about NO TIES and NO CONTRACTS for the NowTV service on Roku UK, it would (in my opinion) be wrong to then limit the next generation UK Roku player for purchase ONLY via NowTV and/or Sky. That said, I'm not against a rebrand (per se) as long as the player remains generally available for purchase through both the current channels (i.e. Amazon, Box.co.uk, Currys, Maplin, PC World, Play.com, Tesco Direct, etc) and as many NEW retail outlets in the UK as Roku can muster.

If, however, there are NO PLANS to bring Roku 3 to UK purchasers anytime soon (as was the case when my original post, Roku 3 For The UK..., was made) then the second option might not be such a bad thing, either. If you think about it, we can already get the original "Angry Birds" game for FREE in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. We also have the option to purchase both "Angry Birds Rio" and "Angry Birds Seasons" for £2.99 (each) from the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, if we want. So, what would be the problem in making "Angry Birds Space" available to UK Roku users for, say, £2.99 as well? That way UK Roku owners would at least get a chance to play "Angry Birds Space" on their Roku 2 player, by purchasing it via the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, while they wait to see if the Roku 3 ever makes it to the UK (in one form or another). 

Seriously, it's a WIN-WIN situation I'm suggesting here. If Roku 3 does eventually get a UK release, it will sell on it's own merits and the inclusion of "Angry Birds Space" for FREE will only be a deciding factor for a minority of purchasers. In the meantime, if the game is made available for purchase, at least anyone who forks over the asking price will have had the benefit / advantage of being able to play the game between now (assuming it's added to the UK channel store, of course) and whenever the Roku 3 arrives in the UK. Finally, in a worst case scenario, if the Roku 3 NEVER makes it to these shores (would they really be that mean?) we would at least have another game choice in the UK channel store. ALL THREE of these potential outcomes would make money for Roku that they would not (currently) be getting because of restricting "Angry Birds Space" to the USA market, via it's free inclusion with the Roku 3 player. So, come on Roku... get your finger out and, if you're not going to give us the Roku 3, at least give us "Angry Birds Space" to take our mind off that fact. But wait, I must apologise, for it seems that I have digressed somewhat...

... because there was, if you recall, a third possibility referred to (above) which suggested that the inclusion of the "Angry Birds Space" channel icon was simply a mistake. If true, that would indeed be the least favourable reason but, of course, these things do happen, from time to time. For example, you need only scroll down a short way, on the "Official" Roku (UK) Website, before you come across another misleading image which suggests that the Roku Newscaster channel is also available on UK Roku players as of this moment in time:-

However, if you try the ADD CHANNEL link from the UK (using ACCESS CODE: newscaster) it will only result in the familiar (to me, at least), "We're sorry. This channel is not available in your area" message which, of course, means you're not going to get the Roku Newscaster channel in the UK. So, I say again, come on Roku... sort your act out and quit teasing the UK market with stuff you can't deliver. Either bring us the Roku 3, add "Angry Birds Space" to the UK channel store, update your excuse for a Roku (UK) website or, BETTER STILL, do all three before it's too late !!

Anyway, sadly, this means that no real conclusion can be drawn from the alteration(s) to the image from the banner headline on the "Official" Roku (UK) Website. We're still none the wiser for having seen it. This latest Roku 3 UK update has, undeniably, been more about rumour & speculation than any official announcement from Roku about a Roku 3 UK launch. But, that said, the questions raised do provide some food for thought on the matter, I hope you'll agree. 

Needless to say, we'll continue to keep our ear to the ground and our eyes on the computer screen for any further Roku 3 UK update that may materialise and, rest assured, you will hear about it right here if & when it happens. Yes folks, our Roku 3 UK search will continue until (hopefully) a Roku 3 UK release date is officially announced and, once purchased, we'll begin compiling a Roku 3 channel list to add to the other UK Roku information provided on the pages of this blog.

Meanwhile, remember that you can keep up-to-date with all things Roku-related in the UK via the companion Twitter Feed to this blog: @ukrokuchannels where (as always) you'll find up-to-the minute information being posted on a daily basis (well, almost). Be sure to check it out and bookmark it, if you haven't already done so. Plenty of stuff gets posted there which, whilst it usually gets updated on this blog too, is not always obvious from looking through the archive(s) of these pages. 

Still, that's about as much Roku 3 related gossip as I can bring you for now.

So, until the next time...

That's all folks !!