Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #25

Hi, everyone !!


I don't know if any of you will have experienced this, as I did, but towards the end of the week there was a strange & wonderful metamorphosis that occurred within the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. To be specific, there was a swelling in the ranks of the channel store genres (i.e. categories) as well as a few name changes along the way. The end result was that, for the very first time since Roku launched their streaming media player here in the UK, the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store SHARED THE SAME CATEGORIES as the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store. Unfortunately we received absolutely NO EXTRA CHANNELS as a result of this change BUT, it did get me thinking...


... WHAT IF this was a sign that changes are afoot, to herald the arrival of the much-anticipated launch for the Roku 3, UK fans of the streaming media player have been kept wondering about for the past five months ??!!!! Sure, the global streamlining & unification of channel store categories OUGHT TO HAVE been implemented from the get-go (when Roku first commenced the marketing of their products outside of their native USA) BUT, as we know, IT WASN'T !! So... why now??!!!


Anyway, I hadn't been pondering the subject for too long when (all of a sudden) everything once more became exactly "AS YOU WERE" within the confines of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. GONE were all those extra genres (i.e. categories) and BACK were the all too familiar set of eleven (not counting Featured, New, Most Popular and Top Paid) categories which have populated the channel store on UK Roku players since launch. Now, on the one hand, I was grateful that the change was reversed because (on a purely personal note) it would have eaten into my free time A GREAT DEAL if I'd suddenly had to amend the details for EVERY SINGLE GENRE of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store (as listed on my blog) not to mention having to add A WHOLE BUNCH MORE NEW CATEGORIES to it. On the other hand it would, as I was saying before, make much more sense to have THE EXACT SAME CATEGORIES in every Roku Channel Store around the world. So, for that reason, I hope it was some kind of "test" that (maybe) went "LIVE" by mistake... giving us a glimpse of what is to come. This, in turn, begs the question as to whether "what is to come" pertains only to the current models of Roku player available in the UK (i.e. Roku LT and Roku 2 XS) or if it (potentially) relates to the UK launch of the Roku 3? ... ONLY TIME WILL TELL ???!!!!!!

Still, let's get on with the details for the current 'Weekly RoundUp' of NEW ADDITIONS to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. This time, there are SIX NEW CHANNELS which have been added during the past seven days. These latest additions to the Roku UK Channel Store provided FRESH CONTENT to the News, Weather, Sport plus Religion & Spirituality 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 respective channel icon(s) as pictured} and to read a 'Roku Guide' review for each one:-

GOD'S LEARNING CHANNEL................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

MY KING'S TV......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

SOUTHERN BAPTIST...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

ADDICTIVE FISHING........................................COST: £1.49 (ANNUALLY) [Roku Guide Review]

HGGWN CHRISTIAN IPTV CABLE........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

INSPIRATION TV.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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So if you happen to have an interest in either fishing or religion, or perhaps consider that fishing is your religion, then you may well want to add one, or ALL, of these LATEST ADDITIONS to your Roku player. No matter whether you plan to spend this Sunday in the worshipful company of angels, or dedicate it to a spot of angling (perhaps even for "Angel" Fish, ahem...), we've pretty much got all those bases covered with these latest NEW CHANNELS in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store.

Anyway, like it or not, that is your lot for this week and, whilst it doesn't quite the match-up to the eight channels which made it into the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store during the same time-frame, I always think it's better to have SOME NEW CHOICES than none at all, don't you ?!!

Still, while not everyone in the UK with a Roku player will have managed to find something they like within the six channels outlined above, I'm sure that the fishermen (and those of a particular religious persuasion) among you will be fairly satisfied. If not, then you'll have to pay us a visit another time when, with any luck, there will be something more to your liking. Afterall, there's no point installing every channel because, as I've said before, 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 !!

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Meanwhile, just as the latest batch of new additions to the Roku Channel Store on Roku player proved to be a few loaves short of a miracle, it is looking more & more like the NowTV Box equivalent could well use a miracle of it's own !! For my last three 'Weekly RoundUp' posts, I have been suggesting that we spare a thought for all the poor folk who handed over their hard-earned cash for one of those NowTV Boxes [Powered by Sky] which, as you may recall, have (so far) failed to live up to their full potential. Likewise, the original promise from NowTV of "more great content" with "more apps being continually added",  is yet to be adhered to, since there still hasn't been a single extra new channel added since the launch of the product. As in previous weeks, while the time continues to move on so (it seems) does the tumbleweed...

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

PHOTO SOURCE: dusttracksblog.files.wordpress.com

Sadly, despite this constant movement of time (and tumbleweed), there has (yet again) been literally NO ACTION in terms of NEW ADDITIONS to the channel selection on the NowTV Box. This means that NowTV [Powered by Sky] have once more produced a (NOT SO) GRAND TOTAL of absolutely ZERO NEW CHANNELS to add to their (already SEVERELY REDUCED) version of the Roku Channel Store that features on the NowTV Box. Meanwhile, the "Official" Roku Channel Store that features on all UK Roku players has added SIX EXTRA CHANNELS during that same period of time. To keep things in perspective, in the five weeks since the launch of the NowTV Box, there has been a total of THIRTY-SIX EXTRA CHANNELS added to the "Official" Roku Channel Store on UK Roku players, compared with ZERO EXTRA CHANNELS being added to the Roku Channel Store on the streaming player from NowTV. As I keep pointing out, if the NowTV Box is going to succeed, they really need to show that it is "Powered by Sky" and ensure that the device lives up to it's moniker by adding those promised "must-see shows" from Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Arts and Sky Living "NOW" and not "later this year". Basically... if this lack of support for the NowTV Box continues, as I said before, they risk it being branded as the "NO TV BOX" as people become more & more disillusioned at all the unfulfilled promises & associated lack of channel choice available.

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Still, whether you happen to own a Roku player, a NowTV Box, OR BOTH, as I do... 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 all the UK Roku action (as it happens) throughout the coming week, by following the companion 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 !!

NowTV Remote App For iOS & Android Mobile Devices

Hi, everyone !!


Those of you who have been following the 'Weekly RoundUp' posts on this blog for the past month or so will doubtless have spotted my comments concerning the lack of new channels for the NowTV Box [Powered by Sky] in the four weeks since it was launched. Unfortunately, there's not much we can do about that except to "wait & see" (as Asquith said) whether this situation improves, or not.


Another bugbear which is common among owners of the NowTV Box [Powered by Sky] is that (currently) there is no "Official" NowTV App for mobile devices to facilitate on-screen text entry. Sadly, the superb (and constantly improving) Roku Remote App has not yet been modified to function with the NowTV Box [Powered by Sky]. Whilst the Roku Remote App can detect a NowTV Box on your network, there is no way of setting it up so that it can be controlled using the app. This is because the Roku Remote App requires that you link it to a Roku Account and, by virtue of it's design, the NowTV Box [Powered by Sky] requires a NowTV Account (which may or may not be associated with a Sky ID) to be used in order for it to function. There is (currently) no way to register a NowTV Box [Powered by Sky] with a Roku Account, which means the Roku Remote App WILL NOT WORK with one. We can only hope that some kind of agreement can be reached, between the powers that be at NowTV and Roku, to rectify this. Meanwhile, until that time arrives, you would be forgiven for thinking that this was another "Asquith" moment for the NowTV Box, BUT... as it turns out, THERE IS A SOLUTION at hand courtesy of an existing web app for controlling Roku player !!


Before I explain what it is and how to get it setup & working with your NowTV Box [Powered by Sky] you will need to MAKE A NOTE OF the IP Address for your NowTV Box, which can be FOUND UNDER the "NOW TV Box Settings" accessed via the main menu of the player and easily IDENTIFIED BY THIS ICON:-

If you scroll through the main menu of your NowTV Box you will soon come to the above icon and, when you do, you should then enter the "NOW TV Box Settings" by clicking the "OK" button on the original NowTV Box remote (i.e. the white one that came with it) which will take you to a SETTINGS SUB-MENU which looks LIKE THIS:-

By default, at the top of the list, the word "About" should already be highlighted (as shown) and you should see the "Player Info" icon to the right hand side of your screen. Simply click the "OK" button on your remote once more to reveal a list of "NowTV Box Info" unique to your particular player. The list includes details such as your NowTV Account Name, as well as the Model Number, Serial Number & Software Version for your NowTV Box but, below all that, you will also see the IP Address of your NowTV Box. The IP Address should look similar to the one below:-

192 . 168 . 1 . 3

Please be sure to MAKE A NOTE OF YOUR IP ADDRESS for later reference !!!!

The reason you will need to know this information is so that you can MANUALLY ADD the IP Address of your NowTV Box to the settings of the remote app on your iOS or Android mobile device.

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The ORIGINAL WEB APPLICATION which we will be using to create the NowTV Box remote app on your iOS or Android mobile device can be found using THIS LINK to the Remoku website. You should navigate to the Remoku website, and make a note of the web address (URL), so that you can then enter it when the time comes on the mobile web browser for your iOS or Android device.

FOR APPLE iOS USERS:-

If you are using an Apple device, such as an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, you should open up the "Mobile Safari" internet browser and navigate to the REMOKU WEB APPLICATION on it. Once the webpage has loaded, THE SCREEN on your mobile device SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS:-

The next step is to create a MOBILE WEB APP to add to your HOME SCREEN which is done by clicking (i.e. tapping) on the "ACTION" BUTTON found in the centre of the Mobile Safari Toolbar which (if you have an iPhone or iPod Touch) is located at the bottom of the screen on your device. If you are in any doubt, the ICON for the "ACTION" BUTTON which you will need to make use of at this stage LOOKS LIKE THIS:-

Tapping the "ACTION" BUTTON will produce a list of options from which to choose your desired "Action"; in this case, we need to select "ADD TO HOME SCREEN" from the on-screen menu (again, by tapping on it). Doing so, will result in a "Remoku" App Icon being added to your Home Screen from which you can LAUNCH the Remoku App IN FULL SCREEN MODE enabling you to use it just like any other regular app on your mobile device. 

FOR ANDROID USERS:-

If you are using an Android mobile device, you should open up your internet browser and navigate to the REMOKU WEB APPLICATION on it. Once the webpage has loaded, you will then need to ADD A BOOKMARK for the website to later add a "Remoku" App Icon to your Home Screen, as with the iOS devices (above). Once you have it bookmarked, you must then OPEN the browser BOOKMARKS SCREEN and LONG-PRESS the BOOKMARK for the "Remoku" Web App and SELECT the option to "ADD TO HOME SCREEN" from the on-screen menu. The end result, much like the iOS version, is that you will have a "Remoku" App Icon added to your Home Screen from which you can LAUNCH the Remoku App IN FULL SCREEN MODE enabling you to use it like a regular app on your Android device. 

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Now that the Remoku App is installed on your mobile device, you need to set it up for use with your NowTV Box. This is where the IP Address, that you (hopefully) noted down earlier, will be needed. To proceed, LAUNCH the Remoku App IN FULL SCREEN MODE on your mobile device and tap on the "SETTINGS" BUTTON at the top of your screen. This will take you to another screen which is specially tailored for you to MANUALLY ADD the IP Address of your NOW TV Box. You should now be looking at SOMETHING LIKE THIS:-

PLEASE IGNORE the fact it says "Find My Roku", as well as passing over each of the "My Network", "How Many Roku's?" plus "Scan" and "Search Help" functions because the ONLY thing we need to concern ourselves with (at this stage) is the DATA-ENTRY BOX beside the words "Manual Add" where you now need to TYPE IN the IP Address of your NOW TV Box. For the purposes of this demonstration, I have stuck to using the SAME IP ADDRESS in the above image, as used for my example IP Address (below the NowTV Screenshots) but YOU MUST ENTER YOUR OWN IP ADDRESS as found in the  "NowTV Box Info" from the "About" section of the "NOW TV Box Settings" on your NowTV Box. Once you've typed in the information, TAP ON the "+" (i.e. 'PLUS' sign) BUTTON adjacent to the DATA-ENTRY BOX where you just typed the IP Address. This should ADD the IP Address of your NowTV Box to the "Settings" of the Remoku App and result in an UPDATED "SETTINGS" SCREEN which looks something LIKE THIS:-

At this stage, it's probably a good idea to use the "NAME THIS ROKU" option, found under the section headed "Control This Roku" near the top of your screen. To do so, just tap in the DATA-ENTRY BOX which (by default) says "Remoku" and ENTER TEXT of your choice. This is especially useful if you have more than one NowTV Box / Roku Player (or a combination thereof) because it enables you to switch between them on the same Remoku App and easily identify which one you are controlling, by simply looking at the name. FYI: "NowTV Box" and "Roku 2 XS" seemed like appropriate names to use in my case so feel free to use those, too, or whatever else you like !!

Anyway, if you now tap on the "REMOTE" BUTTON at the top of your screen, you should be looking at an on-screen remote control layout something LIKE THIS:-

PLEASE NOTE: If you used the "NAME THIS ROKU" option then, where it says "Remoku" in the above image, you will instead see the name you entered for your device. ALSO: If you SET UP your Remoku App to control MORE THAN ONE DEVICE then you can tap on your device name (e.g. Remoku in the above image) to bring up a menu from which you can easily switch between devices.

N.B. If you chose NOT to "NAME THIS ROKU" and, instead, left the DATA-ENTRY BOX (intended for entering a device name) BLANK then you will see the IP ADDRESS of your selected device IN PLACE OF a device name (i.e. "192.168.1.3" instead of "Remoku", in this example).

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By now, if set up correctly, you should easily be able to control your NowTV Box using the Remoku App on your iOS or Android mobile device. Even though the Remoku web application was originally intended for use with a Roku player, the symbols used for the buttons should be familiar to those of you with only a NowTV Box too. In fact there's only a minor change to the layout, as well, with the "Options" button being MOVED ABOVE the "FWD Scan", "Play/Pause" & "REV Scan" buttons PLUS the addition of an "Instant Replay" button (not found on the original NowTV Box Remote).

However, if you do run into any difficulty with either the 'SetUp' or 'Use Of' this Remoku App, there is an EXTREMELY USEFUL HELP PAGE available VIA THIS LINK which should answer most, if not all, of your questions. Failing that, you are advised to EITHER post to the Remoku Thread on the Roku Forums, OR to fill out a Remoku Support Form via Google Docs. These links can be used for BOTH additional help and to report bugs with the Remoku App. 

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH... I did try using the DIRECT ACCESS "Channel Store" button, found by tapping on the "Goodies" button (at the top of the Remoku App screen), to "Launch Channel Store" on the NowTV Box BUT found that IT TAKES MUCH LONGER to load the Roku Channel Store in this way. I tried it out because I thought it might be a viable option to replace the "Apps" Button found on the original NowTV Box Remote but, from my experience, it's FAR QUICKER to scroll through the channel icons from the NowTV Box (or Remoku App) Home Button and get into the Roku Channel Store by finding it's icon and then tapping the "OK" button. I'm just saying, is all...

It's a shame that the NowTV Box wasn't packaged with a clone of the Roku Remote App but maybe that will come someday? You might also think that, since the NowTV Box is "Powered by Sky", the folks at Sky (who have made some pretty good apps of their own already) could have come up with a basic offering fairly quickly which was up to the task... but, it seems they weren't up to it !!

Anyway, the main aim of this post was to provide NowTV Box owners with a useable remote control app for their iOS and/or Android mobile devices. So, on that score, it looks like... JOB DONE !! Having said that, if you own a Roku player but haven't yet tried using the Remoku App with it, then I suggest you give it a go too. Afterall, it's what the original Remoku web app was designed for !! 

So, whether you own a NowTV Box OR a Roku Player, OR PERHAPS BOTH... you now have access to another means of controlling it remotely. Even if you happen to lose your original remote... or, worse yet, lose your mobile device AND your original remote, then YOU CAN STILL OPERATE both YOUR ROKU PLAYER and/or YOUR NOW TV BOX courtesy of the Remoku Web App on your PC or Apple Mac computer. For those reasons, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you make use of this app - JUST REMEMBER: To keep a note of the IP Address(es) for your streaming media player(s) so that, if need be, you can access Remoku online at anytime & take control of your streaming !!

Still, that's about it for this post. I hope you find the app useful, no matter whether you're using it with a NowTV Box, a Roku Player, or any combination thereof... either way, WE AIM TO PLEASE !!!!!!!!!

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #24

Hi, everyone !!

As with last week, there have been a lot of distractions going on around me which have made the task of compiling this current 'Weekly RoundUp' just that little bit more difficult than it otherwise ought to have been. By some strange coincidence, the Roku channel developers must have suffered a few distractions of their own, during that same time-frame, because they appear to have collectively (or, as some cynics might say, 'conveniently') forgotten to edit the channel store options for almost half of the NEW CHANNELS which made it into the "Official" Roku (USA) Channel Store throughout the past week. Consequently, the selection of LATEST ADDITIONS to the "Official" Roku (UK) Channel Store varies somewhat in comparison to it's North American counterpart. Hopefully, those 'other' new channels, which were inexplicably "missing in action" this week, will emerge here at a later date. Meanwhile perhaps our friends from across the pond can make sure there are less distractions for those Roku developers, over the coming seven days, so that we are not "forgotten" when it comes to the next batch of channels to be released for the Roku player - no matter which channels they may be, nor the country from which the developer originates !!

Moving on, in addition to new channels, we've also had some more new readers coming to the pages of this blog. Once again, there were many repeat visits from various countries that I've mentioned in previous posts but on this occasion, as with this time last month, there was just one country that had not featured previously. So, before we go any further with the current 'Weekly RoundUp', I'd first like to extend a warm welcome to those new readers from Uzbekistan, who each took the time to pay a maiden visit to these pages at some point during the past seven days, or so.

To those new readers, and to everyone else who continues to read my Roku-related ramblings here on this blog, I'd just like to say... "Thanks for stopping by" & long may you continue to do so.

Still, let's get on with the details for the current 'Weekly RoundUp' of NEW ADDITIONS to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. This time, there are TEN NEW CHANNELS which have been added during the past seven days. These latest additions to the Roku UK Channel Store provided FRESH CONTENT to the Film & TV, Games, News, Weather, Sport, Music, Internet TV plus Religion & Spirituality 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 respective channel icon(s) as pictured} and to read a 'Roku Guide' review (where available) for each one:-

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

PLEASE NOTE: The Roku UK Channel Store description states, "CONTENT NOT RATED", for this channel. However the details also indicate that the content offers "Solid teaching" on issues which include sex. A closer look at the main index for this channel reveals that the discussion topics for the videos include abortion and other matters intended for MATURE AUDIENCES so, therefore, PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED for this channel, especially when considering the ADULT-THEMED SUBJECT MATTER for the majority of the content included.

N.B. This channel should really have featured in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store listings for last week, having (apparently) been released on 16th August 2013. However, despite the link above being for the channel description from the Roku (USA) Channel Store, it has yet to feature in the category for "New" channels in either the UK or the USA. I actually came across it whilst checking the channel numbers for the latest update to my "Official Roku UK Channel Store - Overview" when there was a discrepancy as to the total for the "Religion & Spirituality" genre (i.e. category). Since there has been no previous mention of the "PAX" channel for Roku player, it may interest you to know that it was developed by Lightcast.com whose website can be viewed HERE. The developer has also provided an expanded description for the "PAX" channel, which can be viewed using THIS LINK. If you're not already familiar with this prolific Roku channel developer, you can find out about the company & it's innovative Web Marketing, Media Hosting & Video Delivery Solutions on their website. Once there, you will find readily available links to contact them via email or, if you prefer, by telephone (including an EU Hotline) all of which are listed at the bottom of the main webpage. For anyone interested, there is also a HUGE LIST that includes most, if not all, of the featured Roku channels (as developed by Lightcast.com) for your perusal. If need be, you can always connect with the developer via their Twitter Feed: @lightcast_inc or, if you prefer, you can get social with them via their Facebook Page: Lightcast Inc (Facebook) too.

Meanwhile, regardless of the fact that the "PAX" channel has already been added to the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, there is (currently) still no Roku Guide Review available. If & when this situation changes, I will (of course) add a link to this post.

POGIE JOE TV.......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

GEEK GAMER TV..................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

PFM FAMILY TV.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

WORD SEARCH....................................COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

OP72......................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

N.B. Since this channel does not currently feature in the Roku (USA) Channel Store, the link above is for the Official Website of Op72. It may further interest you to know that the 'Op72' channel was previously featured as part of the SIX LIVE STREAMS among FOUR SUB-CHANNELS on the 'Kingdom TV Network' channel (SEE: "Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #20"). 

Some of you may even recall that another of those six live streams, the 'WZC - White Zoom Channel', also featured as a standalone Roku channel in my "Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #14". In which case, it probably comes as no surprise to you that the 'Op72' channel was produced by the very same developer as both 'Kingdom TV Network' and the 'WZC - White Zoom Channel'. The company name for this particular Roku channel developer is 'Iglesia y Tecnologia' and you can easily navigate to their official website using THIS LINK. If you would like to communicate with the developer, then you should do so using the CONTACT INFO from their official website. You can also connect with them via their Twitter Feed: @igletec or, if you just want to get social with them, you may do so directly via their Facebook Page: Iglesia y Tecnologia (Facebook).

Lastly, and no doubt due (again) to the fact that the 'Op72' channel has not yet been added to the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, there is no Roku Guide Review available. If & when this situation changes, I will add a link to this post.

PLATINUM GROOVES RADIO................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

SHOUTCAST INTERNET RADIO.............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

ALWAYS SUMMER TV...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

THE DOVE NEWSROOM........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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So, whether it's Internet Radio, Games or Game Reviews, Religious Programming, News from the Pacific Northwest region of the USA (incl. National & International Stories), Made-For-TV Family Comedy, or even the Skits & Vlogs of YouTube's own "Pogie Joe", we've pretty much got all those bases covered with these latest NEW ADDITIONS to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store.

Anyway, like it or not, that is your lot for this week and, whilst it doesn't quite the match-up to the twelve channels which made it into the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store during the same time-frame, I always think it's better to have SOME NEW CHOICES than none at all, don't you ?!!

Still, hopefully everyone in the UK with a Roku player managed to find something they like within the ten channels outlined above. If not, then you'll have to pay us a visit another time when, with any luck, there will be something more to your liking. Afterall, there's no point installing every channel because, as I've said before, 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 !!

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Meanwhile, for my last two 'Weekly RoundUp' posts, I have been suggesting that we all spare a thought for those poor folk who handed over their hard-earned cash for one of the NEW NowTV Boxes [Powered by Sky] which, as you may recall, also included me. Anyway very little has changed since then and, despite the promise of "more great content" with "more apps being continually added",  there (once again) hasn't been a single extra new channel. As before (it seems) while time continues to move on so, in turn (sic), does the tumbleweed...

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

PHOTO SOURCE: msaxon.files.wordpress.com

Likewise, despite the constant movement of time (and tumbleweed), there has (once more) been absolutely NO ACTION in terms of NEW ADDITIONS to the channel selection on the NowTV Box. This means that NowTV [Powered by Sky] have managed to (yet again) produce a (NOT SO) GRAND TOTAL of absolutely ZERO NEW CHANNELS to add to their (already SEVERELY REDUCED) version of the Roku Channel Store that features on the NowTV Box. Meanwhile, the "Official" Roku Channel Store that features on all UK Roku players has added TEN EXTRA CHANNELS during that same period of time. To keep things in perspective, in the four weeks since the launch of the NowTV Box, there has been a total of THIRTY EXTRA CHANNELS added to the "Official" Roku Channel Store on UK Roku players, compared with NO EXTRA CHANNELS being added to the Roku Channel Store on the streaming player from NowTV. As I said previously, if the NowTV Box is going to succeed, they need to show that it really is "Powered by Sky" and ensure that their device lives up to it's moniker by adding those promised "must-see shows" from Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Arts and Sky Living "NOW" and not "later this year". Otherwise, this seemingly continued lack of support for their streaming media player, will risk it being branded as the "NO TV BOX" as people become more & more frustrated at the lack of channel choice available on it.

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Still, whether you happen to own a Roku player, a NowTV Box, OR BOTH, as I do... 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 all the UK Roku action (as it happens) throughout the coming week, by following the companion 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 !!