Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #132

Hi, everyone !!



Having witnessed another "Special Event" from Apple in the previous week, which (finally) saw the introduction of a new 'Apple TV' device, the media streaming highlight of the last seven days has come courtesy of Amazon with the launch of their "refreshed" and updated 'FireTV' devices. Bearing in mind Apple had chosen not to incorporate '4K' streaming capabilities in their latest offering, the big news - at least from a UK perspective - was that the main "update" to Amazon's streaming media player was the ability to handle higher definition streams than their first generation set-top box (STB) meaning that, as well as 1080p FULL HD, it will soon be possible to watch whatever '4K' content is made available too. Perhaps unsurprising, then, that Roku chose to "leak" details - no doubt to remind people of their own foray into '4K' territory - for a new "4K Showcase" channel, just prior to the Amazon announcement:-

For the record, this channel is not something I came across while checking the "New" category from the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store on my own streaming media players but, rather, from a chance look at the Roku website. In any event, I decided to break the news via Twitter, as evidenced by the following screenshots of the comments I posted having made this somewhat intriguing discovery:-

The link to a channel store description for "4K Showcase" - a channel developed by Roku, themselves - that is (partially) revealed in the second of the two tweets (above) - FULL INFO HERE - is no longer functional but, luckily, I did manage to capture a screenshot of the webpage associated with it as proof of the details which were (briefly) made available via the Roku website, as shown below:-

HINT: CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!

Based on the fact that this listing was subsequently removed from the Roku website, coupled with the aforementioned 'FireTV' announcement from Amazon, it seemed appropriate to refer to this as being a "leak" from Roku (in my opening paragraph) given the timing of these events. Whether that was in fact the case, I cannot say with absolute certainty... but, it seems unlikely to be mere coincidence given how fierce the competition is between Roku, Apple, Google and Amazon in the media streaming market. As per my initial tweet on the subject, it remains unclear as to whether this channel will remain US-only at the time of it's full release (e.g. for the new 4K Roku TV range, or the elusive new 'Roku 4' STB) or if we will also see it added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. Needless to say, as soon as I hear anything further on the subject, I'll be sure to keep you informed via both this blog and the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels where up-to-the-minute info on all things Roku-related (here in the UK) are posted on a regular basis. AS IS OFTEN THE CASE... YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST! ;-)


Anyway, before I proceed with listing the current crop of new channels (plus providing links to their associated reviews) for this particular 'Weekly RoundUp'... a brief reminder that, whilst I had hoped I'd be able to catch-up on the missing Roku-related news from this blog in recent weeks, all the extra work I've been burdened with of late means it remains unlikely that I'll be fully caught-up anytime soon. Until I do find the time... my one saving grace is that (as mentioned previously) I have somehow managed to remain up-to-date with all the latest additions to the "New" category of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store and will endeavour to flesh-out what's missing ASAP! Admittedly, there are quite a few articles that I need to catch up on but, rather than post links for individual weeks, I'll simply refer you back to my "Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #78", which contains all of the pertinent information you might need when researching back over the items in question. Again, I'm sorry this has dragged-on (far) longer than anticipated, and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused you, but (all being well) things will be back up to speed soon!

As mentioned earlier... all I can offer you for now is a summary of the latest additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store from the past week. As with my other recent posts, you can expect any additional Roku-related news from the last seven days, along with details of any changes to the channel selection found on NowTV Boxes, to be added at some point in the near future. As for "mending" all of the "broken" links from previous 'Weekly RoundUp' posts, I still can't put a time-scale on how long that is going to take but (like I said before) if you "copy" the existing link(s) and change the "http" prefix to "https", as well as removing the "forward slash" between 'channels' and '#!details', so that "channels#/!details" becomes "channels#!details" in each weblink, you should find that they will all work for you and redirect to the new-look version of each individual channel description. As with the last forty-five 'Weekly RoundUp' posts, every link from this week (plus all future posts) will use the new format, so it's only those from 'Weekly RoundUp #1' up as far as 'Weekly RoundUp #86' which you'll have to amend... at least, until I can edit/repair the links for you !!

Still, with all the "missing" Roku-related news (and links) yet to follow, let's now press on with the current 'Weekly RoundUp' of NEW ADDITIONS to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. This time there are TWO NEW CHANNELS which have been added during the preceding seven day period. These latest additions provided FRESH CONTENT in the International and Special Interest categories. Specifically... there was ONE EXTRA CHANNEL in each of the "International", and "Special Interest" categories, making-up the new channel choices which have been introduced to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store during this past week. 

In keeping with previous installments from the 'Weekly RoundUp' series, details of these new channels have 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) with an independent (slightly more expansive) assessment of each:-

INDIA TODAY TV INT'L CHANNELS.............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "INTERNATIONAL" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

PLEASE NOTE:- That, since "India Today TV Int'l Channels" has yet yo be added to the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, the link provided above will instead redirect you to the official website of 'India Today' where further information about the channel can be obtained. For the same reason, there is also (currently) no active link to an 'Roku Guide' review for this channel. Should this situation change, I will post the "missing" links here, just as soon as the details have been made known to me. Meanwhile, apologies for any inconvenience that may have been caused by their absence.


During those times when you are away from your UK Roku device(s), there is an LIVE STREAM of "India Today" AVAILABLE ONLINE HERE which can be readily accessed from any web browser. Should you find yourself "out & about" with neither PC, Mac, nor Roku device nearby, "India Today" also offers FREE APPS for both Apple iOS and Android devices. For ease of reference, I am posting the relevant links to each of the FREE DOWNLOADS for 'India Today Channels' apps below:-

DOWNLOAD FREE iOS APP: via iTunes UK App Store (n.b. requires iOS 6.0 or later)

and/or

DOWNLOAD FREE Android APP: via Google Play Store (n.b. requires Android 4.0 and up)

Those wishing to get social with the folks behind "India Today TV Int'l Channels" can do so easily, via either their Twitter Feed: @IndiaToday or their Facebook Page: India Today (Facebook).

SO... WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?! Those choosing to add "India Today TV Int'l Channels" to their UK Roku device(s) can WATCH "India Today" LIVE TV FOR FREE and gain access to popular channels such as Aaj Tak, Tez News, Dilli Aaj Tak plus of course India Today (English) allowing viewers to enjoy the latest sports, business and cinema news from both India and around the world. So, whether it's Bollywood, or Hollywood, you'll always be able to track the latest news from each of the regional film industries via "India Today TV Int'l Channels" on UK Roku player(s)! :-)


For further information on the various sub-channels found among the "India Today TV Int'l Channels" content on UK Roku devices, here are some links to their individual websites:-


INDIA TODAY - Latest Breaking News From India & Worldwide - Official Website

AAJ TAK - Breaking News, News in Hindi and Latest Headlines - Official Website

TEZ NEWS - Latest Hindi News Headlines from India & Worldwide - Official Website

DILLI AAJ TAK - Delhi News in Hindi, Breaking News from Delhi - Official Website

THE NEW THOUGHT CHANNEL.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

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Anyhow, like it or not, that is your lot for this week and, whilst it only equates to one-half of the four channels which made it into the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store during the same time-frame, it's better to have this choice of 2 NEW CHANNELS than none at all, don't you think?!

Meanwhile... hopefully everyone in the UK with a Roku player managed to find something they like within the two "public" channels outlined above... or else from the "private" channels, whose access codes were "gifted" to you via the companion Twitter Feed to this blog, at various points throughout the last seven days. Even so, if you didn't find anything to add to your Roku channel selection from the assortment of channels on offer this week, you'll just 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 like I say... when it comes to adding more new channels to your Roku, IT'S YOUR CHOICE and, as with all things Roku... THE CHOICE IS ALWAYS YOURS !!

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As mentioned earlier in this post, you can expect my usual summary of all the goings-on (or not) in the (severely restricted) Roku Channel Store that features on NowTV Boxes to follow in the near future. Meanwhile, whether you happen to own a Roku player, a NowTV Box, OR BOTH, as I do... be sure to check my previous posts (as mentioned above) for all the new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store in each of the fifty-nine preceding weeks and then come back again in seven days' time for my next 'Weekly RoundUp'. However, 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 !!