Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #196

Hi, everyone !!



With the "office party" season getting underway, it's hardly surprising that work levels (in general) have seen a significant drop in the last seven days, especially when you compare it with the output from preceding weeks. Likewise, the amount of Roku-specific news ground to a halt during that time, with even the "Official" Roku Stream Blog resorting to posting "news" about features which Roku users "may not have discovered", or competitions to plug win existing Roku devices - causing the Roku hashtag on Twitter to be filled with untold copies of the same (re)tweet like some social media equivalent of "spam" in your (my) inbox - and how to stream movies on Hallmark (don't even bother looking if you're in the UK), as well as a "guest post" about "How to stream basketball...", but still no sign of any news about the UK release date(s) - if it ever happens - for the latest crop of streaming media players from Roku which, let's face it, is now WAY OVERDUE for those of us who bought into the brand in the UK! :-/ Anyway, with nothing by way of Roku-specific news to share with you, I had little option but to resort to sharing the few Roku-related tidbits that came my way...


Luckily for me, I was kept busy (day-to-day) in my "spare time" with finding & then sharing details of an "Advent Calendar" promotion by 'Amazon Video UK' via my Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels. If you haven't been following my tweets, there have been some amazing "Limited-Time Offer" savings throughout the last seven days... so it's worth checking the 'Amazon Video UK' webpage (see link above) on a daily basis, from now until 24th December, for more great deals on film and TV content which can all be streamed on UK Roku devices via the "Amazon Video" channel. Once you're on the webpage, just scroll down until you see the following image:-

If you click on the above image (via the 'Amazon Video UK' webpage - not the one shown here!) you will be redirected to the current deal for that particular day. Thus far, there have been several movies available with varying discounts (e.g. The Revenant, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Twilight, and Jack Reacher) plus TV series (e.g. Band Of Brothers, Red Dwarf, Brooklyn Nine Nine, and Grimm) - all with significant savings over competing UK streaming services (i.e. Google Play Movies & TV, Netflix, NowTV, Wuaki TV UK, TalkTalk TV Store, iTunes, etc.) - so, if you can keep an eye on this promotion on a daily basis... you may discover something that's right for you, or someone you know. Alternatively, you could choose to follow the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels to this blog, where I will continue to share full details of these offers - specific to each day - throughout the remainder of this promotion... and, if that's easier for you, I'm only too happy to be of service! ;-)


In addition to the assortment of "Advent Calendar" offers from Amazon Video UK this week, we have (once again) been blessed with an above-average crop of new channel additions to occupy our time. While the number of apps pales in comparison to the total new additions from three weeks ago, when sixty-one channels were added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, and is less than half the total number released last week, we have (at least) seen an increase on the weekly total of 16 new channels... which was the average for any given seven-day period throughout the year in 2015.


Meanwhile, Roku UK users are still subject to restrictions (imposed by Roku) and (bizarrely) remain unable to access the channel descriptions in the web channel store on the Roku (USA) website. That said, the majority of the text from those web store descriptions can also be found within the individual channel descriptions from the built-in "Channel Store" (accessed via "Streaming Channels" from the main menu) on all Roku devices and, together with the associated screenshots (where available), should give you a pretty good indication of what those channels are about.


My advice to any UK-based readers of this blog is to ignore the links below (and to the left of) each channel icon shown below and (instead) rely on the link to the right (below each channel icon) which will redirect you to an 'Roku Guide' review for additional details on each channel. As it stands, the links below (and to the left of) each channel icon are (currently) only of use to readers of this blog from the USA. This means Roku users from the other "supported" regions of the world (i.e. Ireland, Canada, France and Mexico) are, like those of us in the UK, unable to browse the Roku Web Channel Store - which for now (at least) remains an exclusive privilege of Roku users in the USA. :-(


Hopefully Roku will (one day) wake-up to the fact that improving the experience for users in "other" Roku "regions" is just as important as it is for those who buy & use their products in the U.S. and denying access to the Roku website does not help the end-user experience for those of us (outside the USA) who wish to browse the web channel store. Meanwhile, that which Roku (apparently) doesn't want UK Roku users to see on their website (i.e. the list of new channels) is regularly summarised on this blog in my 'Weekly RoundUp' posts. So, without further ado, here's my 'Weekly RoundUp' of all the new Roku channels which were released between 4th December and 10th December 2016:-

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

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

MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

BEST OF ONE STEP BEYOND............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

TORRE FUERTE....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

WBNS-10TV NEWS...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "NEWS & WEATHER" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

GRINDHOUSE TV..........................................COST: £1.49 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

RUCHKAR MEJWANI...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FOOD" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***


PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this "Ruchkar Mejwani" channel for Roku devices provides videos in the language of Marathi (as spoken by the people of Maharashtra and Goa in Western India), it has come to light (via the 'Roku Guide' review) that their 'YouTube' channel offers similar video content but with English-language subtitles added for each of the recipes. Needless to say, this could be of great benefit to any UK Roku users who might be interested in the cuisine of Maharashtra and/or Goa but are not fluent in the Marathi language of Western India. So, if that sounds like you, I recommend that you access these videos via 'YouTube' instead of adding this channel to your Roku device(s)! ;-)

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

***FILED UNDER: "FOOD" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

LITTLE FOX CHINESE.......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

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

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

FLIX PREMIERE................COST: FREE + £3.99 (PPV RENTAL FEE) [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***


PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this "Flix Premiere" channel is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices and (once registered) does include a voucher (sent via email) to WATCH YOUR 1st MOVIE FOR FREE, to enjoy more content A PAY-PER-VIEW (PPV) RENTAL FEE IS REQUIRED FOR EACH FILM in the amount of £3.99 PER RENTAL which buys you a 48-HOUR VIEWING PERIOD before the video ceases to be available in your queue. For true movie buffs, the "Flix Premiere" channel also has a SPECIAL "TICKET BUNDLE" where you "BUY FIVE, GET ONE FREE" and are then able to use those "tickets" to ENJOY FIVE FILMS FOR LESS THAN TWENTY POUNDS on your Roku device which, let's face it, means SAVING A FORTUNE IN CINEMA TICKET PRICES to boot! ;-)

ALSO:- While the Roku channel for "Flix Premiere" will allow subscribers to view a trailer of each movie, prior to selecting a film, we've found the best method is to buy "tickets" or "ticket bundles" via the website (achieved by clicking on your profile and providing your credit card info) after which you'll be able to watch films simply by selecting the video within the "Flix Premiere" Roku channel.

BETTER YET:- As some of you are (perhaps) already aware, the "Flix Premiere" streaming service is also available via apps for iOS (Apple) and Android mobile devices as well as online - through any web browser you may care to mention - meaning you can take this online Cineplex experience with you, for those times when (for whatever reason) your Roku device may be inaccessible. For the full list of current content, please visit the official website for the "Flix Premiere" service. If you wish to connect with them via social media, "Flix Premiere" has both a Twitter Feed: @FlixPremiere and an FB Page: Flix Premiere (Facebook). They also have an online presence via their 'YouTube' channel. Meanwhile, here are some links to free downloads of the "Flix Premiere" mobile apps:-


FREE DOWNLOAD:- Flix Premiere iOS App for Apple Mobile Devices (via iTunes App Store)


FREE DOWNLOAD:- Flix Premiere Android App for Mobile Devices (via Google Play Store)

ADDITIONAL INFO:- For those who may be unfamiliar with it, the "Flix Premiere" streaming service provides a cinema experience, but with on-demand availability, and thereby positions itself between the likes of Netflix, Amazon Video, etc. and the Video-on-Demand (VoD) services provided by cable and/or satellite companies (i.e. Sky, Virgin, TalkTalk, etc.) while also offering a large choice of films which are not available via those competing services. You won't find any episodic TV shows on the "Flix Premiere" streaming service, but there's dramas, animations, comedies & documentaries galore! What you're most likely to find is the kind of exclusive (and elusive?) indie films which may otherwise have passed you by. However this is far from being an assortment of "straight-to-video" films but, rather, an assortment of hand-picked gems which have been assembled by a large team of people who watch and grade movies for "Flix Premiere", with the company applying further scrutiny to those with the highest ratings... including, but not limited to, where they may have been previously screened (e.g. film festivals, limited theatrical releases, etc.) plus their reception via social media, and several other factors. The end result is akin to an online movie theatre (cinema) offering a carefully curated selection of world-class film productions, including: brand new movies from award-winning movie directors, as well as featuring break-out stars and some new voices of global cinema. Every 10-14 days, Flix Premiere offers viewers 8-9 new exciting movies, exclusive to the service. In addition, Flix Premiere viewers can enjoy theatrical releases of movies online, offering a red carpet experience at home with behind-the-scenes footage, cast and production interviews and much more. So if, like "Flix Premiere", you believe that films are not measured by budget, or talent, or who made them... but by their resonance, the impact they make, their relevance, and the story they tell - feel free to add "Flix Premiere" to your Roku channels because it offers a truly "red carpet" experience! :-)

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

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

BEG TV's THE ONYX CHANNEL.......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

BRAIN CANDY TV..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

THE ANIMAL FILM FESTIVAL.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

U - CHRISTMAS...........................COST: £1.99 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

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

VERSUS MEDIA MUSIC VIDEOS.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

THE WELL - WEEKLY SERMONS.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SPANISH SUBTITLE CLASSICS.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

MOVIE TIME MACHINE.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

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Anyhow, like it or not, that is your lot for this week and, though it's barely more than three quarters of the twenty-six channels which made it into the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store during the same time-frame, it's better to get 20 NEW CHANNELS than none at all... as I'm sure you'll agree?!


In any event, hopefully everyone in the UK with a Roku player managed to find something they like within the twenty "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. That said, if you didn't find anything to add to your Roku channel selection from the assortment of channels on offer this week, you can always pay us a visit another time when, with any luck, there will be something more to your liking. After all, there's no point installing every channel because, like I've said before... when it comes to adding new channels to your Roku, IT'S YOUR CHOICE  as with all things Roku... THE CHOICE IS ALWAYS YOURS!

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As mentioned previously, 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 earlier posts (as mentioned before) for all the new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store in each of the one hundred and twenty-two 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 !!