Hi, everyone !!
The BIG NEWS story this week (in terms of Roku-specific matters) came when 'Fortune' shared details, in an article published only yesterday, that Roku are looking to raise a new round of funding, with at least $200 million being sought primarily from investors based in the USA. Past funding has already brought in around $210 million from investors that include Sky UK, Fox Networks & Netflix among others but it's not yet clear if UK Roku users will benefit from this latest injection of capital.
Perhaps the money will be swallowed-up by Roku's plans to expand their advertising presence in New York City? After all, the cost of bricks & mortar in NYC are far from affordable and with the recent revelation, published by 'The Real Deal', that Roku have just signed a lease for 15,931 square feet of office space at 114 West 41st Street (moving-up from their current 3,000 square feet)... you can bet that there was some hefty financing associated with that particular NYC relocation!
While that's all the Roku-specific news I have to report this week, there were also several items of Roku-related news which came my way. Since we Brits can often be found talking about the weather, it'll probably please many of you to learn that The Weather Network intends to add live-streaming video to 'The Weather Network' channel for Roku devices, as well as their apps for Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV... which is good news for anyone with those streaming devices! According to a recent report, published by 'Fierce Cable', from where I discovered the news... the live stream "will include local weather information for cities around the world along with maps, warnings and alerts" which will be a nice addition to the user-generated content and on-demand video content already available.
In other Roku-related news, 'Reuters' has reported that the 'MLB' (short for 'Major League Baseball', if you weren't already aware) may begin streaming on 'Facebook' for the upcoming baseball season. The article states that, "Facebook is in talks with Major League Baseball to live stream one game per week during the upcoming season", but 'Reuters' acknowledges both 'Facebook' and the 'MLB' have declined to comment on the matter. What's also unclear, at this stage, is whether any such live streams would be viewable via the 'Facebook Photos and Videos' channel on Roku devices. At the very least, let's hope 'Facebook' uses its "global" reach to share these live streams (if made available) with their users on a "worldwide" basis. If not, at least we still have 'MLB.TV' on Roku devices! ;-)
The other item of Roku-related news I have to share with you this week concerns an update to the UI (User Interface) for the 'Shudder' channel on Roku devices. Those of you who have previously made use of the horror streaming service on Roku will know that the main menu was (originally) somewhat basic and (ahem) "buried" the content inside folders for "All", "Genres", etc. However, the new-look UI puts the streaming titles on show from the get-go... with sections for "New Arrivals", "Top Picks" plus the afore-mentioned "Genres" all displaying colourful images of the "horrors" on offer! Here's a couple of screenshots, previously shared via my Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels, to illustrate this latest improvement to what is an absolutely essential Roku channel for any fan of the 'Horror' genre:-
HINT: Please CLICK on these images TO ENLARGE THEM for easier viewing !!
As with other recent 'Weekly RoundUp' posts, I'm going to (once again) ask you to refer back to the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels for details of some special offers which may be of interest. In particular, there is a great deal on the top-of-the-range 'Roku 3' [Model: 4200EU] which is (currently) available via both Tesco Direct and Currys / PC World for only £49.00 - that's less than half-price, when compared to the original RRP (Recommended Retail Price) of £99.99 - equivalent to a saving 51% on the flagship UK Roku device, which is awesome! I also posted details of the access codes for some more private channels (available in all regions) among the other bits & pieces shared via Twitter... so, as always, it's worth looking back over my recent tweets for some extra treats! ;-)
Moving on... the list of new additions begins with three channels that, despite being new to UK Roku devices, are not listed in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the Roku UK Channel Store. As I've said before, I love discovering apps like these... because they illustrate precisely why it's worth reading the 'Weekly RoundUp' posts on this blog. Any Roku users who simply rely on whatever they see listed under the "New" category in the built-in channel store of their streaming media players (to identify the latest apps for UK Roku devices) risk missing-out on channels like this altogether. Other websites offering Roku channel listings will base their contents on the Roku USA Channel Store, which means they also include apps that are unavailable to Roku UK users. So, if you really want to know what's available to UK Roku users channel-wise... be sure to read this blog every week! ;-) :-)
Before I run through the new channels... a brief reminder that UK Roku users are still subject to restrictions (imposed by Roku) and (bizarrely) remain unable to access the channel descriptions from the web store on the Roku (USA) website. That said, the majority of text in those web listings can also be found within the individual 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 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 (where available) will redirect you to an 'Roku Guide' review for additional details on that channel. As it stands, the links below (and to the left of) each icon are (currently) only of use to readers of this blog from the USA. This means that 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 19th and 25th February 2017:-
N.B. CHANNEL ICON STILL TO FOLLOW -
NOT AVAILABLE AT TIME OF PUBLISHING
TRAVELDREAMER TV.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "TRAVEL" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
THE BOOK TRAILER CHANNEL.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SHOPPING" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
N.B. CHANNEL ICON STILL TO FOLLOW -
NOT AVAILABLE AT TIME OF PUBLISHING
PRAIZEVISION TV.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
BOB RODGERS MINISTRIES NETWORK...........................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
JOJO....................................COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
HOT LASH TV...................................................COST: £0.69 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
NEW FOCUS NETWORK...COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
AMaeTV....................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "TRAVEL" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
THE NAME GAME...........COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "GAMES" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
THE FLAMING GODHEAD...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
AMERICA GOES TO WAR.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "EDUCATIONAL" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
JO's WESTERN CLASSIC MOVIES.......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
CMtvHUB.............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
IMPACTO VISIÓN...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
BOISE TV.................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
LATAM TV LIVE.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "INTERNATIONAL" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
COLOMBIA TV........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "INTERNATIONAL" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
EBONYLIFE TV................................................COST: £2.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, as this 'EBONYLIFE TV' channel was not added to the "New" category of the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store until after the publishing deadline for the current crop of reviews by 'Roku Guide', there is (currently) no active link to a review of the channel. So, until such a time as the "missing" review is published via the 'Roku Guide' website, here is the full description for 'EBONYLIFE TV' as found on the Roku Web Channel Store:-
EbonyLife TV, Africa’s first Global Black Entertainment and Lifestyle network, was launched on June 30, 2013 and began broadcasting on July 01, 2013 to a pan-African audience, by a license agreement with Multichoice (DStv) Africa, Africa’s largest Pay TV platform. The channel is distributed to 49 African countries, including South Africa and Southern African countries. EbonyLife TV continues to secure distribution deals across the globe. In the UK, we are available to viewers on Talk Talk TV; we serve viewers in Canada via the Ethnic Channels Group. We are concluding terms with Virgin Media and DISH, while our VOD platforms are also available for download by viewers in the US, Europe, Canada, Asia and the Middle East on Play Store for Android devices and on App Store for iOS devices, as well as at vod.ebonylifetv.com. EbonyLife TV believes it’s the dawn of a new era in Africa and is motivated by the need to create and remain an alternative form of media for the continent. Our Mantra is “everything you think you know about Africa is about to change forever”. This rallying cry and credo drives us to constantly inspire and celebrate Africa while enabling it to take its place on the global stage as a media and entertainment powerhouse.
Hopefully... the above description will provide you with sufficient information about the channel to make-up your own mind as to whether (or not) it sounds like something you'd add to the selection of channels on your own Roku device(s) but, needless to say, once details of the "missing" review have been made known to me... I will add a link for the 'Roku Guide' review to this post in due course.
FALA AYU...............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, as with 'EBONYLIFE TV' (above), this 'Fala Ayu' channel was not added to the "New" category of the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store until after the current crop of reviews by 'Roku Guide' had been published. Consequently, there is (once again) no active link to a review of the channel. Likewise, until such a time as the "missing" review is published via the 'Roku Guide' website, the only relevant information that I am able to provide is the description of the 'Fala Ayu' channel... as found on the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store:-
Ayu Brazil started her Music since 2013 and she holds a large fan base in Brazil. The singer comes from a family of musicians and her father Rodrigo Tristao is her music producer. Ayu went viral in 2014 with her Frozen covers. Most of the channel covers are Disney and Anime songs. In 2015, Ayu began producing authorial songs and states that it has always been her greatest goal. She likes to compose with her father and her brother, Caio. Ayu does shows in anime events and she's known for her electrifying presence on stage and her affection for her fans "Ayubers".
Once again... hopefully the above description will provide sufficient information about the channel for you to make-up your own mind as to whether (or not) it is something you'd add to the selection of channels on your own Roku device(s) and, as before, once details of the "missing" review have been made known to me... I'll add a link for the 'Roku Guide' review of the 'Fala Ayu' channel to this post.
BELLYDANCERS....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, as with the 'EBONYLIFE TV' and 'Fala Ayu' channels (above), this latest channel from developer, "We BellyDance", was not added to the "New" category of the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store until after the current crop of reviews by 'Roku Guide' had been published. Like the two channels listed previously, there is (again) no active link to a review of the channel. However, since the channel store description is very brief for this 'BellyDancers' app... with the only information offered being, "This belly dancers channel is non-stop bellydance", I won't have any more details for you until such a time as the "missing" review is published via the 'Roku Guide' website. Again, once the specifics have been made known to me, I will add a link to this post.
AERIAL....................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "APPS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, as with the 'EBONYLIFE TV' plus 'Fala Ayu' and 'BellyDancers' channels (above), this 'Aerial' channel from developer, "Orjen Solutions", was not added to the "New" category of the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store until after the current crop of reviews by 'Roku Guide' had been published. Like the three channels listed above, there is (once more) no active link to a review of this channel. However, since the channel store description is very brief for the 'BellyDancers' app... with the main aspect being, "Breathtaking aerial HD video, used for Apple TV screensaver", I can't provide any more info for you until such time as the "missing" review is published by 'Roku Guide'. As mentioned above, once the specifics have been made known to me, I will add a link to this post.
PROPAGANDA TV.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, as with the 'EBONYLIFE TV' and 'Fala Ayu' plus 'BellyDancers' and 'Aerial' channels (above), this latest channel from developer, "We BellyDance", was not added to the "New" category of the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store until after the current crop of reviews by 'Roku Guide' had been published. Like the two channels listed previously, there is (once more) no active link to a review. However, as the description is (again) rather brief for this 'BellyDancers' app... with the only information offered being, "This belly dancers channel is non-stop bellydance", I won't have any more details for you until such time as the "missing" review has been published by 'Roku Guide'. As before, once the specifics have been made known to me, I will (of course) add a link to this post.