Hi, everyone !!
Those of you who follow the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels for this blog might recall that I mentioned, back in early January of this year, how 'Hisense UK' had revealed the option of new 'Roku TV' models for the UK was (at that time) apparently "being looked into" but that there was (as of 5th January 2017)... "currently no ETA as to when this will happen" according to the reply which came from 'Hisense UK' in response to my original tweet on the subject. In the meantime, very little else has been forthcoming from either 'Hisense UK' or 'Roku, Inc.' other than the usual corporate-type "cookie cutter" responses to questions from myself and other UK Roku users with an interest in such matters. These are generally so vague as to only offer a glimmer of hope that the UK remains a viable market for new Roku products, despite having been overlooked for all the latest devices which were released during the past two years. Anyway, from time-to-time, I'll have a joke with Cab Davidson [Twitter Feed: @gnomeicide] a UK Roku user who lives in Cambridge (where Roku has a facility) about how he should take a look in the window to see if anything is actually going-on in there. Well, I've not messaged Cab recently but, for whatever reason, I decided to take a look & see if there were any openings for UK job candidates at Roku's engineering base in Cambridge only to discover this:-
AS BEFORE:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
You don't have to read much beyond the job title to realise that, by advertising this job opportunity, Roku has (thanks to my own curiosity) given us the BIG NEWS STORY for this week and, in so doing, confirmed what many UK Roku users were starting to feel might never happen... which is that not only are we about to get "New Products", but one such new product is set to be "Roku TV" and that there is now officially a "Roku TV Program" in the UK. For those who may be still too shocked to read between the lines, take it all in, and process the information, here's my annotated version:-
ONCE AGAIN:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
For any "talented engineer" out there who may be interested in applying for a position at Roku in their Cambridge facility, there are other job opportunities available (besides the one shown above) for which the details can be found among the various job listings on the Roku website. Meanwhile, for the rest of us, I'm sure just the prospect of getting your hands on a (hopefully 4K-capable) television with the Roku TV OS built-in to it will be enough to restore your faith that Roku is far from finished when it comes to, as they put it, "expanding their presence" in the UK! So, when anyone asks you how you heard about 'Roku TV' coming to the UK, be sure to tell them you read it here first! :-D
Ironically, it was probably sharing the news last week, about Amazon Fire TV Edition 4K televisions from Element TV's being made available for pre-order, which led me to discovering about 'Roku TV' coming to the UK. So, it's only fitting that the biggest Roku-related news story of the week concerns two important changes to the 'Amazon Video' channel on UK Roku devices. The first and (arguably) most obvious change is that the updated 'Amazon Video' user-interface (UI) which was mistakenly added to Roku UK devices back in December 2016, when the UI for 'Amazon Video' in the U.S. was updated, has now been officially released in the UK. Several UK Roku users (myself included) were fortunate enough to (erroneously) get a glimpse of the U.S. version and as expected, barring the vast difference in available content, the latest 'Amazon Video' UI for the UK moved a step closer to the look and feel of the UI found on Amazon's own 'Fire TV' devices... better unifying the cross-platform "feel" of the service. If you haven't yet seen the new UI for 'Amazon Video', then I recommend that you perform a manual update by going to:- Settings > System > System update > Check now from the 'Home Screen' on your Roku device. This should "force" the 'Amazon Video' channel to update to the latest version which includes the new-look user interface for the channel on UK Roku devices.
The second important change, while (perhaps) not so apparent visually, is (arguably) of much greater significance overall... on account of the wealth of additional SVOD (Subscription Video On Demand) options it brings to both the 'Amazon Video' service and to the Roku channel which bears that name. For those who missed my original tweet on the subject, when the (above) update to the UI for 'Amazon Video' was first released, the recently launched "Amazon Channels" feature of the 'Amazon Video' service brings no less than 39 FEATURED CHANNELS of premium subscription options to UK Roku users. Here is a breakdown of the thirty-nine SVOD services which can be accessed via the 'Amazon Video' channel on UK Roku devices, following this latest update to the user interface:-
EUROSPORT PLAYER - brings both Live and On Demand sports programming, including such highlights as Grand Slam tennis, cycling & snooker events plus winter sports for £6.99 a month.
DISCOVERY - brings a wealth of documentaries plus plenty of additional unscripted entertainment from the Discovery network, including popular shows such as "Deadliest Catch" for £4.99 a month.
HEERA - this Amazon-exclusive SVOD channel brings over 600 Bollywood, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, plus Telegu movies & series, including blockbusters like Sultan and Kabali for £3.99 a month.
ITV HUB+ - adds further programming choices from what you'll find on the regular 'ITV Hub' app, for UK Roku devices, allowing you to catch-up on loads of ad-free episodes for only £3.99 a month.
HOPSTER - already familiar (I'm sure) to most UK Roku users, this SVOD channel provides an additional way to make screen-time smart with safe, ad-free content for kids at only £3.99 a month.
HAYU - an opportunity to experience the on-demand Reality TV programming from NBC Universal like "Keeping Up with the Kardashians", before it comes to NowTV in 2018, for only £3.99 a month.
MGM - brings a mixture of Hollywood hits, timeless classics and cult favourites movies from the studios of MGM to Roku devices in the UK, via the 'Amazon Video' channel, for £4.49 a month.
BE FIT UK - brings further opportunities for UK Roku users to get-fit fast, with unlimited streaming for hundreds of workouts via this "Featured Channel" on 'Amazon Video' at only £5.99 a month.
SHUDDER - again, already familiar to UK Roku users, this "Featured Channel" for Shudder (backed by AMC Networks) super-serves fans of thrillers, suspense, and horror films for just £4.99 a month.
BFI PLAYER+ - brings a wealth of on-demand classic British and critically acclaimed movies to the Roku platform in the UK, via this "Featured Channel" as part of 'Amazon Video', for £4.99 a month.
LOVE NATURE - another streaming service that should already be familiar to Roku UK users, this is another way to get their ad-free, family-friendly nature documentaries on-demand for £3.99 a month.
QELLO CONCERTS - no surprises here for UK Roku users, with another "Featured Channel" that already has it's own app for Roku devices. However, this does offer an alternative way for streamers to enjoy some great concert footage from music icons and new artists alike for only £5.99 a month.
GAIA - as with some of the other "Featured Channels" listed above, this is another one which will be familiar to most UK Roku users already... so, consider this an alternative option for streaming all of the Yoga, nutrition, meditation plus other health & fitness videos from 'Gaia' for only £7.99 a month.
CURIOSITY STREAM - is another "Featured Channel" which will already be familiar to UK Roku users on account of there being an existing Roku channel for this service. As such, this can therefore be considered as an alternative way for those with Roku UK devices to stream their unique catalogue of exclusive documentaries (by some of the world's best filmmakers) in HD, for just £5.49 a month.
COMIC-CON HQ - brings a selection of fan-favourite films, original programming, plus exclusive access content & more... to UK Roku devices, for graphic novel/comic book fans, at £4.99 a month.
UP FAMILY - provides SVOD entertainment suitable for the whole family at just £3.49 a month.
HORSE & COUNTRY PLAY - brings the home of equestrianism and British country lifestyle to UK Roku devices for the first time... available now, on-demand, via 'Amazon Video' for £3.99 a month.
THE GREAT COURSES - SIGNATURE COLLECTION - is another "Featured Channel" that will already be familiar to those with Roku devices, on account of there being an existing Roku channel for this streaming service. Nevertheless, it does offer an alternative way for Roku users in the UK to access their curated collection of educational video courses on-demand for only £5.49 a month.
STUDIO UNIVERSAL CLASSICS - brings a great selection of classic movies from the archives of Universal Studios to UK Roku devices, via the 'Amazon Video' channel, for only £3.99 per month.
ARROW VIDEO - brings an amazing collection of on-demand cult classics and horror movies from Arrow Films' video library to UK Roku devices, via the 'Amazon Video' channel, for £4.99 a month.
VIEWSTER | ANIME - another streaming service that will already be familiar to most Roku users in the UK, this "Featured Channel" on 'Amazon Video' presents an alternative way for fans of the genre to stream the entire collection of ad-free anime on-demand from 'Viewster' at just £2.99 per month.
YOGA ANYTIME CHANNEL - is another of those "Featured Channels" which should already be familiar to the yoga practitioners among UK Roku users, on account of there being an existing Roku channel for this SVOD service. Nevertheless, it does offer an alternative way for Roku users in the UK to access their content library of yoga videos on-demand in HD, for only £6.99 per month.
ACACIA TV - brings a vast collection, featuring hundreds of fun and effective workouts for every fitness level, to UK Roku devices - via the 'Amazon Video' channel - for just £5.99 per month.
REALEYZ - brings a collection of independent films, by award-winning filmmakers, to Roku devices in the UK... available to stream on-demand, via the 'Amazon Video' channel, for only £4.99 a month.
FILMBOX LIVE - is another "Featured Channel" which should already be familiar to UK Roku users, on account of there being an existing Roku channel for this streaming service. Nevertheless, it does offer a viable alternative for UK Roku users to access their collection of Hollywood movies, favourite ever-greens & popular series. From drama to thriller, action to comedy, the award-winning productions available through Filmbox Live are yours to stream on-demand for just £3.99 per month.
NORDIC NOIR & BEYOND - brings the best thriller, crime and drama series from the Nordics and beyond to UK Roku devices, via this "Featured Channel" on 'Amazon Video' for just £4.99 a month.
MOTORVISION - brings on-demand TV dedicated to the automotive world including car reviews and tests, plus motor sports and lifestyle shows, to UK Roku devices for only £2.99 per month.
DAILY BURN - is another "Featured Channel" which should already be familiar to UK Roku users, on account of there being an existing Roku channel for this streaming service. Nevertheless, it does offer a viable alternative for UK Roku users to access their on-demand and live workouts including dance, strength training, yoga, cardio and more, for £9.99 a month... via the 'Amazon Video' channel.
SWEATFLIX - as some of you may be aware is, itself, only a relative newcomer to UK Roku devices with their official app for the Roku Channel Store having only just been added to the platform around one month ago. Nevertheless, it does offer a viable alternative for UK Roku users to access their own brand of "Bodyrock On-Demand" HIIT workouts and yoga flows, through which you can get in the best shape of your life from the comfort of your own home for the all-inclusive fee of £9.49 a month.
PONGALO NEXT - brings a collection of Latin American movies & series to UK Roku devices, all of which are available on-demand via this "Featured Channel" on 'Amazon Video', for £2.99 a month.
PINOY BOX OFFICE (PBO) - brings a collection of Filipino movies & series to UK Roku devices, all available on-demand via this "Featured Channel" on 'Amazon Video', for only £1.99 a month.
TASTEMADE - is another "Featured Channel" which should already be familiar to UK Roku users, on account of there being an existing Roku channel for this streaming service. Nevertheless, it does offer a viable alternative for UK Roku users to access the collection of videos from their network of Tastemakers who now have two ways to bring great food and travel to Roku for only £1.99 a month.
PANNA - brings easy-to-follow video recipes from master chefs, plus their selection of cooking courses, to UK Roku devices for £1.49 a month... via this "Featured Channel" on 'Amazon Video'.
ALCHEMIYA - brings their collection of great films and documentaries about Muslim culture and life to UK Roku devices, via this "Featured Channel" on 'Amazon Video', for only £3.99 per month.
PLANET KNOWLEDGE - brings their informative HD documentaries on nature, history, culture and more to UK Roku devices, via this "Featured Channel" on 'Amazon Video', for only £2.29 a month.
NAUTICAL CHANNEL - brings the network focused on sailing lifestyle to UK Roku devices, available live and on-demand via this "Featured Channel" on 'Amazon Video', for £3.99 a month.
ROOSTER TEETH - brings their original collection of science-fiction, gaming & comedy videos to UK Roku devices, through this "Featured Channel" on 'Amazon Video', for only £3.99 per month.
FULL MOON - is another "Featured Channel" which should already be familiar to UK Roku users, on account of there being an existing Roku channel for this horror streaming service. Nevertheless, it does offer a viable alternative for UK Roku users to access all the Full Moon classics as well as any new releases on-demand, via this "Featured Channel" on 'Amazon Video', for only £3.99 per month.
KETCHUP TV KIDS CHANNEL - brings hundreds of episodes just for kids, packed with all their favourites, to UK Roku devices for £2.29 a month...via this "Featured Channel" on 'Amazon Video'.
IMPORTANT NOTE:- While use of the new "Amazon Channels" service allows Prime members to add any of the "Featured Channel" subscriptions, they are not available to UK Roku users who do not yet have a membership to either 'Amazon Prime' or 'Prime Video'... so, in other words, if you wish to take advantage of these services for a low monthly subscription fee, all available individually without the need to sign up for a bundle or enter a lengthy contract, you will also need a Prime membership.
ALSO:- With regard to accessing subscriptions from other content providers or apps, that are shown under "Featured Channels" within the 'Amazon Video' app (channel) on UK Roku devices, and form part of the new "Amazon Channels" subscription service options - PLEASE BE AWARE: that any "premium" channel subscriptions you might have with your cable or satellite provider, or standalone subscriptions purchased directly from the subscription provider (including those with an existing Roku channel of their own) are separate services, and cannot be used with 'Amazon Video'.
For example... I have an existing subscription with the 'Shudder' horror streaming service and, while I am able to access that subscription and enjoy content from 'Shudder UK' via their own Roku channel, I am unable to use those same login details to "sign-in" to my 'Shudder' account via the equivalent channel from the list of "Featured Channels" within 'Amazon Video' on my Roku device(s). Any free trial and/or subsequent subscription that you enter into via these "Featured Channels" (found within the 'Amazon Video' app for Roku devices) are both charged-for and managed through your account with Amazon UK and accessed via your individual 'Prime Membership' portal online.
Should you require further information in respect of subscribing-to, watching, and/or managing these "Featured Channels" from "Amazon Channels", there are help articles available online which can walk you through the basics of: "What are Amazon Channel Subscriptions?" in the first instance, plus; "How to Watch Amazon Channels" once you are subscribed to the service(s) of your choice, and; "How to Manage Your Amazon Channel Subscriptions" via your 'Prime Membership' portal on the Amazon UK website, as well as; "How to Cancel an Amazon Channel Subscription" should the need ever arise for you to do so. You can, of course, contact Amazon Customer Services through the usual method(s) including (but not limited to) their Twitter Feed: @AmazonHelp for further advice.
That said... I would not expect Roku users to subscribe to more than a handful of these at any one time. Although, with a FREE TRIAL AVAILABLE for each of the above services - when subscribing to any "Featured Channel" listed - it does present an ideal opportunity to try some of the SVOD (Subscription Video On Demand) services that previously were not available via the Roku platform in the UK. As a fan of the horror genre myself, I welcome the opportunity to stream content from the Arrow Video archive for free and, provided there's not too much cross-over with the content found on 'Shudder UK', I may even subscribe to it going forward once the free trial period has ended! :-)
Likewise, finally having access to 'BFI Player+' on Roku devices in the UK is something I have been waiting-on for longer than I care to remember... so, I'll definitely be taking advantage of a free trial to that particular subscription service in the coming months! However, while there were a number of stand-out options for UK Roku users to consider that were previously unavailable to them... sadly, there were a couple of "Amazon Channels" made available on 'Fire TV' devices in the UK which are even more notable by their absence from the selection of "Featured Channels" in the 'Amazon Video' channel on UK Roku devices. Of course, the thirty-nine channels listed above are also available to those with 'Fire TV' devices but, for some (as yet) unknown reason, two further channels were added to the selection for users of 'Fire TV'... bringing the total choice on those devices up to forty-one. In case you were wondering, the two channels "missing" from the Roku platform that are available on 'Fire TV' in the UK are as follows:-
FANDOR - brings a hand-picked collection of the most talked about indie, foreign and classic films to 'Fire TV' devices for £3.49 a month... but, despite already having a Roku channel available in the USA, they have yet to extend their app to UK Roku devices. This is even more frustrating, knowing that it's no longer a geographical restriction preventing them from doing this on account of being able to take out a subscription to 'Fandor' in the UK and stream their content via 'Fire TV' devices... thanks to the recently launched "Amazon Channels" feature. So, why is it possible to subscribe to 'Fandor' in the UK and watch on 'Fire TV' devices in the UK but not stream the same content on Roku in UK!?!!
MUBI - offers one new, critically acclaimed movie to stream every day on 'Fire TV' devices in the UK, for a subscription of £5.99 per month. As with 'Fandor' above, despite already having a Roku channel available in the USA, they have yet to extend their 'MUBI' app to UK Roku devices. This is (again) equally frustrating, knowing that it's not a geographical restriction preventing them from doing this on account of being able to take out a subscription to 'MUBI' in the UK and stream their content via 'Fire TV' devices... thanks not only to the recently launched "Amazon Channels" feature, but also to an already-released 'MUBI' app for 'Fire TV' devices in the UK. So, again I ask, why is it possible to subscribe to 'MUBI' in the UK, and stream those films on 'Fire TV' devices in the UK, but not be able to enjoy the same content on Roku devices in the UK!?!!
Obviously, I hope that both SVOD streaming services (i.e. 'Fandor' and 'MUBI' alike) will address this issue on two fronts... firstly, to edit their respective Roku channels and make them available via the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, just as they are available on Roku devices in the USA. Then, once the Roku channels for 'Fandor' and 'MUBI' have been made available in the UK, hopefully we will then see the two "Featured Channels" which are currently "missing" from the 'Amazon Video' app on Roku streaming media players in the UK (but, bizarrely, available on 'Fire TV' devices in UK) added to that category within the 'Amazon Video' channel on UK Roku devices. If 'MUBI' appears on 'NowTV' Boxes in the near future, as speculated upon in my 'Weekly RoundUp' post last week, but is not added to UK Roku devices at the same time, I will be most unimpressed. It really ought not to be this difficult to have access to a streaming service of one's choice on a device of one's own choosing! :-/ :-|
Moving on, in other Roku-related news this week, there have been several more announcements from the 'Netflix' Media Centre... including a press release confirming that Nick Kroll and John Mulaney are to revive their boisterous Broadway alter egos for an all-new 'Netflix Original' comedy special, called "Oh, Hello on Broadway", which will launch globally on 'Netflix' from 13th June 2017. Also announced during the past week, in another press release, was the news that the 'Netflix' catalogue of films and TV shows has now been fully localised for Romania... including a user interface complete with Romanian subtitles and dubbing, and a streaming content library covering thousands of hours of TV shows and films, including full access to all of the acclaimed 'Netflix Original' programming.
In a further, rather insightful, press release this week... 'Netflix' revealed some interesting data about how, in the four years since "House of Cards" came to the service, the viewing schedules that people have adopted look radically different, in this "What we want. When we want it" era, compared to what the broadcast networks traditionally served-up to us in the programming schedules of yesteryear. From comedies for breakfast, to "lunch hour" dramas and thrillers at dinner time, one thing is clear... that, when viewers have the power to watch what they want, TV schedules don’t look like they used to! Oh, and... while we're (loosely) on the subject of "House of Cards" from Netflix, DON'T FORGET: that the Emmy® / Golden Globe®-winning political drama returns for a fifth season just days into the coming week, with all 13 episodes of Season 5 becoming available to 'Netflix' members worldwide from Tuesday 30th May 2017, at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time - which, in case you were wondering, means 8:01am for 'Netflix UK' subscribers! ;-) :-)
One additional Netflix-related story that I came across is sure to please fans of Ellen DeGeneres who, in a further announcement from 'Netflix', revealed that she will be headlining a stand-up special for Netflix which will mark her much-anticipated return to stand-up comedy. When asked to comment on the matter, Ellen DeGeneres said: “It has been 15 years since I did a stand-up special. 15 years. And I’m writing it now, I can’t wait". While no specific release date, or further details had been revealed at time of writing, Ellen DeGeneres did go on to add: "I’ll keep you posted when and where I’m gonna shoot my Netflix special. I’m excited to do it; I’m excited for you to see it”... and, so are we !! ;-) :-)
If you happened to watch the double-episode launch, marking the return of "Twin Peaks" to our screens, courtesy of 'Sky Atlantic' (and, by association, 'NowTV' for UK Roku users) then, you may have caught the "first-look" trailer for new 'Sky Original' production "Tin Star" which aired in the commercial breaks. If you missed it, here is a 'YouTube' video for the new production:-
As can be seen from the short (c. 1min) "first-look" teaser video for "Tin Star", it features Tim Roth with Emmy®-nominated Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) starring alongside. The new 'Sky Original' "Tin Star" is produced by Kudos (Broadchurch, Humans), and was written by acclaimed screenwriter Rowan Joffe (The American, 28 Weeks Later). Set amid the dramatic landscape that comprises the Canadian Rockies, and a lush mountain idyll: the town of Little Big Bear, this entertaining and provocative ten-part drama is an epic revenge-fuelled ride that brings a whole new meaning to the term law enforcement. Unfortunately, there was no specific release date in the press release for this new production from the Sky Corporate Media Centre, just the promise that it is "coming soon" to both 'Sky Atlantic' and, as you might expect, streaming service 'NowTV'... which is where UK Roku users can look forward to watching "Tin Star", as and when it does begin. Meanwhile, to whet your appetite further (over and above the "first-look" trailer included here) I'm going to include a basic plot summary (taken from the press release) to set the scene...
... so, after starting a new life with his beloved wife and children in the peace and quiet of the remote Rocky Mountains, police chief Jim Worth (BAFTA award winner Tim Roth) finally feels he has found the life he was searching for. However, the tranquillity is short-lived, as the arrival of huge numbers of workers from a new oil refinery leads to a wave of drugs, prostitution and organised crime. Shockingly, this coincides with the horrific murder of one of Jim's family. His obsessive quest to find the truth behind this mysterious killing drives a revelatory story about love, corruption, grief and the all-consuming nature of revenge. Reigniting behaviour from his dark past, his journey leads to a personal battle with a long-buried demon that will not just defeat his enemies but threatens to destroy those he loves most! :-O
If you're still hungry for more... a gallery of images from the "Tin Star" series can be found online, courtesy of Sky’s Editorial Asset Centre (n.b. login required), which will hopefully satisfy any more cravings until the show starts. All I can offer you aside from that is this brief quote from screenwriter Rowan Joffe, who commented: “As a movie screenwriter I saw "Tin Star" as an opportunity to author an epic piece of cinema in the long-form series format. This means vast landscapes, classic themes, complex characters on dangerous journeys - and performances of the highest calibre”... and, if that is anything to go by, this could well prove to be another unmissable series from 'Sky Atlantic'! ;-) :-)
One 'Sky Original' for which I do happen to have a release date is drama: "Riviera" which, according to the press release from the Sky Corporate Media Centre, will see "all episodes" coming to 'NowTV' (via 'Sky Atlantic', of course) from 15th June 2017 and, from what I've read in the press pack for the series, this is one crime drama thriller that you will not want to miss. That said, SPOILER ALERT: please be advised that the press pack does contain an episode-by-episode breakdown of the storyline so, if you don't wish to know ahead of time what lies in store for you, then don't use the above link!
Other great series to look-out for in the coming months via 'NowTV' on UK Roku devices include the return for a seventh season of "Game of Thrones", which will start on 17th July 2017 and, if you take a look at this news article from the Sky Corporate Media Centre, you'll see 'Sky Atlantic' has released a "first-look" trailer for "Game of Thrones" Season 7... meaning Winter is (almost) here again! ;-) :-)
Just days after the return of "Game of Thrones", on 19th July 2017, "The South Bank Show" is back with a new series on 'Sky Arts'… and, according to the press release from the Sky Corporate Media Centre, there will be six episodes (one per week) lasting right through until 23rd August 2017! :-)
Of course, with the summer holidays fast approaching, it would be pretty remiss of 'Sky' / 'NowTV' to not provide some additional entertainment for the kids during the Summer break... so, it will no doubt come as a relief to many parents that another press release from the Sky Corporate Media Centre this week has revealed "Aliens Love Underpants AND…" plus more new shows will join Sky’s line-up of kids’ entertainment this Summer, bringing even more value to the "Kids Month Pass" from 'NowTV'! ;-) :-)
Then, once the kids are back to school again, we can look forward to some Autumn entertainment from 'Sky' / 'NowTV' with the recent announcement that comedy drama "Bounty Hunters" is set to air on 'Sky 1' (and also, via 'NowTV' for UK Roku users) once the nights start to draw in again! :-)
Speaking of comedy drama... 'Sky 1' has another treat in-store for us, when ""Living the Dream" - starring: Philip Glenister and Lesley Sharp - comes to 'NowTV' on Roku... "Later this year", if the corresponding press release from the Sky Corporate Media Centre remains true to it's word. In the meantime, for those seeking some background to this brand new six-part mini series, it follows a British family (the Pembertons) – husband Mal (Glenister), his wife Jen (Sharp) and their two teenage kids, Tina (Rosie Day) and Freddie (Brenock O’Connor) – who decide it’s time to leave rainy England and move to the sunshine state of Florida. Mal’s bought an RV Park with plans for a booming family-run business, but it soon turns out that they are not going to be living the dream they hoped. Before they’ve even settled in, Mal discovers that the park is home to a group of eccentric residents who are not exactly thrilled to meet their new owners. Jen has to learn how to survive American suburbia and the kids have to navigate a US high school. With culture clashes aplenty, life in Britain soon seems even further away than they’d thought it would. But with the support of each other and their crazy new friends, they begin to learn how to live the American dream. Apparently, filming has already begun, in the United States, for this series... which was created and written by Mick Ford (Single Father, The Five), and produced by Big Talk Productions (Cold Feet, Mum, Rev.) with the first three episodes directed by Saul Metzstein (Doctor Who, You, Me and the Apocalypse) and the last three episodes being directed by Philippa Langdale (Dickensian, Skins).
Anyway, that's about all the Roku-related news I have for you this time... but, before I run through the list of new channel additions, a quick reminder that UK Roku users are still subject to restrictions (imposed by Roku) and (currently) 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.If you're still hungry for more... a gallery of images from the "Tin Star" series can be found online, courtesy of Sky’s Editorial Asset Centre (n.b. login required), which will hopefully satisfy any more cravings until the show starts. All I can offer you aside from that is this brief quote from screenwriter Rowan Joffe, who commented: “As a movie screenwriter I saw "Tin Star" as an opportunity to author an epic piece of cinema in the long-form series format. This means vast landscapes, classic themes, complex characters on dangerous journeys - and performances of the highest calibre”... and, if that is anything to go by, this could well prove to be another unmissable series from 'Sky Atlantic'! ;-) :-)
One 'Sky Original' for which I do happen to have a release date is drama: "Riviera" which, according to the press release from the Sky Corporate Media Centre, will see "all episodes" coming to 'NowTV' (via 'Sky Atlantic', of course) from 15th June 2017 and, from what I've read in the press pack for the series, this is one crime drama thriller that you will not want to miss. That said, SPOILER ALERT: please be advised that the press pack does contain an episode-by-episode breakdown of the storyline so, if you don't wish to know ahead of time what lies in store for you, then don't use the above link!
Other great series to look-out for in the coming months via 'NowTV' on UK Roku devices include the return for a seventh season of "Game of Thrones", which will start on 17th July 2017 and, if you take a look at this news article from the Sky Corporate Media Centre, you'll see 'Sky Atlantic' has released a "first-look" trailer for "Game of Thrones" Season 7... meaning Winter is (almost) here again! ;-) :-)
Just days after the return of "Game of Thrones", on 19th July 2017, "The South Bank Show" is back with a new series on 'Sky Arts'… and, according to the press release from the Sky Corporate Media Centre, there will be six episodes (one per week) lasting right through until 23rd August 2017! :-)
Of course, with the summer holidays fast approaching, it would be pretty remiss of 'Sky' / 'NowTV' to not provide some additional entertainment for the kids during the Summer break... so, it will no doubt come as a relief to many parents that another press release from the Sky Corporate Media Centre this week has revealed "Aliens Love Underpants AND…" plus more new shows will join Sky’s line-up of kids’ entertainment this Summer, bringing even more value to the "Kids Month Pass" from 'NowTV'! ;-) :-)
Then, once the kids are back to school again, we can look forward to some Autumn entertainment from 'Sky' / 'NowTV' with the recent announcement that comedy drama "Bounty Hunters" is set to air on 'Sky 1' (and also, via 'NowTV' for UK Roku users) once the nights start to draw in again! :-)
Speaking of comedy drama... 'Sky 1' has another treat in-store for us, when ""Living the Dream" - starring: Philip Glenister and Lesley Sharp - comes to 'NowTV' on Roku... "Later this year", if the corresponding press release from the Sky Corporate Media Centre remains true to it's word. In the meantime, for those seeking some background to this brand new six-part mini series, it follows a British family (the Pembertons) – husband Mal (Glenister), his wife Jen (Sharp) and their two teenage kids, Tina (Rosie Day) and Freddie (Brenock O’Connor) – who decide it’s time to leave rainy England and move to the sunshine state of Florida. Mal’s bought an RV Park with plans for a booming family-run business, but it soon turns out that they are not going to be living the dream they hoped. Before they’ve even settled in, Mal discovers that the park is home to a group of eccentric residents who are not exactly thrilled to meet their new owners. Jen has to learn how to survive American suburbia and the kids have to navigate a US high school. With culture clashes aplenty, life in Britain soon seems even further away than they’d thought it would. But with the support of each other and their crazy new friends, they begin to learn how to live the American dream. Apparently, filming has already begun, in the United States, for this series... which was created and written by Mick Ford (Single Father, The Five), and produced by Big Talk Productions (Cold Feet, Mum, Rev.) with the first three episodes directed by Saul Metzstein (Doctor Who, You, Me and the Apocalypse) and the last three episodes being directed by Philippa Langdale (Dickensian, Skins).
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 here 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 that 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 released between 21st May 2017 and 27th May 2017:-
DOUBLE ACS ON DEMAND.................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
ADRIAN GEE.........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "COMEDY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
DOUBLE-DRAW SOLO POKER...............COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "GAMES" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this "Double-Draw Solo Poker" game channel is FREE-TO-ADD and FREE-TO-PLAY on Roku devices (when ad-supported), there is a MONTHLY FEE to be paid (for anyone wishing to enjoy an ad-free experience) in the sum of $0.99 (£0.69) PER MONTH which, like all monthly subscription channels on Roku devices, means (once you have subscribed) you will then continue to be charged every month until you cancel. Full instructions are included within the channel itself but, if you have any further questions, the developer (Jim Truscello) has started a thread for his "Double-Draw Solo Poker" game channel on Roku Forums where you can get further details, or discuss any aspect of the game, as needed. My advice is to first try the free version (with ads) and then, if you like the game but wish to go ad-free, consider the monthly subscription option if you feel you would benefit from having less interruptions to your gameplay.
PLEASE ALSO NOTE:- That, if the above "Double-Draw Solo Poker" game channel seems familiar to you, this "new" channel is actually a revised/updated version of a former paid channel by the same name. You can tell this because it still carries the same unique channel store identifier of '16604' that was previously associated with the original (paid) version of this app. However, although the game remains essentially the same, the switch from being a paid channel to an ad-supported one (with the option to go ad-free, via in-app purchase) is why it is now listed as a "new" channel.
TANGO FM RADIO.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
DIVERTIDA RADIO NYC......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
DESENHANDO COM COCCINELLE....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
TIGGY AND BOO [by HappyKids.TV]...................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
CÁNTAME UN CUENTO........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
MINECRAFT [by Fawesome.TV]...........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "GAMES" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
CANTOALEGRE TV................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
PIPO MI AMIGO IMAGINARIO............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
DUBBI KIDS............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
THE HAUNTING OF SUNSHINE GIRL................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
BOBBY BURNS.......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
SAGE MINISTRIES.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FREE SILENT MOVIES..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
MILLENNIUM VISION NETWORK.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
GOSPEL FIRE NETWORK.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
NO ME REVIENTES...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "PERSONAL MEDIA" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
301 CREADORES DIGITALES...............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
SANDY COBEN......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "PERSONAL MEDIA" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
JOSH PALER LIN....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "COMEDY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
GISELLE TORRES..................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
SHALINI'S PASSPORT TO BEAUTY.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
WHOMAG MULTIMEDIA.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FREE BIBLE MOVIES............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
MULTIPLICITY MUSIC VIDEOS.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
SPECTIV.........................COST: FREE (7-day Trial) + $9.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this "Spectiv" channel is FREE-TO-ADD to your Roku device(s) and does offer FREE PREVIEWS for all of their "ambience" videos as well as being able to browse the entire library without charge, there is a MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION required for anyone wishing to have full access to their catalogue of 30-minute videos at a cost of $9.99 PER MONTH for so-doing. Thankfully, there is a 7-DAY FREE TRIAL AVAILABLE for anyone wishing to "try before you buy" and see precisely what is available in each of the categories (Destinations, Moods, Coastal, Black and White, Mountains, plus Sunsets) as well as determine whether their "soothing" soundtracks really do "enhance your at-home relaxation" sufficiently to warrant you paying-out every month for continued access to this "environmental entertainment" video library. Further information is available from the official 'Spectiv' website and, if you'd like to connect with them through social media, there is also an official FB Page:- Spectiv Media Group (Facebook) where I am sure they would be only too pleased to hear from you with any questions and/or thoughts pertaining to their Roku channel.
Meanwhile, here's a couple of screenshots (as can be found in the channel description for 'Spectiv' from the built-in Channel Store on your Roku device) to give you a more visual representation of what the developer describes as being "perfect for unwinding after a long day, setting the mood for your next dinner party, or simply enjoying stunning scenes from around the world"...
HINT:- Please CLICK on the above images TO ENLARGE THEM for easier viewing !!
While the scenery may be stunning in these videos, I feel the subscription cost is a bit OTT (if you'll pardon the streaming pun) when compared to what you get for a lower monthly fee from the likes of 'Amazon Video', 'Netflix', 'NowTV' et al... and, for that reason, I won't (personally) be subscribing beyond the free 7-day trial. However, if a more reasonable price structure were to apply (somewhere in the $2.49 to $4.99 region, as a "ballpark" figure) then I can see this proving quite popular. As always, your individual circumstances may vary and some might feel it's still good value-for-money (even at the current price) but, until Roku brings some 4K-capable devices to the UK so that we can fully appreciate the "beautiful 4K" in these "remarkable videos", I'll stick to the free previews! ;-) :-)
INDIE MOVIES - FREE MOVIES..........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***