Hi, everyone !!
If you happen to follow the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels to this blog, then you will already be aware that it has been yet another quiet week, in terms of Roku-related news... and, when you see the likes of 'Roku Guide' commence their summary of what has been going on Roku-wise in the U.S. with: "It was a slow week in the Roku channel store with only one new channel...", then you know there has been a less than stellar output (in terms of new apps for Roku devices) - although, in actual fact, it was not as bad as they suggested - but, as a result of that, there are "missing" links to three quarters of the new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store in the list I'm publishing as part of this particular 'Weekly RoundUp' post. Unfortunately, this leaves UK users rather short of additional info... but, rather than simply regurgitate what is written in each channel description from the channel store, I'm going to leave it up to each of you (individually) to access those details via the built-in channel store on your Roku device(s). Needless to say, once the "missing" reviews have been published by 'Roku Guide', I will add the relevant links to this post. Apologies (as always) for any inconvenience that may have been caused by the absence of any active links to the usual independent review(s) for certain channels but, like I say, it was completely out of my hands. Meanwhile, I advise scanning the list below to see which channels (if any) you think are likely to appeal... and then go to the built-in channel store on your Roku device(s) and read the description(s) there, for precise details on all the latest new Roku channels (apps) which have been made available during this past week! :-)
While it's far from being another epic list of fifty-plus channels as it was seven weeks ago, you will find that there are extra options under "Film & TV", "Apps", "Educational", "Kids & Family", and "Lifestyle", as well as "Special Interest", plus "Sports" categories (i.e. genres) among others, to keep you entertained over the coming weeks and months. In fact, while it's only a comparatively short list, there should be something to please most streamers here. If not, I did share details for some private channels (via social media) again this week. Take a look at my Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels if you'd like to know more about those and, while you're there, maybe "Like" and/or "Retweet" some of my messages to spread the word about what's happening Roku-wise in the UK and beyond! ;-) :-)
Anyway, back to the list... which, as always, will help you to identify the very latest apps which have been added to Roku devices in the UK. 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 UK Roku users. Like I've said before... if you really want to know what's available channel-wise, for owners of Roku devices in the UK, you need to be reading this blog each and every week! ;-) :-)
Before I run through the new channels, however, a 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 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 13th August 2017 and 19th August 2017:-
RAG......................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
METRO NASHVILLE NETWORK........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "EDUCATIONAL" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
FITE................................COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPORTS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this 'FITE' channel is FREE-TO-ADD to your Roku device(s) and does provide access to some content that is entirely FREE-TO-VIEW among the combat sports videos that are included in the streaming library, a large proportion of their live events are Pay-Per-View (PPV) and, as such, Roku users should note that A PAYMENT MAY BE REQUIRED for certain events.
As for the Roku channel itself, it's more of a companion app than a direct streaming channel per se... and YOU WILL ALSO NEED THE 'FITE' APP FOR iOS OR ANDROID FOR THIS TO WORK !!!
When you launch the 'FITE' channel on Roku, all you get is this 'Splash Screen' for a moment:-
Followed by some "instructions" on how to stream 'Fite TV' on your Roku device:-
However, I found that the link provided in 'Step 1' simply took me directly to the iTunes App Store which is great if you wish to install the "FITE - MMA, Wrestling, Boxing" app on an Apple mobile device (e.g. iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch) but not so useful if you happen to want the Android app !!
So, rather than mess around with the link in the above image (as also displayed in the Roku channel) I have decided to provide the relevant links for UK Roku users to download the 'FITE' app for their chosen mobile device(s). The iOS app requires iOS 8.0 or later to be installed on the mobile device in order for the "FITE - MMA, Wrestling, Boxing" app to be added... while Android users will need to make sure that their mobile device(s) are running Android 3.0 and up. Anyway, here's the links:-
FREE DOWNLOAD:- Of iOS App for Apple mobile devices (from the iTunes UK App Store)
and/or
FREE DOWNLOAD:- Of Android App for mobile devices (from the Google Play Store)
Another thing they neglected to mention in the above steps for how to watch on Roku (or any device, come to that) is that YOU NEED TO PROVIDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS before you can watch any of the videos - EVEN FOR CONTENT THAT IS FREE TO STREAM - although, if you happen to have a Facebook account, you can also sign-in via FB to gain access to the 'Fite TV' video archive plus their full schedule of live streaming events and the extensive catalogue of event replays which are also included in their content library. Again, a reminder that some of the videos are free-to-stream while others will require a payment... and there are various options via In-App-Purchases (IAP's) that will enable you to pay for your chosen event and stream it on Roku, or other compatible device(s).
SO WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT? Well, in a nutshell, what you have here is a means to enjoy streaming live (or on-demand) combat sports. More specifically, 'FITE' gives you instant access to both free and pay-per-view 'LIVE' combat sports events including MMA, wrestling, boxing and traditional martial arts, which you can also watch "on-demand" after the fact thanks to an extensive archive of replays.
The LIVE STREAMS available to stream with 'FITE' include:
- MMA events from Professional Fighters League [formerly WSOF], and also ACB MMA, as well as Tuff-N-Uff, plus Hard Knocks MMA
- Pro Wrestling shows from Ring of Honor (ROH) Wrestling, plus TNA Impact Wrestling, as well as ICW Wrestling, WCW, WCPW and All Japan Pro Wrestling
- Boxing from Golden Boy Promotions, Star Boxing, Sauerland, Main Events, and CES Boxing
- PLUS: hundreds of other combat sports promoters
In addition to live programming, you can explore their library of exclusive interviews, full-length matches, action movies, backstage footage and free weekly shows. Their library includes matches and interviews of UFC legends: Royce Gracie, Conor McGregor, Bas Ruten, Brock Lesnar, plus Ronda Rousey, as well as documentaries on WWE stars: AJ Styles, Johnny Gargano, Zack Gowen; and many others. Best of all, however... FREE CONTENT IS ADDED EVERY WEEK !! ;-) :-)
GREAT... SO, HOW DO I STREAM IT? What's important to remember with this is that the 'FITE' channel for Roku only needs to be installed, prior to using the mobile app(s), because (having done that) there will be NO NEED TO ACTUALLY LAUNCH 'FITE' ON ROKU TO WATCH IT since, essentially, THE 'FITE' MOBILE APPS TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING FOR YOU !! So, once you've opened the app, signed-in (via email or Facebook) and selected a program, you need only tap play to instantly stream all the action (via Roku) on your big-screen TV... just make sure that your mobile device and your Roku player are connected over the same WiFi network when you do and, if you're out & about, simply watch on your mobile screen, wherever you happen to be at the time! ;-)
SOME MORE (POTENTIALLY) USEFUL INFO:- In addition to a companion app / streaming client for Roku devices, the 'FITE' app(s) can also be used in conjunction with Smart TVs by Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, LG, Sharp, and Philips... as well as being able to automatically discover and stream to Xbox One, or Xbox 360, plus other media players including: Apple TV, Chromecast, and Fire TV.
If you'd like to connect with 'FITE' through social media, they have both a Twitter Feed: @FiteTV and an official FB Page: FiteTV (Facebook) while further contact information can also be found via their official website if you would prefer to use other lines of communication. Other than that, I have taken a few screenshots of the forthcoming live events schedule, as well as some more screenshots which list the recent replays that are available to stream via 'FITE' on Roku devices (and elsewhere). Hopefully, these will prove to be of use (at least in the short term) for fans of live combat sports! :-)
First up... the FORTHCOMING LIVE EVENTS SCHEDULE FOR 'FITE' is as follows:-
HINT:- Please CLICK on the above images TO ENLARGE THEM for easier viewing !!
******************************************
Next up... A LIST OF RECENT EVENT REPLAYS ON 'FITE' available "on-demand" as follows:-
AS BEFORE:- Please CLICK on the above images TO ENLARGE THEM for easier viewing !!
******************************************
Now, back to the list... so we can continue with the new additions which have found their way into the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store during the last seven days. Are you ready for more!?! ;-) :-)
ROKANBAN FOR TRELLO.....................COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "APPS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
ITV NIGERIA..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
GENERATION OF DEMONSTRATION................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
WORD FROM JERUSALEM..................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FAITH CHAPEL.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
JUNIOR TUBE...........................................COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH.................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
ADVENTURE CLASSICS CHANNEL.................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
INSH........................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***