Hi, everyone !!
There was only one significant announcement to emerge from the Roku newsroom in the last seven days and it wasn't really "news", because they gave us a heads-up this latest press release (detailing their third quarter financial results for 2017) would be on the cards for Wednesday 8th November as far back as mid-October. For those who may have missed it, you'll find all the relevant details in my 'Weekly RoundUp' post from three weeks ago when I published a link to their original announcement.
The good news is... the first-ever earnings report, published only six weeks after Roku went "Public", showed signs of a strong performance from the company - thanks largely to a growth in advertising revenue and the expansion of their Roku Powered™licensing business. The figures released indicate that Roku generated $124.8 million (U.S. Dollars) in revenue during it's third quarter, which is quite an improvement when compared to the $89 million (USD) generated in the same quarter last year. It was a similar story, in terms of beating the expectations from market analysts, when it came to the net losses for the company: which came in at only $7.9 million (USD), compared to $12.7 million (USD) for the same period in 2016. To put things into perspective, analysts had predicted a revenue stream of around $110 million (USD), with losses of $12.7 million (USD), so Roku performed far better than was expected... on both counts. This news obviously pleased investors, as they reacted by sending the stock value up more than 26% in after-hours trading. Not a bad debut report, all things considered! :-)
If you'd like to know more, there's an archived webcast of the 'Third Quarter 2017 Earnings Call' by the company which can be accessed through the Roku 'Investor Relations' Website online. Additional supporting materials come by way of the Q3 2017 Shareholder Letter from Roku, if you'd like to get further insight into such matters. On the other hand, if you're not looking to go that "in-depth" on the subject, I found the related news article by 'Variety' offered a concise source of information for those who (like me) just want to have the main points presented in an "easy to digest" fashion! ;-) :-)
Anyhow, with little else aside from details of the latest Roku financial results from the third quarter of 2017 to bring you (in terms of newsworthy items) from the last week, I'd best now turn my attention to getting you up to speed on the latest Roku channels in the UK since my last 'Weekly RoundUp' post and, much like their finances, the number of new additions was fifty per cent up on last week! :-)
If you did happen to read my previous 'Weekly RoundUp' post, in which I commented as to how 'Roku Guide' had fallen short of compiling a complete set of reviews for all of the new channels which were released in the seven days preceding their article, you will doubtless be pleased to hear that I have since posted active links to 'Roku Guide' reviews for all of them. Sadly, as their most recent article (dated 10th November 2017) does little more than to play "catch-up" with reviews that were absent from the previous week, it means there are still a few 'Roku Guide' reviews "missing" for the channels which were actually released between 4th November 2017 and 10th November 2017. To be more precise, there are currently four 'Roku Guide' reviews absent from the list of new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store in this particular 'Weekly RoundUp' post. Unfortunately, this (once more) leaves UK users short of additional info for those Roku apps... and, much like the last couple of months, rather than simply regurgitate what is written in each channel description from the channel store, I'm (again) going to leave it for 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 (as I have in previous weeks) ensure that I add the relevant links to this post. Apologies (yet again) for any inconvenience that may have been caused by the absence of active links to an independent review for these four new apps but, like I say, it was entirely out of my hands. Meanwhile... I advise scanning the list below, to see which of those channels (if any) are likely to appeal. Then, if you go to the built-in channel store found on your Roku device, you can read the description(s) there, for precise details on your pick of the latest new Roku channels (apps) which have been added to UK Roku devices during this past week! ;-) :-)
Anyway... while it again falls short of the epic list of fifty-plus channels from four months ago, or the equally impressive tally of forty-six channels we were treated to four weeks ago, you will find there's still a good amount of new channels in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store this week. These latest additions include a handful (or more) of additional choices under "Film & TV" plus "Religious" and "Screensavers" categories (i.e. genres), as well as a quartet of new apps for those looking to add extra viewing options geared towards "Kids & Family" programming, along with a brace of new additions to both the "Fitness" and "Sports" categories. There's also been the odd new addition to the "Games", "Comedy", "International", "Lifestyle", plus "News & Weather", "Special Interest", "Travel" and "Web Video" genres of the channel store. In fact, with such a varied selection of channels to choose from, there should be something to please most streamers here. If not, I again shared details for some private channels (via social media) and some more special offers related to various Roku channels that are available in the UK. Check out 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. So, 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 new Roku channels released between the 5th and 11th of November 2017:-
TREASURE VAULT TV.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, since the unique channel store identifier '56852' for this 'Treasure Vault TV' channel was previously associated with another Roku channel by the name of "All Access TV", you will not find it listed among the selection of latest additions within the 'New' category (i.e. genre) of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. Instead, if you wish to install 'Treasure Vault TV' in the UK, you will need to either look for it among the apps in the 'Special Interest' genre... or, use the built-in Roku 'Search' feature to find and then add it to your device(s).
ALSO:- While the 'Roku Guide' review of the original 'All Access TV' channel is still available, you will notice there is currently no active link to any such review for the 'Treasure Vault TV' channel. If at any time the "missing" review does get published, or 'Roku Guide' updates their review so as to take account of the recent changes, I'll add the relevant link for a review of the re-purposed channel to this article. Apologies for any inconvenience that may be caused by it's absence in the meantime! ;-)
ST. PATRICK'S CHANNEL...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
TELESISTEMA 11 HD...................................COST: £0.69 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "INTERNATIONAL" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
LOVEWORLD USA...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
TROPICAL and DESERT FLOWERS........COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
FITXATION TV INTERNATIONAL......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FITNESS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
AU DIASPORA TV................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
COMPLETE STRENGTH TV...............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FITNESS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PAINTED DESERT SCREENSAVER........COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
SQUIRREL SCREENSAVER....................COST: £1.49 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PETRIFIED FOREST SCREENSAVER.....COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
CRAFTIN CHANNEL............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST - TGOC......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
K-STATE SPORTS.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPORTS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
92 NEWS HD............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "NEWS & WEATHER" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
JR WORLD TRAVEL.............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "TRAVEL" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
ELEVATE TV NETWORK....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
HOME BUSINESS TV...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
MINISTERIOS BETHANIA CT.............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
ARCHES SCREENSAVER........................COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
STORYTELLING TELLER....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
GREAT COMMISSION PRESBYTERIAN............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
CONVERSE TV.......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "WEB VIDEO" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PICK THE EGG.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "GAMES" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PAINTED FACE MINISTRY..................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
WOW PRESENTS PLUS.......COST: FREE (30-day Trial) + $3.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this 'WOW Presents Plus' channel is FREE-TO-ADD to your Roku devices and does include some content that is FREE-TO-STREAM in the form of sample clips, the channel description also states it "may require additional fees" to access the content therein. In fact, what this refers to is the MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION FEE which you will be required to pay for full access to the content library. For those of you who may be interested in subscribing to this SVOD (Subscription Video On Demand) service, the charge is $3.99 (USD) PER MONTH although there is also an ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION OPTION available at $39.99 (USD) PER YEAR should you wish to save some money by subscribing over a longer period. Either way, I recommend that you take advantage of their FREE 30-DAY TRIAL OFFER before you commit to anything further. This will give you ample opportunity to assess precisely what is on offer (content-wise) making it easier to determine whether the annual payment plan (that effectively gives you TWO MONTHS FREE over a
twelve month subscription period) would work-out better for you than paying a monthly charge. Feel free to browse the full content library via their official website, if you wish, but you can get a pretty good feel for what this channel is all about by viewing their official trailer below. Further information can be found in the 'Roku Guide' review (see link above) as well as from their official website, where you will find additional online help is available, should you require it. Should you find yourself away from your Roku device, and wanting to catch-up on the best of Pop, Doc, Drag, or the wealth of extra LGBT programming available (much of which is original content), you will find that there are mobile apps available for both iOS (Apple) plus Android devices among the numerous ways you can watch. Anyway, as promised, here's a sneak peek of what to expect from 'WOW Presents Plus' on Roku:-
If you choose to join, you can expect to see exclusive new series featuring Bob the Drag Queen, Detox, Kim Chi, and Valentina as well as getting early access to fan favourites such as Fashion Photo RuView, UNHhhh, Drag Queens React and more! Interestingly, the description for the iOS app from the iTunes (UK) App Store shows the monthly subscription as £3.49 (GBP) but, if you subscribe via iTunes rather than the website, it's worth bearing in mind that all payments will then be made through your iTunes Account. While your payments may be managed under 'Account Settings' after the initial payment, it's also worth noting that subscription payments automatically renew unless de-activated at least 24-hours before the end of the current cycle. Your account will be charged for renewal at least 24-hours prior to the end of the current cycle, so be sure to cancel in good time - especially if you have opted for the annual payment plan. iTunes cancellations are incurred by disabling auto-renewal.
As always, I advise reading the Privacy Policy as well as the Terms of Service prior to subscribing... but, if you have any questions regarding 'WOW Presents Plus' and/or their Roku channel, you can always get in touch with them for answers - I'm sure they'd love to hear from you, either way! ;-) :-)
CELEBRATION CHURCH TV..............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
LITTLE TREEHOUSE - KIDS RHYMES..............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
COUNTRY CHURCHES...........................COST: £1.49 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
GLORY TV.............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
IN - VISION TV.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
WORLD POKER TOUR........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPORTS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
REVENGE OF THE CIS........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "COMEDY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***