Hi, everyone !!
If you happen to follow the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels to this blog, then you will already be aware that the single most significant piece of Roku-related news (from a UK perspective) was the announcement from Sky that NowTV are set to debut the first Roku-Powered™ Streaming Stick with a Voice Remote. The details of this new NowTV Smart Stick were first made public on Thursday 25th January 2018, via a press release from the Sky Corporate Media Centre, with further info available, thanks to a dedicated webpage for the NowTV Smart Stick, on the NowTV website.
HINT:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!
Being a Roku-Powered™ device, there was also a related post about this new Smart TV Stick from Sky / NowTV published via the "Official" Roku Stream Blog several hours after I had shared the details through the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels to this blog. Despite the promotional banner for the new product (see image above) seemingly indicating that the NowTV Smart Stick will be priced "From £19.99", when it goes on sale in February, there will also be a lower-priced offering at only £14.99 which is a "device-only" option and, therefore not bundled with any NowTV pass as per the more expensive "bundled" options: priced at £19.99 (with 2-month NowTV Entertainment, or 1-month Sky Cinema UK Movies Pass) and £29.99 (with 1-month NOW TV Sport Pass). Currently being touted as "the UK’s cheapest Smart TV Stick" but, even at the cheaper £14.99 price-point with no bundled NowTV pass, it's no cheaper than the basic black Now TVBox (Model 4200SK) and still has the same (limited) NowTV 'App Store', with only 50 Roku channels (apps) in it! Based on what I have learned so far, without (yet) getting my hands on one, you are still far better-off getting yourself a Roku Express for a choice of 4,500+ Roku channels (and counting...) versus the meagre selection of just fifty which is the same across all NowTV devices - including the top-of-the-range NowTV Smart Box - none of which will give you access to Plex, Amazon Video, Mubi, Netflix, Shudder, TVPlayer, etc, etc. as found on all UK Roku devices. In short, until NowTV lift restrictions on their 'App Store' to match what is available in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, the only reason to purchase a NowTV-branded device... be it a Box, Smart Box, or Smart TV Stick, is if you only want NowTV plus a bit of UK CatchUpTV and no other major SVOD services. Otherwise, just get a Roku device!
Anyway, with no other major Roku-related (or Roku-specific) news to share with you this week, I'm now going to turn my attention to bringing you details for all the latest new Roku channels (apps) which were released during the seven days since my last 'Weekly RoundUp' post was published! :-)
Firstly, though, I'd just like to mention (on a not entirely un-related note) that I have now added links to most (though, still not all) of the 'Roku Guide' reviews that were previously "missing" for many of the new Roku channels released in the last two weeks... so, if you'd like to see an independent appraisal of those, be sure to check-out my post from last week (see link above), which (itself) contains a link to the previous week's post, for details of where to find them. Unfortunately, there are more "missing" links to 'Roku Guide' reviews for about one third of the channels that were published during the last seven days... which means, much like other posts in recent months, I'm (once again) going to have 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 done previously) 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 some of these new apps but, like I say, it was entirely out of my hands. Meanwhile... I advise scanning the list below, to see which of the channels (if any) are likely to appeal. Then, if you go to the built-in channel store on your Roku device, you can read the description(s) there, for precise details on the latest new Roku channels (apps) added to UK Roku devices in this past week! ;-) :-)
Still, back to the list... which, as always, will help you to identify the very latest apps that 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 (e.g. 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 21st January 2018 and 27th January 2018:-
N.B. CHANNEL ICON STILL TO FOLLOW -
NOT AVAILABLE AT TIME OF PUBLISHING !!
UNKNOWN CHANNEL........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPORTS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, without doing a full audit of the two-hundred and thirty-one Roku channels (apps) which comprise the 'Sports' category (i.e. genre) of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, I was unable to determine the name of this new addition to UK Roku devices. Whatever it is, you will not find it in the 'New' category... which suggests it is an app that was previously released for Roku users in the United States and has only recently been extended to the UK. Once I find some time to take stock of precisely what channels have been added to the 'Sports' category, I can eliminate all the existing ones (from my blog listings) and determine exactly which channel has been added. Needless to say, as soon as I discover what it is, I will update this article accordingly. Meanwhile, please accept my apologies for keeping you in suspense over the identity of this channel! ;-) :-)
THE CALL FM.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That 'The Call FM' channel will not be found among the latest additions in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. The reason for this is that an earlier incarnation of the channel, entitled simply 'Call FM', was originally published as a "Religious" channel within the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store back in March 2014. To install this rebranded version, you'll have to look under "Music" because (despite being a new app in the UK) this channel cannot be found in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the channel store. Of course, you could also use the built-in Roku 'Search' feature on your device(s) to find and install this channel... just start to type in "The Call FM" and you will soon see it listed among the results on the right of your screen! ;-) :-)
ALSO:- While there is an active link to the channel description from the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store for 'The Call FM' channel (see above, and to the left, below the icon) there is (currently) no active link to any 'Roku Guide' review for this updated version of the original 'Call FM' channel. Since there was another (previously released) version of the channel you can always read the details for that earlier incarnation of the app in this 'Roku Guide' review for the original channel. However, do bear in mind that this rebranded app is a *new* version of the channel, with updated user interface (UI) plus additional features, and (therefore) some of the comments which can be found in that four year old 'Roku Guide' review no longer apply to this latest incarnation. That said, because it is both FREE-TO-ADD and FREE-TO-PLAY on Roku devices, you could always just install it and see for yourself whether you like it... and if not, simply uninstall it again - without incurring any fees. Of course, if a 'Roku Guide' review for this latest version does get published, at any time in the future, then I will update this post accordingly as well as including a link, so you can navigate right to it! :-)
INDIEARTST........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, this 'IndieArtst' channel will not be found among the latest additions in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. The reason for this is unclear, but it may have something to do with the fact that it was added using the 'Direct Publisher' program, or perhaps as the result of a "slip-up" in the Roku channel approval process. Whatever the reason, to install this channel, you'll have to look under "Music" because (despite being a new app in the UK) it cannot be found in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the channel store. Of course, you could instead use the built-in Roku 'Search' feature on your device(s) to find / install this channel... just start to type in "IndieArtst" and you will soon see it listed among the results on the right of your screen! ;-) :-)
ALSO:- While there is an active link to the channel description from the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store for this 'IndieArtst' channel (see above, and to the left, below the icon) there is (currently) no active link to any 'Roku Guide' review. Needless to say, once any such review has been published, I will add the "missing" link to this article. In the meantime, since UK Roku users will not be able to view a description of the 'IndieArtst' channel from the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store, I have some screenshots to share with you, in the absence of any reproduced images from a 'Roku Guide' review:-
Meanwhile, if any indie musicians out there would like to learn how to submit their music videos for free inclusion on the 'IndieArtst' Roku channel, there is another article explaining 'How it Works' on the same website. Should you still have any further questions, having visited their website, you can always reach-out to 'IndieArtst' on social media, via either their Twitter Feed: @IndieArtstMusic or their official FB Page: IndieArtst (Facebook) where I'm sure they will be only too pleased to answer your questions and/or hear any thoughts you may have concerning the 'IndieArtst' Roku channel! :-)
THE TEXAS TELEVISION JOURNAL...................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "NEWS & WEATHER" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
RHEMA USA...........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
GRIGGS CHAPEL MBC.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
HOUGHTON WESLEYAN CHURCH...................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
NEW LIFE TERRE HAUTE....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FIREPLACE.TV..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
KP TV......................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST - SHERIDAN...................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
CONGREGATION KOL AMI WH.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
CONNECT CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD..................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
ARISE ASSEMBLY OF BRANDON......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
JESUS CHRIST NETWORK...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
EASTER BUNNIES AND CHICKS...COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
PORTUGAL SCREENSAVER............COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
SEA CREATURES SCREENSAVER...COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
UNTOUCHABLE TV...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
BIRDS OF PREY................................COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
PRAISE TV...............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FIREHOUSE TV......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
ZION HERITAGE TV..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PROFESSEUR SENA TV........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
YADAH GOSPEL MIRACLE CHANNEL..............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
GRAND LAKES UMC............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
EAST AUBURN BAPTIST CHURCH....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
THE MESSAGE OF ISLAM....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FAITH INC WORD DELIVERANCE......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
ROOPVILLE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH..............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
REFORMERS LIFE TV...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
CREATING COMPANIES.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPORTS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
KINETICS K2.....................................COST: £1.49 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
NCAT..........................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
FEMALE FITNESS SCREENSAVER...COST: £1.49 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***