Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #12

Hi, everyone !!


I don't know about you but, for me at least, getting a couple of days of sunshine at the end of this last week has made all the difference in terms of lifting my spirits. Having come through the first part of the week with the announcement from the Met Office that we've just experienced the coldest Spring for 50+ years (i.e. since 1962) in the UK - TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW ALREADY - needless to say, it's been a long overdue & very welcome change. Anyway, it seems that the Roku channel developers also got a boost by the end of the week because, after an extremely slow start, they then suddenly produced A SLEW OF NEW CHANNELS within the last 48 hours or so.

Meanwhile, in addition to those new channels, we've also had some more new readers coming to the pages of this blog. As before, there were repeat visits from some of the countries I've mentioned in previous posts but this time, unlike the last two weeks, there was not just one but two countries that had not featured previously. So, before we go any further with the current 'Weekly RoundUp', I'd first like to extend a warm welcome to those new readers from both Slovenia and Jamaica, who took the time to pay a maiden visit to these pages at some point during the past seven days, or so.

To those new readers, and to everyone else who continues to read my Roku-related ramblings here on this blog, I'd just like to say... "Thanks for stopping by" & long may you all continue to do so.

Still, let's get on with the details for the current 'Weekly RoundUp' of NEW ADDITIONS to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. This time, there are FIFTEEN NEW CHANNELS which have been added during the past seven days. These latest additions to the Roku UK Channel Store provided FRESH CONTENT to the Film & TV, News, Weather, Sport, Internet TV, Photos & Video, International, Special Interest, Screensavers & Apps plus Religion & Spirituality genres (i.e. categories).

In keeping with previous installments from the 'Weekly RoundUp' series, details of these new channels have all been listed below, together with links to obtain further information {by clicking on the channel name(s) beneath the respective channel icon(s) as pictured} and to read a 'Roku Guide' review (where available) for each one:-

PILATES ANYTIME.............COST: FREE (15-Day Trial) / £12.00 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

NOLLYWOOD CIMEMA............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

PLEASE NOTE: There are NO LINKS INCLUDED above for the 'Nollywood Cinema' channel because (currently) IT DOES NOT FEATURE in the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store and, try as I did, I was unable to discover anything concrete by way of an official website for either the channel (itself) or the developer, MK Video, as listed in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store details. Likewise, for similar reasons, there is (currently) no 'Roku Guide' review available. I can however tell you that, as the channel loads, the initial screen boasts an icon / logo bearing the name "Marengo" and that it gives way to a SUB-MENU that is (currently) comprised of NINE VIDEOS, as follows:-

• Innocent Criminal (Part 1)
• Innocent Criminal (Part 2)
• Head Master (Part 1)
• Head Master (Part 2)
• I Want Your Wife (Part 1)
• I Want Your Wife (Part 2)
• Endtime Virus (Part 1)
• Endtime Virus (Part 2)
• Another Opportunity (Part 1)

Without watching them, in their entirety, I cannot really say with any certainty whether these are all individual movies (including four films, each with their sequel) or, if four of the five titles have been split into two parts with the fifth title missing part two. What I can confirm for you, however, is that they are ALL FREE-TO-VIEW just as the channel is FREE-TO-ADD to your Roku player. So, if you enjoy a bit of "Nollywood" cinema, which includes both Nigerian films and other African movies, then why not add this FREE Roku channel to your own custom Roku channel selection ?!!

Meanwhile, if the content owner or (preferably) the developer of this channel could make contact via the companion Twitter Feed to this blog: @ukrokuchannels and provide me with the details of any website(s), Twitter Feeds, Facebook Accounts, YouTube Channels, etc. that are relevant to the 'Nollywood Cinema' channel on Roku, then I will add ALL LINKS to this post as soon as I get them.

ZONE OUT TV.........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

PLEASE NOTE: The developer of the 'ZoneOutTV' channel has asked me to point out that, whilst the channel could easily be classified as a 'screensaver' of sorts, Roku's regulations do not permit the addition of their channel to the "Screensavers & Apps" genre (i.e. category). Due to the previous experiences of some Roku users in the USA, who had difficulty locating the 'ZoneOutTV' channel in the Roku USA Channel Store, I have been asked to point out to UK Roku owners that this channel can be found in the "Photos & Video" genre of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store.

Also, whilst the 'ZoneOutTV' channel is (currently) FREE-TO-ADD to your Roku player as well as being FREE-TO-WATCH, this service MAY HAVE TO, at some future date, BECOME AD-SUPPORTED. The only reason this may be necessary is because of the spiralling costs of bandwidth usage associated with hosting such a data hungry service. They very much intend to keep this channel as an "open" and "growing" resource with the input from viewers being especially welcomed. To wit, you can  talk back to the developers of the 'ZoneOutTV' channel via:- Facebook.com/ZoneOutTV where you can expect your comments to be both listened to as well as receiving a reply. A case in point being that this weekend saw the release of NEW CONTENT on the 'ZoneOutTV' channel that came about purely as a result of requests from viewers.


You can expect to see NEW PREVIEWS (in the form of short, 90 second clips) EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY posted via Facebook plus Vimeo and YouTube with the FULL NEW EPISODE LAUNCH scheduled for THURSDAY / FRIDAY the same week as the preview. Meanwhile, you can always find out more about the 'ZoneOutTV' channel via their Official Website at:- ZoneOut.TV

JAMES WOODCOCK'S PODCAST...........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

N.B. Since this channel does not currently feature in the Roku (USA) Channel Store, the link above is for James Woodcock's Gaming & Technology Blog: jameswoodcock.co.uk; where you can catch up with all of his latest posts on the subjects of both gaming & technology. There is a wealth of material available on the website, including Features, Reviews, Podcasts and Videos, as well as links to the developer's YouTube Channel AND iTunes Podcast Subscription, so it's well worth a look.

If you do decide to visit the website, you will find his contact information PLUS full details of his other projects, services & resources. You can also connect with the developer of this gaming & technology podcast channel for Roku, via his Twitter Feed: @jameswoodcock or (if you prefer) you can get social with him via his Facebook Page: James Woodcock. As mentioned (briefly) above, and no doubt due (again) to the fact that the 'James Woodcock's Podcast' channel has not yet been added to the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, there is (currently) no Roku Guide Review available. However, I have it on good authority from the developer that, at some time in the very near future, this situation will change and the 'James Woodcock's Podcast' channel WILL BE ADDED TO the "Official" Roku Channel Stores in BOTH the USA and Canada. So, once the channel has been given it's "final approval" in those regions, and the relevant channel details / reviews have been published, I will add all missing links to this post.

GUYS FROM QUEENS............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

DR. LEROY THOMPSON TV....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

1st BAPTIST CHURCH TRUSSVILLE........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

THE YACHTING CHANNEL......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

PARABLES TV........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

PLEASE NOTE: Whilst the 'Parables  TV' channel is FREE-TO-ADD to your Roku plauer, this service MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FEES.

CAFE NOIR.............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

HOOPLAKIDZ RHYMES...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

SKY ANGEL............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]


PLEASE NOTE: Whilst the 'Sky Angel' channel is FREE-TO-ADD to your Roku plauer, this service MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FEES.

BEACON THREE 33 NETWORKS.............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

TV IMEDI................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

ANGRY BIRDS TOONS............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

Anyway, I'm afraid to say, that is your lot for this week BUT, would you believe it ?!! We've only gone and beaten the fourteen channels which made it into the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store during the same time-frame. Yes, I kid you not. For once... we're number one, we're number one, we're number one, WE'RE NUMBER ONE !!!! So, CUE MASS CELEBRATIONS across the UK... there'll (no doubt) be singing and dancing in the streets as news of this rare achievement (in Roku terms) spreads throughout the land. WOO-HOO... UK, UK, UK, UK, etc !!!!!!!! However, as we celebrate our own rather (im)modest success, let's spare a thought for our friends across the pond who (this time) were not so fortunate. May they take comfort knowing it's better to have SOME NEW CHOICES than none at all, as we know only too well. Better luck next time, folks !!

Meanwhile, hopefully everyone in the UK with a Roku player managed to find something they like within the fifteen channels outlined above. If not, then you'll have to pay us a visit another time when, with any luck, there will be something more to your liking. Afterall, there's no point installing every channel because, as I've said before, when it comes to adding new channels to your Roku player, IT'S YOUR CHOICE and, as with all things Roku... THE CHOICE IS ALWAYS YOURS !!

So, be sure to come back in seven days' time for my next 'Weekly RoundUp' and, if you can't wait that long, remember you can always keep up with the UK Roku action (as it happens) throughout the coming week, by following our Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels where up-to-the-minute info on all things Roku-related (here in the UK) is posted on a daily basis (well, almost).

Until the next time, then...

That's all folks !!