Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #38

Hi, everyone !!

Without a doubt the BIG NEWS this week, as far as UK Roku owners are concerned, was the arrival of another UK CatchUp TV service to the platform. Those of you who follow the companion Twitter Feed to this blog: @ukrokuchannels may have spotted my tweet on Tuesday evening (which, as it turned out, was the day before it's official announcement) concerning the appearance of a '4oD' channel in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. Yes, believe it or not, the CatchUp TV service from Channel Four has finally seen the light of day and joined 'BBC iPlayer' plus 'Demand 5' in the ever-expanding channel selection that is available on UK Roku players. It may have been a long time coming, but it's been worth the wait... and let's not under-estimate the part played by NowTV [Powered by Sky] in bringing this to fruition (just as they did with 'Demand 5', earlier in the year). In fact it's probably fair to say that, without the partnership between Sky and Roku, we might well have been waiting a lot longer for both 'Demand 5' and '4oD' to be made available on the Roku player in the UK and I'm fairly sure that there's more to come from this partnership in the future too !!

At this point, I should probably point out that the '4oD' channel was also added to the NowTV Box on the same day that it surfaced in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store on UK Roku players. Doubtless owners of the streaming media player from NowTV were equally as overjoyed at this news as Roku users here in the UK. I'm certain that the addition of '4oD' will prove to be as much a boon for both Roku and NowTV Box owners as it is for Channel Four and, as far as I'm concerned, it puts another "feather in the cap" of all three companies. So, I'd like to say A BIG THANK YOU firstly to Channel Four but also to NowTV and Roku for each doing their part in making this a reality and I look forward to a long and successful partnership between them all in the coming years. GREAT NEWS !!

Meanwhile, earlier in the week, another channel had emerged as the result of a partnership between Roku and Condé Nast Entertainment which I believe could well prove influential in getting more content from UK magazine publishers onto UK Roku players. If you aren't yet familiar with the name "Condé Nast", it's likely you will have heard of their iconic brands such as 'Vogue', 'GQ', 'Vanity Fair', 'WIRED' and 'Glamour', all of which have content featured on the 'Condé Nast Entertainment' channel. Should this video content prove to be as popular with UK Roku owners as the printed material is with the UK magazine-buying public, then I see no reason why other major publishers (e.g. Bauer, IPC Media, Dennis Publishing, Future Publishing, EMAP, NatMags, Hachette Filipacchi, etc.) cannot look into developing their own Roku channels, given that some of their music, fashion and computing magazines (to name but a few) have already transitioned into television & radio in their own right. So, let's hope that Condé Nast have hit on something here that others will have no choice but to follow. I mean, if the likes of Sky and Freeview can have them, why not Roku?! With any luck, we could be looking at a whole host of new content coming to UK Roku players if this takes off so, if you happen to like what Condé Nast have done, show your support so that other new channels follow suit !!

Moving on, in addition to new channels, we've also had some more new readers coming to the pages of this blog. Once again there were many repeat visits from the various countries that I've mentioned in previous posts but, unlike a fortnight ago, there was not just one but two countries that had not yet graced the pages of this blog until now. 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 the Cayman Islands and Suriname, who each took the time to pay a maiden visit to these pages during the past seven days.

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 continue to do so.

Anyway, 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 SIX 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, Music, Internet TV, plus Religion & Spirituality genres.

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) with an independent (slightly more expansive) assessment of each one:-

CONDÉ NAST ENTERTAINMENT..........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

FIRST FRUITS OF ZION........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

4oD (FOUR ON DEMAND)......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

N.B. Since this channel does not currently (and is unlikely to) feature in the Roku (USA) Channel Store, the link above is for the Official Website of Channel Four's "4oD" CatchUp TV Service which should already be familiar to most of you. It's addition to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store marks another long overdue boost to the UK CatchUp TV aspect of the Roku player and will no doubt be welcomed by many UK Roku owners, as well as those with a NowTV Box (on which it also features).

*** UPDATE *** It has come to my attention that the '4oD' channel is NOT YET AVAILABLE to UK Roku owners ON EITHER 'Roku 1' OR 'Roku 2' PLAYERS, which are the two new additions to the Roku family. This means, in order TO WATCH '4oD' VIA ROKU that YOU WILL NEED either the new flagship 'Roku 3' OR a 'Roku 2 XS' / 'Roku LT' (which were the two original models of the Roku streaming media player that were available in the UK), until such a time as the '4oD' channel is updated for use with the UK models of 'Roku 1' and 'Roku 2' which (hopefully) will be the case ?!! Meanwhile, anyone shopping for a Roku player this Xmas should consider this carefully because it will restrict the use for UK CatchUp TV on both 'Roku 1' and 'Roku 2' models until this fairly major oversight is addressed by 4oD and finally gets sorted out - PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THIS !!!!!!!!!

ALSO: due to the fact that the '4oD' (Four On Demand) channel has not yet been (and is unlikely to ever be) added to the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, there is no Roku Guide Review available. If, however, this situation does change, I will (of course) add a link to this post.

Still, after my (somewhat limited) initial testing, this new Roku channel does seem to perform fairly well, which could not always be said for previous means of accessing Channel Four's CatchUp TV offerings. All that remains is for an official Roku channel to be made available for the UK's only other CatchUp TV Service (i.e. 'ITV Player' from, erm... ITV) and the Roku player really will be worthy of a place in ALL of the nation's living rooms by offering all of the BIG FOUR CatchUp TV services !!

FULL MOON...........................................COST: FREE + $6.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

PLEASE NOTE:- That in addition to the monthly subscription rate outlined above, there is also a QUARTERLY SUBSCRIPTION option for $18.00, as well as a 6-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION for $35.00, plus an ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION for $65.00 with confirmation of the pricing for all subscription packages available on the SIGN-UP FORM for the 'Full Moon' channel. There is a SPECIAL OFFER if you sign-up for the quarterly (i.e. 3-month) subscription BEFORE 8pm (UK TIME) on MONDAY 2nd DECEMBER 2013 using PROMO CODE: BLACKFRIDAY which allows you to get 3 FREE BLU-RAY OR DVD DISCS in addition to your streaming entitlement. Before you sign-up, however, PLEASE BE ADVISED: that, as an international subscriber, YOU WILL BE CHARGED for the cost of INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING to deliver your three free discs to the UK. The exact delivery cost is dependent on your precise location and will be made known to you after you subscribe. However, Full Moon did give me a "ball park" figure of around $20.00 to $30.00 for sending three discs to the UK from the USA. You'll have to decide for yourselves whether this makes it worthwhile for you, or not. Full details of the "Black Friday" offer can be found VIA THIS LINK and you can view the selection of discs available for you to choose from IN THE FULL MOON STORE. In the meantime, whether you decide to go for the special offer or not, the only way for you to pay for your subscription to the 'Full Moon' channel is by using a credit card and you will also need to provide details of your first & last name as well as your email address. Other than that, it's just a simple matter of choosing a 'Username' and creating a password with which to access your 'Full Moon' subscription account and then you're good to go !!

ALSO: The prices quoted for this are in $USD (U.S. Dollars) because that is how they are shown on the website, when you follow the link (above) to sign-up for a Full Moon Account. Currently, you will not find any prices quoted in £GBP (British Pounds)... even in the channel description that is included among the channel details for the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. Needless to say, until that changes, the price you actually pay will depend entirely on the applicable exchange rate at the time you take out your subscription and may also vary based on your chosen method of payment.

DOVE BROADCASTING........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

CAROL-OKE!........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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So, whether it's catching up with your favourite programmes from 'Channel Four', as well as 'More4' and 'E4', plus gaining FREE and unlimited access to the hundreds of classic shows, top dramas & comedy box sets available via '4oD', or watching Cult Horror Classics, Grindhouse Movies and films in The Moonbeam Collection from the Full Moon library, an assortment of documentaries, teachings, sermons, music & interviews, plus other religious programming, or access to an incredible library of provocative & influential content from the likes of Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, WIRED, Glamour & other brands by Condé Nast Entertainment, or (perhaps) even hosting your own "Jingle Bell" Block Party courtesy of a fun, festive and (best of all) FREE Christmas karaoke channel, we've pretty much got all of those bases covered with these latest NEW ADDITIONS to the Roku UK Channel Store.

Anyway, like it or not, that is your lot for this week and, whilst it doesn't quite the match-up to the eleven channels which made it into the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store during the same time-frame, I always think it's better to have SOME NEW CHOICES than none at all, don't you ?!!

Still, hopefully everyone in the UK with a Roku player managed to find something they like within the six 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 !!

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Meanwhile, for my last sixteen 'Weekly RoundUp' posts, I have been suggesting we spare a thought for all the poor folk who handed over their hard-earned cash for one of those NowTV Boxes [Powered by Sky] which, until now, had totally failed to live up to their full potential. However, with the addition of the '4oD' CatchUp TV service (feat. content from Channel 4, plus E4 and also More4) their investment in this latest addition to the UK streaming media player market  is finally starting to pay dividends. That said... the original promise from NowTV of "more apps being continually added" is still yet to be adhered to because, as this is the first & only extra new channel added to the Roku Channel Store on the NowTV Box since the product launched, we'll need to see plenty more apps (i.e. channels) added before that particular statement holds true. What's that? Did someone mention ITV Player? Well, it might not be such a bad idea... I mean, even if they are now the last & only UK CatchUp TV services not to have a presence on the NowTV Box (or, on UK Roku players, come to that!) they can always use their wooden spoon to mix up their Christmas cake, or bash themselves on the head with it for not realising the importance that OTT streaming media is going to play in the "television" of the future. Still, let's not spoil the very much deserved celebrations to mark the arrival of a '4oD' channel on NowTV boxes and UK Roku players with talk of what is not yet(?) available. Instead, let's relish the fact that (this week) there is not a single tumbleweed in sight where the NowTV box is concerned because, thanks to the '4oD' channel, the NowTV Box has now seen it's FIRST GENUINELY "NEW" CHANNEL (or, 'app', if you prefer) added to the Roku Channel Store... SO, CONGRATULATIONS & WELL DONE TO EVERYONE AT NOW TV / CHANNEL 4 !!!!!!!!!!!!!

HINT: Click on the above image to ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!

PHOTO SOURCE: www.channel4.com

Yes... AMAZINGLY (unlike EVERY OTHER WEEK since it was launched) there has finally been some REAL ACTION in terms of NEW ADDITIONS to the Roku Channel Store selection on the NowTV Box. What this means is that, over the course of the past week, NowTV have at last managed to produce a NEW CHANNEL to add to the (severely reduced) version of the Roku Channel Store that features on their NowTV Box. Somewhat less surprisingly, the "Official" Roku Channel Store that features on all UK Roku players has added SIX EXTRA CHANNELS during that same period of time. By way of comparison, in the eighteen weeks since the launch of the NowTV Box, there has been a total of ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-NINE EXTRA CHANNELS added to the "Official" Roku Channel Store on UK Roku players, as compared with ONE EXTRA CHANNEL being added to the Roku Channel Store on the streaming player from NowTV. Still, they've broken their duck and narrowed the margin by one channel, which surely must count for something?!!

ALSO: Having mentioned in my previous 'Weekly RoundUp' from last week that the "New" channel category of the Roku Channel Store on the NowTV Box had just two channels, i.e. 'Havoc Television' and 'CNET', neither of which were (genuinely) "New"... I'm happy to say that the category now has a third channel, i.e. '4oD', that is worthy of being called "New"!! Fortunately the addition of this channel means that there is (currently) a total of 47 CHANNELS featured in the NowTV Box version of the Roku Channel Store PLUS the 'NOW TV' channel itself, which (as I've said befoer) is there by default & not included with the apps (i.e. channels) in the Roku Channel Store on the NowTV Box. 

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Still, whether you happen to own a Roku player, a NowTV Box, OR BOTH, as I do... 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 all the UK Roku action (as it happens) throughout the coming week, by following the companion 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 !!