Saturday, February 28, 2015

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #103





Hi, everyone !!



Those of you who read my "Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #98" may recall my saying that there had been some "landmark" moments in Roku UK history made during the seven days which preceded it... not least of which was that for only the second time, since Roku devices were first launched in the UK towards the end of January 2012, we exceeded the thirty channel mark (in terms of new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store) for a given period of seven days - as featured in every one of my 'Weekly RoundUp' posts. So, why mention it again? Well, if you hadn't already guessed, the past seven days have seen the thirty channel mark surpassed for a third time! Of course, this is GREAT NEWS for all UK Roku owners (including myself), but... the downside to having all those NEW CHANNEL ADDITIONS added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store in such a short space of time is that my workload (with regard to this blog) is multiplied several times over. Sadly, as with last time around, my time is (once again) so tight this weekend that I'm not going to be able to leave you with details of any "private" channels. Should you find yourself "jones-ing" for more Roku content, however, I suggest you look back over my tweets from the last seven days on the companion Twitter Feed to this blog: @ukrokuchannels where you will find details for some "private" channels I intend to add to this blog at a later date, as well as one or two others which you may (or may not) have come across. Those of you who don't mind waiting a while longer, and/or have no desire to go "trawling" through my ramblings on Twitter, can expect to find the info for several more of these "private" channels in a future 'Weekly RoundUp' post to "reward" your patience!


Anyway, before I proceed with listing the multitude of channel details (plus links to their associated reviews) that make-up this particular 'Weekly RoundUp'... a brief reminder that, whilst I had hoped I'd be able to catch-up on the missing Roku-related news from this blog in recent weeks, all the extra work I've been burdened with of late means it remains unlikely that I'll be fully caught-up anytime soon. Until I do find the time... my one saving grace is that (as mentioned previously) I have somehow managed to remain up-to-date with all the latest additions to the "New" category of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store and will endeavour to flesh-out what's missing ASAP! Admittedly, there are quite a few articles that I need to catch up on but, rather than post links for individual weeks, I'll simply refer you back to my "Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #78", which contains all of the pertinent information you might need when researching back over the items in question. Again, I'm sorry this has dragged-on (far) longer than anticipated, and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused you, but (all being well) things will be back up to speed soon!


For now... all I can offer you is a brief summary of the latest additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store from the past seven days. As with my other recent posts, you can expect any additional Roku-related news from the past week, along with details of any changes to the channel selection found on NowTV Boxes, to be added at some point in the near future. As for "mending" all of the "broken" links from previous 'Weekly RoundUp' posts, I still can't put a time-scale on how long that is going to take but (like I said before) if you "copy" the existing link(s) and change the "http" prefix to "https", as well as removing the "forward slash" between 'channels' and '#!details', so that "channels#/!details" becomes "channels#!details" in each weblink, you should find that they will all work for you and redirect to the new-look version of each individual channel description. As with the last sixteen 'Weekly RoundUp' posts, every link from this week (plus all future posts) will use the new format, so it's only those from 'Weekly RoundUp #1' up as far as 'Weekly RoundUp #86' which you'll have to amend... at least, until I can edit/repair the links for you !!


Still, with all the "missing" Roku-related news (and links) yet to follow, let's now press on with the current 'Weekly RoundUp' of NEW ADDITIONS to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. This time there are THIRTY-FIVE NEW CHANNELS which have been added during the preceding seven day period. These latest additions to the channel line-up provided FRESH CONTENT in each of the Film & TV, Games, News, Weather, Sport, Music, Internet TV, International, Food, Special Interest,  plus Religion & Spirituality genres (i.e. categories). Specifically... this means that no less than TWENTY-ONE EXTRA CHANNELS have been added to the "Special Interest" category, as well as THREE EXTRA CHANNELS under "Film & TV" plus THREE EXTRA CHANNELS in the "Religion & Spirituality" category and TWO EXTRA CHANNELS in both the "News, Weather, Sport" and "Food" categories... not forgetting there was also ONE EXTRA CHANNEL in each of the "Games", plus "Music" as well as "Internet TV" and "International" genres - all of which combined to make-up the selection of new choices added to the channel store on Roku UK devices this week. 


In keeping with previous installments from the 'Weekly RoundUp' series, details of these new channels have 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:-







THE COUNTRY MUSIC CHANNEL...................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






ACN INC..................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






TOTAL TOYS TV...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






ITV CHANNELS (Italy on Demand).......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






REVELATION TV LIVE.......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






FMTV (Food Matters TV).............COST: FREE (10-DAY TRIAL) + $7.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

PLEASE NOTE:- That, although the 'FMTV' channel is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices and does include a FREE TEN-DAY TRIAL when you sign-up for an 'FMTV' subscription, unless you cancel before the free trial period finishes... YOU WILL BE CHARGED A SUBSCRIPTION FEE which is on a recurring basis each time your subscription expires (again, unless you cancel during that term). In addition to the option for payments of $7.99 PER MONTH (as outlined above) there is also another option whereby you can ALTERNATIVELY, PAY $79.99 PER YEAR and, by subscribing on that basis, GET THE EQUIVALENT OF 2 MONTHS FOR FREE which may be preferable for some. The 'Roku Guide' review (see link above) offers further insight as to what you can expect for your money, should you choose to subscribe, and I recommend you read it before adding this channel.







NIKOLI SUDOKU [Roku 3 ONLY]...COST: FREE (3 Trial Puzzles) + $4.99 PER EXTRA PACK [Roku Guide Review]

PLEASE NOTE:- That, although the 'Nikoli Sudoku' game channel is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices and does include THREE FREE TRIAL PUZZLES with one for each difficulty level (easy, medium, hard), those wishing to undertake additional puzzles will soon discover that... YOU WILL BE CHARGED $4.99 PER EXTRA PUZZLE PACK, regardless of difficulty level, meaning you could (potentially) be paying out $30.00 to attempt all 145 puzzles (across the various levels) available. In addition to the option for payments of $4.99 PER EXTRA PACK (as outlined above) there is also another option whereby you can obtain "HELP TICKETS" FOR $0.99 EACH - although you can BULK BUY 100 "HELP TICKETS" FOR $49.99, as well as various bundles in between - which may be more necessary for some than others. The 'Roku Guide' review (see link above) offers further insight as to what you can expect for your money, should you choose to pay for the various extra packs and/or help ticket bundles, and I recommend you read it before adding this game channel.







FAIRMOUNT TEMPLE.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






ALL SAINTS CHURCH.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






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






SUPER STAR MOVIE CHANNEL................COST: £0.69 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

PLEASE NOTE:- That the 'Super Star Movie Channel' for Roku devices, developed by 'Evonne Mandella', is a MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION purchase with recurring payments. As such, if you choose to subscribe to this channel, YOU WILL BE CHARGED £0.69 PER MONTH and will continue to be charged in this manner UNTIL YOU CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION. It is also worth noting, before you subscribe, that ALL PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE !!







COWBOY STAR MOVIE CHANNEL..........COST: £0.69 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

PLEASE NOTE:- That the 'Cowboy Star Movie Channel' for Roku devices, developed by 'Evonne Mandella', is a MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION purchase with recurring payments. As such, if you choose to subscribe to this channel, YOU WILL BE CHARGED £0.69 PER MONTH and will continue to be charged in this manner UNTIL YOU CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION. It is also worth noting, before you subscribe, that ALL PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE !!







COOKING with KIMBERLY.................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






BEAT DOWN BOOGIE.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






AFRICA TRAVEL [by TripSmart.TV]...................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






SOCCER [by Fawesome.TV]..................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






CAREER [by Fawesome.TV]..................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






AUTO CARE [by Fawesome.TV]...........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






APP UPDATES [by Fawesome.TV].......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






KIDS STORIES [by HappyKids.TV]......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






GRRRLTRAVELER...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






HOPSCOTCH THE GLOBE..................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






THE TRAVEL VLOGGER....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






STATOSPHERE......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






JUNGLE BEATS [by HappyKids.TV]...................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






MAPLE LEAF LEARNING...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






SPORTS & OUTDOORS [by Videojug]................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






QUIPSTAR [by Videojug]......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

PLEASE NOTE:- That, due to the fact that the 'Quipstar' channel does not yet(?) feature in the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, there is (currently) no link available to a channel description from the Roku website. Consequently, the link provided (above, left) will redirect you to the dedicated 'Quipstar' page on the official website of 'Videojug' who provide all streamed content for the 'Quipstar' channel on UK Roku devices. Until such a time (if ever) that the 'Quipstar' channel does get added to the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, this will remain the case. However, should the situation change, I will (of course) add the "missing" link for the channel description to this post.

ALSO:- Again, due to the fact that the 'Quipstar' channel does not yet(?) feature in the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, there is (currently) no link available to a 'Roku Guide' review of the channel. Needless to say, as with the link to the channel description from the Roku website, I will add the "missing" link for any such review to this post... if & when a 'Roku Guide' review for the 'Quipstar' channel on Roku devices is published, following it's addition to the Roku USA Channel Store.







HINDI RHYMES [by HappyKids.TV]...................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

PLEASE NOTE:- That, due to the fact that the 'Hindi Rhymes' channel does not yet(?) feature in the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, there is (currently) no link available to a channel description from the Roku website. Consequently, the link provided (above, left) will redirect you to the official website of 'HappyKids.TV' who provide all streamed content for the 'Hindi Rhymes' channel on UK Roku devices. Until such a time (if ever) that the 'Hindi Rhymes' channel does get added to the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, this will remain the case. However, should that situation change, I will (of course) add the "missing" link for the channel description from the Roku website to this post.

ALSO:- Again, due to the fact that the 'Hindi Rhymes' channel does not yet(?) feature in the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store, there is (currently) no link available to a 'Roku Guide' review of the channel. Needless to say, as with the link to the channel description from the Roku website, I will add the "missing" link for any such review to this post... if & when a 'Roku Guide' review for the 'Hindi Rhymes' channel is published, following it's addition to the Roku USA Channel Store.







GADGETS and GEARS..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






KIDS ACTION SONGS [by HappyKids.TV].........................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






THE PLANET D.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






BET U DIDN'T KNOW..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]






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






VIRTUAL WAYFARER.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]




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Anyhow, like it or not, that is your lot for this week and, whilst it doesn't quite match-up to the forty-two channels which made it into the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store during the same time-frame, it's better to have 35 NEW CHANNEL CHOICES as shown above, than none at all, don't you think?!


Meanwhile... hopefully everyone in the UK with a Roku player managed to find something they like within those thirty-five "public" channels, or else the "private" channels whose access codes were "gifted" to you via the companion Twitter Feed to this blog at various points throughout the last seven days. Even so, if you didn't find anything to add to your Roku channel selection from the assortment of channels on offer this week, you'll just 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 like I say... when it comes to adding new channels to your Roku, IT'S YOUR CHOICE and, as with all things Roku... THE CHOICE IS ALWAYS YOURS !!




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As mentioned earlier in this post, you can expect my usual summary of all the goings-on (or not) in the (severely restricted) Roku Channel Store that features on NowTV Boxes to follow in the near future. Meanwhile, whether you happen to own a Roku player, a NowTV Box, OR BOTH, as I do... be sure to check my previous posts (as mentioned above) for all the new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store in each of the thirty preceding weeks and then come back again in seven days' time for my next 'Weekly RoundUp'. However, 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 !!