UK Roku Private Channel - mkvXstream.com

Sometimes, all you have to do is ask...


... and that's kind of how I came by this latest addition to my ever-expanding list of UK Roku private channels, while exchanging emails with another blogger, this past weekend. More of that, in a bit...


First, though, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to yet another batch of new readers from various locales around the world including, but not limited to: Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Cyprus, Jersey, Oman, Pakistan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.


Thanks to all of you for stopping by... I hope you all found something of interest while reading this blog and I look forward to your continued support, as I attempt to provide you all with an up-to-date Roku UK channel list that includes all the Roku channels 2013 has to offer for Roku users in the UK.


It's fair to say that, aside from what's on offer in the "Official" UK Channel Store, there is a lot of interest in the 'other' Roku channels available. In fact, some of the best Roku channels can be found among the so-called Roku private channels, hidden channels, beta channels, etc. which, no matter how you choose to refer to them, are all just Roku channels that are not available in the Roku channel store, for one reason or another. So, to help you discover some of these hidden Roku channels and develop your own list of Roku private channels, I'll be gradually building my own Roku private channel database right here on this blog.


Just in case you missed them, I've already posted details (including access codes, etc.) for two Roku private channels UK users can add to their Roku private channels list(s). For starters, there was my WORLD EXCLUSIVE first reference to a UK Roku Private Channel - Resources For The Future. This was followed by another UK Private Roku Channel - H*E*R*O* USA but, suffice to say that we have barely even scratched the surface when it comes to revealing ALL of the Roku private channels UK users can view once they know the channel codes for these 'other' Roku channels.


So, the aim is to bring you these details as and when we hear about them. Think of this as your very own Roku private channels blogspot where you can keep coming back for all the latest news & updates on what hidden channels are out there to boost your Roku UK channel list. As the ONLY currently available UK Roku blog, private channels that are compatible with UK Roku players are best sourced from the pages of this blog. When you read about them here, they are already tried and tested on a UK Roku player so there's less chance of "We're sorry. This channel is not available in your area" which is a common message you'll get if entering codes found elsewhere.


Actually, it was because of getting one such message that I began my exchange of emails (referred to at the start of this post) with the good folks at mkvXstream.com as to why their Roku channel was not available here in the UK. Having long been an avid reader of their blog, as evidenced by their inclusion in my Blog Roll, I was keen to see what was on offer via their Roku private channel. However, despite my repeatedly trying the access code on and off over a long period of time, I was always met with the "We're sorry. This channel is not available in your area" message.


Anyway, this time I decided to try and find out why the mkvXstream.com channel wasn't available here and, at the same time, request that they took steps to rectify the situation so that UK Roku users could finally see what they had been missing. So, off went the first email (via the contact form on their website) and I then just had to wait and see if I got a response.


Amazingly, I heard back from them inside of 24 hours with a message that, "As requested, the mkvXstream Roku channel should now be viewable in the UK and rest of the world", which was exactly what I had hoped to hear. So, having waited so long to view the channel, I wasted little time in entering the access code (which I'll reveal to you later in this post) and added the mkvXstream private Roku channel to my Roku player, via the "Add a Private Channel" option in my online Roku Account. Once the hidden channel code had been successfully entered, I was greeted by the following on-screen message:-

As usual, I opted for "Yes, Add Channel" rather than the "Cancel" button because, aside from having waited all this time to view this channel, it was FREE to add... so there really was nothing to lose !!


Once the channel was installed on my Roku player, I noticed the "dot com" had been dropped from the channel name (see 'Add Channel' image above) and that it was now identified as simply "mkvXstream" with the tag line, "Covering the Hottest Media Streamers & Roku Channels on the Planet". Other than that, the channel icon remained the same (as pictured above) and it loaded quickly and smoothly.


The main menu (currently) offers three options:-

(i)   Xstream - Watch Your Videos on Roku (3 videos - ALL in HD);
(ii)  MX Privateer - Today's Hottest Supercross Privateers (7 videos - 3 in HD / 4 in SD), and;
(iii) GoPro HD - Extreme Sports Videos by GoPro in HD (8 videos - ALL in HD)


In the 'Xstream' category, you will find an episode of OCDtv (Obsessive Comics Disorder TV) feat. Chris Renshaw, aka 'The Professor', who gives us his review of the Roku XD (a model only available in the USA). There is also a brief commercial for 30a TV, which was released in the UK last week and mentioned in my last post for the Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #1. The last video is basically a brief video 'hint' to visit the mkvXstream.com website and view their 'Site Index' for more info on how to "Add Your Video" to "Watch on Roku"... Hmmmm, sounds interesting !!


Under the 'MX Privateer' category, you will find a selection of no less than seven videos by Privateer Motocrosser, Mike Horban, showing him in action at PTF (Phil's Training Facility) near Redding, California and getting ready for the US Open. There's also footage of his battle with Tiger Lacey at Josephine County Fairgrounds, where he's running with a blown radiator but still not giving up. Plus, you can see him getting the jump on Factory Yamaha's Josh Hill at Medford's ArenaCross. The four videos that I have just mentioned are the ones recorded in SD only. The remaining three are all in HD and include the short films "Life of a Privateer Motocrosser" & "Filthy Animals", as well as footage of both Mike Horban and Josh Hansen practicing at Milestone. If you like what you see here, you can always check out Mike's website (mikehorban.com) for more on what he's been up to.


Finally, the 'GoPro HD' category offers a selection of extreme sports videos made using the GoPro HD Hero & GoPro HD Hero 2 cameras. There's some really HIGH QUALITY stuff on offer here, with footage ranging from wingsuit fliers Jeb Corliss & Roberta Mancino, to avalanche cliff jumps with Matthias Giraud, to skateboarding with Ryan Sheckler in New York. Plus, you'll find footage from the Red Bull Rampage 2010 in Virgin, Utah and a video on mountain biking, feat. Craig Sanchez, a movie on radical freestyle skiing and a short film of 'Shark Riders' dive housing with world renowned free diver Mark Healy. All incredible footage... you've got to see this, if you like extreme sports !!


Now, for those of you with your Roku players hooked up to an old CRT television, using the mini-jack to composite cable, as I did for the purposes of testing this channel... PLEASE TAKE NOTE:


In order for the HD content (i.e. 15 of the 18 videos currently on offer) to play properly you will need to look at your Roku Player Settings to make sure that 'Display' is set to HD (i.e. 720p or 1080p) because, if you have it set to 4:3 or Widescreen (i.e. Standard Definition) they will not play.


*** N.B. You will need to connect your Roku player to an HD television, via an HDMI cable, in order to see the HD options listed under the 'Display' settings (if you haven't already done so). Once you have selected either 720p (Roku LT and Roku XS) or 1080p (Roku XS only) you can then exit settings and disconnect your Roku player from the HD TV. When you then reconnect to your CRT television, using the mini-jack to composite cable, the Roku player will remember the HD settings and you should have no trouble watching any of the HD content on the mkvXstream channel. ***


This was finally established after an exchange of emails between myself and the good folks at mkvXstream.com, this past weekend, where we threw several ideas around whilst trying to find some sort of technical solution, and even discussed potential GEOblocking issues, before FINALLY hitting on the answer to the problem... PHEW !!!!!!!!!!!!


Anyhow, the long and the short of it is that the mkvXstream private Roku channel DOES WORK here in the UK and has some good quality content on offer, provided you like the subject matter that is !! So, if the above description has left you wanting more and you'd like to add this FREE private channel to your Roku player, then you can do so (via your online Roku Account) by clicking on the following direct link:-


ADD CHANNEL: mkvXstream.com


Alternatively, you can access your Roku Account online (without using the 'ADD CHANNEL' link, above) and from there, use the 'Add a Private Channel' option to then enter the access code manually, yourself. That being the case, the code you will need to type in is:-


CODE: mkvXstream


If you'd like to know more about the developers of this channel or to view their 'Site Index' for more info on how to "Add Your Video" to "Watch on Roku", then you should visit their Official Website:-


DEVELOPER'S WEBSITE: mkvXstream.com


For those of you that prefer to use Twitter for your snippets of information on current media streaming technology, Roku private channels and FREE internet TV, you can follow them at:-


DEVELOPER'S TWITTER FEED: @mkvXstream


Finally, if Facebook is more your thing, they can be found at:-


DEVELOPER'S FACEBOOK PAGE: mkvXstream


If you do decide to get social with them, please be sure to let them know that you heard about them here and tell them I said, "Hi". While you're there, remember to thank them for making their channel available to Roku users in the UK. Not forgetting it's now available in the Rest of the World, too !!


As always, if this particular channel was not your cup of tea (so-to-speak), just remember to visit this blog again in future because there will be plenty more Roku channel codes and details of other UK Roku Private Channels, Hidden Roku Channels, Roku Beta Channels and 'Other' Roku Channels... call them what you will, but you can find them all here, published alongside all the other UK Roku-related goodness on offer, via the pages of this very blog.


The aim is to provide details that are always relevant to UK Roku users, with the assurance that any Roku channel codes that are published here will always have been tested first on a UK Roku player. In this way, you know for certain that they will work on Roku streaming media players, here in the UK (at the time of publication) and that the code(s) used resulted in an 'Add Channel' screen (as shown above) when entered via a Roku Account online.


If nothing else, this latest addition to my Roku private channel database has indeed proven to me that... sometimes, all you have to do is ask. My thanks again to the kind folks at mkvXstream.com for making it happen for UK Roku users. Now, if only other channel developers would follow suit...


Then again, maybe all we have to do is ask ??!!!


So, with that in mind, if there's any particular channels that you'd like to see made available to UK Roku users, please leave your suggestions in the comments and/or do as I did and contact the developer yourself to ask them. Just be sure to share the knowledge here, if you are successful !!


Anyway, that's about it for this post. Be sure to visit this blog again soon if you want details of more Roku Private Channels UK users can add to their Roku players. Not forgetting, of course, the scoop on the very latest additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, which you will now find in our new 'Weekly RoundUp' feature (to be published every Saturday). Meanwhile, for those of you who are really into your Roku player(s), and don't want to miss a beat when it comes to Roku UK news and updates, I suggest you also follow the associated Twitter Feed for this blog: @ukrokuchannels


Stay tuned for more.


Until the next time...



That's all folks !!

It's Time To... Choose Your Roku !!

Welcome back, everyone !!


Now that you know exactly what your options are content-wise, at least from the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, it's time to decide which Roku streaming media player is right for you.


Currently, there are just TWO OPTIONS available to Roku purchasers, here in the UK. They are:-


(i) The Roku LT, and;


(ii) The Roku XS.


For the best side-by-side comparison of the two Roku models, outlined above, I recommend first looking at this guide from the official Roku UK website, to help you decide which Roku is going to be the right one for your individual needs.


To further assist you, SOME IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS you might want to factor in, are:-

(a) If you want or need a WIRED CONNECTION then it will have to be the Roku XS;

(b) If you want 1080p FULL HD functionality, then it will have to be the Roku XS;

(c) If you want a USB port to connect a portable USB drive or external USB hard drive, for the playback/viewing of your own stored media such as music (AAC and MP3 format ONLY), videos (MKV [H.264] and MP4 format ONLY) or photos (JPG and PNG format ONLY), then it will have to be the Roku XS;

(d) If you want a MicroSD card slot for additional game and channel storage memory, then it will have to be the Roku XS;

(e) If you want an enhanced Bluetooth Remote with motion control for games, rather than the regular Standard InfraRed (IR) Remote, so that your Roku player can be stored away out-of-sight yet still be fully functional, then it will have to be the Roku XS;

(f) If you want the Angry Birds video game included FREE, then it will have to be the Roku XS, and;

(g) If you would like the option of adding certain games, channels and screensavers, etc. which are only compatible with the Roku XS then, obviously, it will have to be the Roku XS.


Now, if none of the above considerations are relevant to your particular needs or situation, then by all means, save yourself a few quid and opt for the Roku LT but, for me at least, the Roku XS is the way to go because the extra outlay is minimal given the additional functionality it provides.


If you would like to look at the 'Get Started' guides for each of the players, you will find them here:-


Roku LT Quick Start Guide (UK)


and, here:-


Roku XS Quick Start Guide (UK)



These guides are well worth a look because they will give you a better idea of what is included with each player, as well as providing an insight as to what can be expected during the setup process.

It is worth noting that BOTH the Roku LT and the Roku XS are capable of WIRELESS functionality. So, if that is your preferred or (unfortunately) ONLY OPTION, then you need not worry, as either player can be set up to perform as part of a wireless network if necessary.

However, it is ONLY the Roku XS which is capable of:-

Having a WIRED CONNECTION, by virtue of the Roku XS having a built-in ethernet port, whereas (unfortunately) the Roku LT does not feature an ethernet port.

You may also like to know that BOTH the Roku LT and the Roku XS are capable of outputting the following video standards:-

480i (over composite video)
480p (over HDMI)
720p (over HDMI)

However, it is ONLY the Roku XS which is capable of:-

1080p (over HDMI)

In other words, the Roku LT is NOT CAPABLE of outputting 1080p FULL HD video, which may be a consideration for those of you hoping to take advantage of the higher quality streams available from Netflix and other channel providers.

Speaking of HD video content, there is one oversight on the part of Roku when packaging these products, in as much as they do not include an HDMI cable among the contents in the boxes for either the Roku LT or the Roku XS. For, whilst they do include a composite video cable with both players, for connection to older standard CRT television sets, an HDMI cable IS NOT INCLUDED for connection to more modern HD televisions. So, if you have an HD TV, you will need to get hold of an HDMI cable to benefit from the best output video quality from your (new) Roku player.


Another point of interest to potential purchasers may be the language options available to you when investing in a Roku player, here in the UK. You might be pleased to learn that the following languages are currently catered for by the UK version of the popular streaming media player:-

1. English;
2. Deutsch (i.e. German);
3. Español (i.e. Spanish), and;
4. Français (i.e. French)

So, if you happen to be fluent in any of those languages, you can simply configure your preferred language within the Roku Player Settings menu and customize your Roku player to function in your native tongue or perhaps your chosen second language. As with all things Roku... the choice is yours !!


Anyway, now that you've decided which Roku player is the right one for you, you are probably going to want to know HOW MUCH IS IT? and WHERE CAN I BUY IT?

For those of you interested in the Roku LT, you can obtain it from the following retailers, listed below with the cheapest total price (incl. VAT & delivery) first, and then sorted A-Z by retailer wherever the same price is offered by two or more different retailers:-

eBuyer.com................................................£49.98 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

Amazon.co.uk............................................£49.99 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

Box.co.uk...................................................£49.99 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

Currys.........................................................£49.99 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

PC World....................................................£49.99 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

Play.com.....................................................£52.95 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

Scan Computers......................................... £49.98 (incl. VAT) + £4.99 (minimum) for delivery

Maplin.........................................................£59.99 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

Alternatively, for those of you with a little more cash to splash, who may be leaning more towards the Roku XS,  it can be purchased from the following retailers, again listed with the cheapest total price (incl. VAT & delivery) first, then sorted A-Z by retailer whenever the same price is offered by two or more different retailers:-

Amazon.co.uk............................................£79.99 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

Box.co.uk...................................................£79.99 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

Currys.........................................................£79.99 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

PC World....................................................£79.99 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

Play.com.....................................................£82.39 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

Tesco Direct................................................£99.97 (incl. VAT) + £3.00 (minimum) for delivery

eBuyer.com................................................£99.99 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

Scan Computers......................................... £100.00 (incl. VAT) + £4.99 (minimum) for delivery

Maplin.........................................................£109.99 (incl. VAT) + FREE DELIVERY

I would like to point out that the above list of retailers was obtained from this page on the official Roku UK website and that the prices shown were obtained by following the various "Buy Now" links posted there. I can also verify that the prices shown were correct at the time of posting but are subject to change by the individual retailers, at any time. The official Roku "Where To Buy?" guide indicates that the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the Roku LT is currently £49.99 and for the Roku XS is currently £99.99 but, again, those prices are subject to change.

There may, of course, be other retailers or sellers for either product whose prices may be lower (or higher) than those outlined above and you are, therefore, advised to do your own research before committing to any purchase of this kind. Just let us know if you find any bargains out there !!

So, now that you know what options are available to you, all that remains is for you to take the plunge, invest in a Roku streaming media player and join the UK Roku revolution.


That's really all there is to it.


Although, having said that, I should not really end this post without first giving you...


MY TWO CENTS WORTH... because, in my humble opinion, a WIRED CONNECTION is the only way to ensure a reliable experience, particularly when watching HD content via a streaming media player. Even if you need to make the added investment in a couple of powerline adapters (at say £30-£50 for the pair) to allow for your router being in a different part of the house to where you install your Roku, I would ALWAYS RECOMMEND going with A WIRED CONNECTION for best results.


Also, the added benefit of a MicroSD card slot (included with the Roku XS) makes it worth investing in a suitable MEMORY CARD to expand the available memory on the Roku XS to enable a faster, smoother experience when navigating the User Interface (UI) on the Roku streaming media player. For best results, Roku recommends a 'Class 2' or greater MicroSD card, with a minimum of 2GB storage capacity. For the record, I use a 'Class 4' MicroSDHC card with an 8GB capacity and, especially once you've added a bunch of channels, YOU WILL NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE in the speed of the UI when used with expanded memory versus without it. Again, it may add another five or six pounds to your budget but the decrease in loading times for channels and games PLUS the increase in speed for just zipping through your channels is money well spent.


It's also worth noting that, if you were to buy the enhanced Bluetooth remote (with motion control for games) as a standalone accessory from Roku, it would likely cost you £29.99 where available. With the Roku LT priced (generally) around £49.99 and the Roku XS widely available for £79.99 (currently), it doesn't really seem like much of a saving if you opt for the Roku LT. If you think about it, with the Roku XS, you are not only getting the enhanced Bluetooth remote and the functionality afforded by it, but also 1080p FULL HD instead of just 720p, plus an ethernet port (allowing for a WIRED setup) and a USB port, as well as a MicroSD card slot for expanded channel/game memory, not to mention a FREE copy of Angry Birds, all thrown in for the same price an enhanced Bluetooth remote would be.


So, for these reasons PLUS the aforementioned considerations, I (personally) opted for the Roku XS because, although priced slightly higher, I felt the additional features and functionality warranted the increased cost. Just thought you might like to know...


Anyhow, that's definitely all I have to say on the subject for now.


The rest is up to you... and all I will ask from here on in is, "Do you Roku?", because if the answer is "Yes" then you'll be frequenting these pages on a regular basis to find out all the latest goings-on for Roku in the UK. Whereas, if the answer is "No", then you are probably not interested in the Roku player and are unlikely to be visiting these pages very often. That said, do come back every once in a while because, you never know... you may see something here which will change your mind and have you rushing out to buy a Roku player of your own, afterall.



Until the next time, then...



That's all folks !!