Hi, everyone !!
When I tell you there have been more new Roku channels added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store during the last seven days than have found their way into the "Roku Powered" App Store found on NowTV Boxes in the past four years, you will (hopefully) understand why I'm having to forego my usual round-up of Roku-specific and/or Roku-related news (if only for a few days) so that I can concentrate on getting through the list of all the latest additions channel-wise. Besides which, most of the news articles that I came across this week bore only bad news for Roku users and I'd much rather focus on the more positive aspect(s) of the week, i.e. the MASSIVE LIST of new Roku channels! :-)
You will notice, as you near the end of the list, that some of the channels have no active link to any 'Roku Guide' review. This is because they (apparently) only found time to cover just over forty of the sixty-plus channels that were added to the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store this week. Needless to say, once details of these "missing" reviews have been made known to me, I will add them to this post. Likewise, whenever I can find the time over the next few days, I will also add the few items of (mostly bad) news that came my way which was relevant to users of both Roku and NowTV devices. Meanwhile, although there are some 'Roku Guide' reviews missing, I have managed to include all of the relevant links to channel descriptions from the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store... so that any of my readers from the United States can access details for those channels that did not get covered in the latest batch of 'Roku Guide' reviews. Readers from other Roku "regions" (including the UK) will have to rely on the channel descriptions and screenshots (where available) from the built-in channel store found on their Roku devices for information, pending the addition of the reviews to this post.
Anyway, since I'm short on time, I'm going to crack-on with my summary of all the latest additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store... and there are A LOT of them, as you will soon discover! ;-) As has often been the case of late, the list begins with some channels that, despite being new to UK Roku devices, are not listed in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the Roku UK Channel Store. Blogging specifically about Roku streaming devices & other Roku-related matters, I love discovering apps like these... because they illustrate precisely why it's worth reading my 'Weekly RoundUp' posts. Any Roku users who simply rely on whatever they see listed under the "New" category in the built-in channel store of their streaming media players (to identify the latest apps for UK Roku devices) risk missing-out on channels like these altogether. 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 Roku UK users. As always... my advice, if you really want to know what's available channel-wise, for owners of Roku devices in the UK is to be sure and read this blog every week! :-)
However, before I run through the new channels, 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 (i.e. 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 the new Roku channels released between 25th June 2017 and 1st July 2017:-
NJCAA TV...............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPORTS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, since 'NJCAA TV' was originally added to the Roku USA Channel Store back in February 2017, you will not find it listed within the "New" category (genre) of the built-in channel store found on Roku devices in the UK. Instead, those wishing to install this channel from the UK will either need to use the Roku 'Search' feature, or look under "Sports" in the channel store, to locate and then add 'NJCAA TV' to the channel selection on their devices.
GLVC SPORTS NETWORK...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPORTS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, since this 'GLVC Sports Network' channel was originally added to the Roku USA Channel Store back in January 2017, you will not find it listed within the "New" category (genre) of the built-in channel store found on Roku devices in the UK. Instead those wishing to install it in the UK will need to use the Roku 'Search' feature, or look under "Sports" in the channel store, to locate and then add 'GLVC Sports Network' to the channel selection on their devices.
IWLCA TV...............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPORTS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, since 'IWLCA TV' was originally added to the Roku USA Channel Store back in March 2017, you will not find it listed within the "New" category (genre) of the built-in channel store found on Roku devices in the UK. Instead, those wishing to install this channel from the UK will either need to use the Roku 'Search' feature, or look under "Sports" in the channel store, to locate and then add 'IWLCA TV' to the channel selection on their devices.
DAMAI....................COST: FREE (2-Month Trial) + $19.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, since this 'Damai' channel was originally added to the Roku USA Channel Store back in September 2016, you will not find it listed within the "New" category (genre) of the built-in channel store found on Roku devices in the UK. Instead, those wishing to install this channel from the UK will either need to use the Roku 'Search' feature, or look under "Film & TV" in the channel store, to locate and then add this app for 'Damai' to the channel selection on their devices.
ALSO:- While the 'Damai' channel is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices, and does happen to offer a fairly generous 2-MONTH FREE TRIAL for those choosing to register an account, anyone wishing to continue with the service after the free trial period has ended will then be required to pay monthly for continued access to the content. The subsequent MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED will cost Roku users the equivalent of $19.99 PER MONTH if they are to go on enjoying the wide variety of Chinese Live TV, Chinese Movies and Chinese TV shows available to subscribers.
SO, WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT? Well, obviously, the best way to find out about this channel is to take advantage of the afore-mentioned 2-month free trial offer and judge for yourself. However, if you'd like some basic information prior to registering for the service, you can expect to find a good variety of programming, including: "Chinese news, drama, plus different genres of shows such as financial, history, food, music, educational, arts & cultural from U.S., China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan"... as well as movies and live television. The range of content on offer has been compiled from across several regions, including Hunan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and elsewhere in China. You can get a better idea of what is available thanks to a complete list of channels which was published via their website. The channel description states that there are: "No commitments. No contracts. No hidden fees. And you can cancel anytime"... but, in case of uncertainty, you'll find more information on the official website for 'Damai' (大麦中文电视）and you can also connect with them through social media, thanks to their U.S.-based FB Page:- Damai (Facebook) where I'm sure they will be only too pleased to hear from you with any further questions and or comments you may have about their service! ;-) :-)
BMV KIDS...............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
MEGARETR............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "PERSONAL MEDIA" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
TENAK TALK NETWORK....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
STRATEGY TRAINING..................COST: FREE + $349.99 (PER YEAR) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "EDUCATIONAL" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this 'Strategy Training' channel is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices and does offer a few videos that are FREE-TO-STREAM as well as an opportunity to browse the entire library of content without subscribing, AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION IS REQUIRED for anyone wishing TO GET FULL ACCESS to their content library. The (not insubstantial) yearly fee for this is going to set you back a whopping $349.99 PER YEAR for the privilege of viewing their collection of "proven business plans to create a successful and prosperous company"... so, before you subscribe, I would recommend that you first pay a visit to the official website for this 'Strategy Training' channel to assess whether a subscription to their service is right for you. As always, there is a 'Roku Guide' review available (see link above) which may provide further insight for anyone interested in what they are offering... and, in this instance, you will also find an example video plus a breakdown of the content categories that you will find within the channel. That said, given the hefty price tag associated with this channel, the folks at 'Roku Guide' were unwilling to pay-out such a large sum just to get full access for the purpose of their review. Nevertheless, what little information they were able to provide should prove useful to any Roku users wishing to avail themselves of the service(s) on offer.
LYCA TV PRO....................COST: FREE + MONTHLY FEE (VARIOUS) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this 'Lyca TV Pro' channel is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices and does offer a few videos that are FREE-TO-STREAM as well as an opportunity to browse the entire library of content without subscribing, A MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION IS REQUIRED for anyone wishing TO GET FULL ACCESS to their chosen package of channels. Since the amount you must pay-out each month will be dependent on the individual package of channels which you choose, I was unable to provide details of a specific monthly fee... but, to give you some idea, the price range for the various subscription packages on offer go FROM £4.99 TO £18.00 PER MONTH while annual payment options range FROM £79.00 TO £199.00 PER YEAR with variable savings throughout. For UK Roku users, the language selection available includes Filipino, African-French, Sinhala, Tamil and African-English, with the number of available channels varying based on your preferred choice of language. My advice, if you're interested is to visit the official website for 'Lyca TV' where you will find further information on all of the available subscription packages. Then, should you have any further questions, perhaps reach-out to 'Lyca TV' on social media via their Twitter Feed: @LycaTV or their FB Page: Lyca TV (Facebook) with any further questions and or comments you may have about their service and/or the particular channel package or language selection which interests you! ;-) :-)
BEBOP VOX............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "PERSONAL MEDIA" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
GEMPORIA LTD.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SHOPPING" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FAIRHAVEN CHURCH..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FITXATION TV.......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FITNESS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
THE NERDWRITER...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "EDUCATIONAL" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
MGM TV..................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "WEB VIDEO" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
MOVIE WINDOW...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
SCI-FI CLASSICS CHANNEL................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
RETRO MOVIE CHANNEL....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
MIDNIGHT MOVIES...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
KIDS RETRO TELEVISION...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
LATE NIGHT CLASSICS.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
MOVIES NIGHT.......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
DECENT MOVIES...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
MOVIE TRAIN..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
TOTALLY TEJANO TELEVISION..........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
DESSERT RECIPES [by iFood.TV]..........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FOOD" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FOOSBALL FREE.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "GAMES" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
SAT-7 PARS................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
SAT-7 TURK...............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
SAT-7 ARABIC, KIDS...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
RODPARSLEY.TV.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
ON TWO WHEELS....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
GEETHANJALI - HOME REMEDIES.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
GEETHANJALI NURSERY RHYMES...................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
GEETHANJALI - LEARN YOGA..........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FITNESS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
GEETHANJALI - LEARN MASSAGE..................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
HAPPYKIDS.TV EXCLUSIVES.............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
STORYFUL FEEL GOOD......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
STORYFUL KIDS....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
FESTIVA TV, RADIO & MAGAZINE....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
JESUS LIVE TV.........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
CASA DO LÍDER..........................................COST: £13.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
REEL ACTORS..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FREE COMEDY MOVIES........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "COMEDY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
HOME TOWN MOVIES.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
FREE ACTION MOVIES..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FREE CRIME MOVIES............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
CLASSIC ERA MOVIES..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FREE ROMANCE MOVIES.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
FREE DRAMA MOVIES..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
GARLIC.....................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
GAME INNOVATOR................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "WEB VIDEO" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
THE WAYBACK CARTOON MACHINE..............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***