Saturday, December 16, 2017

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #249





Hi, everyone !!



If you happen to follow the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels to this blog, then you will already be aware that it has been another quiet week, in terms of Roku-related news... and, as a result, I only have one significant item of Roku-related news to share with you from the last seven days since my previous 'Weekly RoundUp' post was published. Fortunately for us, it was a very welcome announcement to the effect that Sky and BT have (finally) reached an agreement to share channels that will see a Roku channel developed for 'BT Sport' and the full suite of 'NowTV' passes available on BT TV boxes. The press release only mentioned NowTV Box, in reference to the 'BT Sport' app but I'm hoping (since it's effectively a Roku channel) that 'BT' will have the good sense to also submit their channel package to Roku, Inc. for inclusion on UK Roku devices. Before you get too excited though, this app is not likely to surface until 2019 which means we won't be watching 'BT Sport' on either NowTV Boxes or (as I'm hoping) on UK Roku devices for quite some time yet. Anyway, in the absence of any other news, I shall now get on with bringing you the details for all the latest new Roku channels (apps) which were released during the week since my last 'Weekly RoundUp' post! ;-) :-)


Firstly, though, I'd just like to mention (on a not entirely un-related note) that despite their finally having caught-up on the backlog of "missing" reviews: a situation which was on-going for several months prior to the publishing blackout over 'Thanksgiving', which I reported on three weeks ago, I'm sad to say that 'Roku Guide' has (once again) fallen short of compiling a complete set of reviews for the new channels released in the seven days preceding their most recent article (dated 15th December 2017). Unfortunately, this means there are 'Roku Guide' reviews "missing" for more than half of the channels that were released between 9th December 2017 and 15th December 2017. I don't know why they have missed so many of the channels but I can only imagine they must have been released too late for inclusion in their current crop of reviews. Sadly, this (once more) leaves UK users very short on additional info for those Roku apps... and, much like other posts in recent months, rather than simply regurgitate what is written in each channel description from the channel store, I'm (again) going to leave it for each of you (individually) to access those details via the built-in channel store on your Roku device(s). Needless to say, once the "missing" reviews have been published by 'Roku Guide', I will (as I have done previously) ensure that I add the relevant links to this post. Apologies (yet again) for any inconvenience that may have been caused by the absence of active links to an independent review for so many of these new apps but, like I say, it was entirely out of my hands. Meanwhile... I advise scanning the list below, to see which of the channels (if any) are likely to appeal. Then, if you go to the built-in channel store found on your Roku device, you can read the description(s) there, for precise details on your pick of the latest new Roku channels (apps) added to UK Roku devices during this past week! ;-) :-)


Anyhow... while it falls short of the epic list of fifty-plus channels from five months ago, or the equally impressive tally of forty-six channels we were treated to nine weeks ago, you will find there's still a good amount of new channels in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store this week. These latest additions include an octet of new Roku channels (apps) with "Religious" programming, as well as one half dozen extra choices for those who enjoy "Film & TV", plus a quartet of new options under "Screensavers" and a few more options for those seeking "Music" content. There is also a brace of new channels in each of the "Comedy", "International", plus "Lifestyle" and "Special Interest" genres (i.e. categories) and the odd new channel addition to the "Games", "Educational", "Fitness", "Food", "News & Weather", "Shopping" plus "Travel" categories. In fact, with such a varied selection of channels to choose from, there should be something to please most streamers here. If not, I shared details of some special offers (via social media) relating to Roku channels in the UK. If you'd like to know more about those see my Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels and while you're there maybe "Like" or "Retweet" some messages to help spread the word about Roku to others in UK and beyond! ;-) :-)


Still, back to the list... which, as always, will help you to identify the very latest apps that have been added to Roku devices in the UK. 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 UK Roku users. So, like I've said before... if you really want to know what's available channel-wise, for owners of Roku devices in the UK, you need to be reading this blog each and every week! ;-) :-)


Before I run through the new channels, however, 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 (e.g. 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 new Roku channels released between 10th December 2017 and 16th December 2017:-







OLD MOVIE NETWORK........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***


PLEASE NOTE:- That there was another (previously released) channel named 'Old Movie Network' that was originally published as far back as January 2016. You will find all of the details for that app, which was developed by 'AB Watkins', in my "Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #150" including a link to the channel description from the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store, plus another for the accompanying 'Roku Guide' review. Meanwhile, this latest channel - which also goes by the name of 'Old Movie Network' - was developed by 'Avision Media' and originally added to the channel store on U.S. Roku devices a couple of weeks ago. Having asked them to extend the channel to the UK, I'm pleased to inform you that this collection of classic movies from the early twentieth century (i.e. the early studio days), featuring vintage films from the 1930's through to the 1960's, can now be streamed on Roku devices in the UK. However, this (slight) delay in publishing to the United Kingdom means that, while the channel can still be found among those listed in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, you will have to scroll down a lot further than the current crop of channels (as shown in this article) in order to add it to your own channel selection. Of course, you could also use the built-in Roku 'Search' feature on your device(s) to find and install this channel... type in "Old Movie Network" and you'll soon see it among the results on the right of your screen. If you happen to be reading this article more than a week or two after it was originally published, then you will no longer find it in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the channel store, and I'd advise that you (instead) look for it under "Film & TV", or use the 'Search' feature as previously suggested! ;-)

ALSO:- While there is an active link to the channel description from the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store for this latest 'Old Movie Network' channel (see above, and to the left, below the channel icon) there is (currently) no active link to any 'Roku Guide' review of this channel. That said, because it is both FREE-TO-ADD and FREE-TO-VIEW on Roku devices, you can always just install it and see for yourself whether you like it... and, if not, uninstall it again - without incurring any fees. Needless to say, if a 'Roku Guide' review does get published, I will add the "missing" details to this post! ;-) :-)







KNIFE AND GUN SHOW..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SHOPPING" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***


PLEASE NOTE:- That 'Knife and Gun Show' will not be found among the latest additions in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. The reason for this is that it was originally published via the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store as far back as November 2016. So, to install it, you will have to look under "Shopping" because (despite being a new app in the UK) this channel cannot be found in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the channel store. Of course, you could also use the built-in Roku 'Search' feature on your device(s) to find and install this channel... type in "Knife and Gun Show" and you'll soon see it among the results on the right of your screen! ;-)







JUKIN VIDEO..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "COMEDY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***


PLEASE NOTE:- That this 'JukinVideo' channel will not be found among the latest additions in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. The reason for this is that it was originally published via the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store as far back as November 2016. So, to install it, you will have to look under "Comedy" because (despite being a new app in the UK) this channel cannot be found in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the channel store. Of course, you could also use the built-in Roku 'Search' feature on your device(s) to find and install this channel... type in "JukinVideo" and you will soon see it listed among the results on the right of your screen! ;-)






THE PET COLLECTIVE..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "COMEDY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***


PLEASE NOTE:- That 'The Pet Collective' channel will not be found among the latest additions in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. The reason for this is that it was originally published via the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store as far back as November 2016. So, to install it, you will have to look under "Comedy" because (despite being a new app in the UK) this channel cannot be found in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the channel store. Of course, you could also use the built-in Roku 'Search' feature on your device(s) to find and install this channel... type in "The Pet Collective" and you'll soon see it among the results on the right of your screen! ;-)







FOX BUSINESS NETWORK..................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "NEWS & WEATHER" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***


PLEASE NOTE:- That there was another (previously released) channel named 'Fox Business' which was originally published via the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store as far back as 2012. You will find all of the details for that app in the 'Roku Guide' review for the channel. However, this is a new version of the app - with a brand new User Interface (UI) plus lots of additional features & content - and, unfortunately, there is (currently) no 'Roku Guide' review for this latest incarnation. It's worth mentioning that, while the original 'Fox Business' channel was not available to UK Roku users, there is at least some limited access to the current version. The restrictions, from a UK perspective, relate to the live streams which are only available to U.S. Roku users and, even then, require a satellite or cable login to be provided in order to watch them. Nevertheless, there is ample free content that can be enjoyed by UK Roku users (or those in the USA without the required cable/satellite login details) courtesy of numerous video clips plus highlights from the most popular shows that anyone can view. Anyway, if you wish to install this 'Fox Business Network' channel, you will have to look for it under "News & Weather" because (despite being a new app in the UK) this channel cannot be found in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the channel store. Of course, you could also use the built-in Roku 'Search' feature on your device(s) to find and install this channel... just start to type in the search term: "Fox Business Network" and you'll soon see it listed among the results on the right of your screen! ;-)







SNOW SCREENSAVER..............COST: £1.49 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***






PRIME ASIA TV....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "INTERNATIONAL" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***






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

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






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

***FILED UNDER: "FITNESS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






LUCID DREAMING..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






GYANA YOGI MALAYALAM.............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






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

***FILED UNDER: "FOOD" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






UP FAITH & FAMILY.....COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






BUBBLE TROUBLE FREE..................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "GAMES" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






FUN TESTS...............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***






HANUKKAH................................COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***






MOVIES PLUS TV................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






TRASHY HORROR MOVIES....COST: FREE (with ads) / $3.99 PER MONTH (no ads) [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***


PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this 'Trashy Horror Movies' channel is FREE-TO-ADD to your Roku device(s) and can be FREE-TO-STREAM on an ad-supported basis, the channel store description states that it "May require additional fees" to access the content. However, in this case, what it means is that there is an option to enjoy this channel completely commercial-free by paying a monthly fee in the amount of $3.99 USD to do so. With the promise of "new movies every month" there might be a few horror fans among you for whom a long-term (annual) subscription of $29.99 PER YEAR could be more beneficial... not to mention offering greater savings, while getting to enjoy all those trashy horror films (ranging from great 'B-Movies' to homemade 'Z-Grade' films) entirely AD-FREE! ;-) :-)

ALSO:- While you can easily check-out the content of this channel for free (with advertisements) you might want to visit the official website for 'Trashy Horror Movies', before taking a paid subscription, to ensure that you are familiar with all of the terms & conditions, privacy policy, etc. associated with any such transactions pertaining to your use of this service. As always, I recommend that you read the associated 'Roku Guide' review (see link above) for the channel to get an independent overview of what to expect from the channel, as well as offering the chance to view a trailer for one of the movies.







EL SOL 105................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***






OUTDOORS IN THE BLUEGRASS.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "TRAVEL" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






RESTORATION CHRISTIAN CHURCH..............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






KMTV - WATCH K-POP.......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






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

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






CHRISTMAS HD.........................COST: £1.49 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***






NEW YEARS 2018.......................COST: £1.49 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***






ESPAÑA IPTV........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "INTERNATIONAL" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***






EMANU EL HOUSTON PROLER CHAPEL........................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






PARKWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH.......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






SPIRITUAL PARADISE LBS..............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






CHRISTMAS MUSIC CHANNEL.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






MEDIA BYRD GOSPEL V....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






BYRD SPIRITUAL PARADISE TV.......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






MY T BYRD SCHOOL..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***



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Anyhow, like it or not, that is your lot this week and, while it barely amounts to two thirds of the fifty channels that made it into the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store in the same time-frame, it's better to get a choice of 33 NEW CHANNELS than no new Roku apps at all... as I'm sure you will agree!?!


In any event, hopefully everyone in the UK with a Roku player managed to find something they like within the thirty-three "public" channels outlined above... or else from the "private" channels, whose access codes were "gifted" to you via the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels to this blog, at various points throughout the past few weeks. However, if you didn't find anything to add to your Roku channel selection from the assortment of channels on offer this week, you can always pay us a visit another time when, with any luck, there will be something more to your liking. After all, 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 previously, you can expect my usual summary of all the goings-on (or not) in the (severely restricted) Roku Channel Store (aka "App 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 earlier posts (as mentioned before) for all the new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store in each of the one hundred and seventy-five 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 !!





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