UK Roku Channels

Hi, everyone !!

Despite the fact that my blog has been back up & running for a month or so now... and I'm once more posting regularly again, after having been locked-out of Blogger for three months (by Google) - as explained in a previous post - I still find myself to be very much under pressure, time-wise, due to my extra blogging workload for the "Countdown To Hallowe'en" 2016. So, while I originally suggested (in an earlier 'Weekly RoundUp' post) that everything was "...set to continue as normal from Saturday 15th October 2016", it didn't quite pan-out for me as I had hoped and I'm having to continue leaving "marker" posts, for now, which I will then finish off once this month-long blogathon has ended. Until that time, my 'Weekly RoundUp' posts will continue to comprise little more than channel icons for any new additions released in each of the given weeks. I will then add the usual links for the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store descriptions, plus their associated 'Roku Guide' reviews (where available), as well as adding belated info for any Roku-related news from each seven-day period... thus ensuring that everything appears just as it would have, had it been published at the correct time! ;-)

Anyway, here's the channel icons for all new additions released from 23rd to 29th October 2016. As with other recent 'Weekly RoundUp' posts, I'll flesh-out the remaining information at a later date. Again, please accept my apologies for the delay but, like I said before, it's entirely circumstantial...

HORROR HOTEL..................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

HAUNTED HALLOWEEN WINDOW 2...............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

FLOSPORTS....................COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OLD SCHOOL TELEVISION...............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

FINANCIAL CHANNEL........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

DOG eDAYCARE...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SUPERCANAL...............................................COST: £6.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

CHECKERS......................................................COST: £0.69 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

LUCY SHOW..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SING AND SPELL.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

OPTIMA NETWORK............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

GRACEPOINT CHURCH..................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

NAIJA MUSIC........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

THE REEL SHOW..................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ANTIQUE TREASURES CHANNEL...................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

NATURE VISION TV.............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

HAPPYKIDS 3 [by HappyKids.TV]......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

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

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

DW...............................COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

INDIE FILM SCHOOL...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ETERNAL LIFE TELEVISION.............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

SEEVII SERIES.......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

H2O............................................................COST: £0.69 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

COILBOOK - ENGLISH........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

COILBOOK - SPANISH.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

MEDITERRANEAN COOKING....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

MOV!................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

LA FENIX........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

Welcome back, Boils & Ghouls...

... to 'Day Twenty-Nine' of "A Cinematic History of Horror for Hallowe'en On Roku" in which I'll bring you my next batch of fright flicks from the enormous back-catalogue of macabre movies that have been thrilling cinema-goers for more than a century and can now be streamed to your television sets via the magic of Roku player - so, let's dim down those lights... and get us some frights! :-O

If you read my special hallowe'en blogathon preview - FOUND HERE - which I published at the end of September, then you'll know that I plan to post one Hallowe'en / Horror related article each day, throughout the month of October, and to feature one horror movie per year from cinematic history, starting in 1895 and ending in 2016. This should average out at about four films per day, so you'll have plenty of choice for your macabre movie viewing as we count down the days to Hallowe'en! ;-)

To get things started, in the first week of this blogathon, we went all the way back to the end of the 19th century for some of the earliest horror cinema ever recorded. The movies on day one were from 1895 - 1898 (inclusive) and featured beheadings, vampires, skeletons and nightmarish dreams. For my second article on day two of this series, I shared four films (one for each year) from 1899 - 1902 (inclusive) and those featured ghostly apparitions, aliens and selenites, plus a visit from the devil to a convent. In my next post on day three, I shared four films (again, one for each year) from 1903 - 1906 (inclusive) and those featured impish devils, demons and ghost brides, plus a man who practices entomology being pinned to a cork like an insect. For my fourth article on day four in this series of posts, I shared four more films (one for each year) from 1907 - 1910 (inclusive) which featured evil spectres, haunted houses, plus the first filmed version of the story of Frankenstein's monster. Following that post, on day five, I shared four films (again, one per year) from 1911 - 1914 (inclusive) and those were all based on works of literature by either Dante Alighieri, Robert Louis Stevenson or Edgar Allan Poe. Next up, on day six, four more films were shared (one for each year) from 1915 - 1918 (inclusive) and those included one about a spooky portrait, another about the victim of a kidnapping, plus a Faustian tale told from a female perspective and another about an artificial creature produced by a mad scientist. For my next post, on day seven, I (again) shared four more films (one for each year) from 1919 - 1922 (inclusive) and those featured an epic account of the horrors of war, plus tales of vampires and phantom carriages, as well as a hypnotist who used a somnambulist to commit acts of murder!

To kick-off the second week of my month-long blogathon, on day eight of this series, I shared another four films (again, one per year) from 1923 - 1926 (inclusive) and those included tales of hunchbacks, phantoms, and a pact with the devil plus a pianist whose hands were replaced by those of a murderer (following a train accident) after which he discovered they had a will of their own! Then for my next post, on day nine, I shared four films (one for each year) from 1927 - 1930 (inclusive) and those included a truly stunning "mood piece" based on the work of Edgar Allen Poe, along with the story of a master criminal who terrorized the occupants of an isolated country mansion, plus the creepiest, spookiest, mystery melodrama ever produced, with an early animated horror short thrown in for good measure. After that, on day ten, I shared four more films (again, one for each year) from 1931 - 1934 (inclusive) and those told various tales of terror, including: two American honeymooners trapped in the home of a Satan-worshipping priest, a colossal gorilla hitting the heights in New York with a movie starlet, a tale of love between a siren, a giant and a dwarf from a circus sideshow, plus the story of the strangest passion the world has ever known! Following on from there, on day eleven, I shared four more films (one per year, as before) from 1935 - 1938 (inclusive) and those featured the story of an escaped convict who used miniaturized humans to wreak vengeance on those that framed him, more tales of the horrors of war, and a Chinese ghost story (of sorts) plus the film which, when first released, was billed as the super shocker of the twentieth century! In the subsequent post, which I made on day twelve, four more films were shared (one per year) from 1939 - 1942 (inclusive) featuring strange creatures such as Werewolves, Cat People and The Hound of the Baskervilles, as well as some light-hearted comic relief (of the horror variety) courtesy of Bob Hope! Yesterday... the four films that I shared, on day thirteen, were from 1943 - 1946 (inclusive) and there was (again) one film per year - as there has been for each of my previous posts from this series. That batch of macabre movies included films about ghosts, zombies, and severed hands, plus what is widely believed to be the forerunner of all the horror anthology films that would follow it - a British film, from Ealing Studios! Yesterday, on day fourteen, I shared four more films spanning the years from 1947 to 1950 (inclusive) with one movie per year (as previously) Those included faceless killers, hidden secrets and a tale of human avarice, plus further light-hearted comedy (of the 'tongue-in-cheek' horror variety) courtesy of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello!

Then, as we entered week three of this month-long blogathon... on day fifteen, I shared another four films (again, one for each year) from 1951 - 1954 (inclusive) and those featured a dinosaur-like beast out to destroy the world, an artist (out for revenge) who created wax sculptures from human cadavers, a woman who visited her local shaman and was turned into a white reindeer vampire, plus... the tale of the thing that turns your blood ice-cold, as it creeps and crawls, then strikes without warning! For my next post, on day sixteen, I shared four more (one film per year) from 1955 - 1958 (inclusive) and those included the tale of of a sadistic boarding school headmaster whose wife & mistress plotted to kill him, another about a doctor with a demonic curse put upon him by a devil cult leader, and one from Hammer Films involving Count Dracula, plus the extraordinary tale of the most awesome fate that ever happened to earth people... with the invasion of the body snatchers from another world! For the next post, on day seventeen, I shared another four films (one for each year) from 1959 - 1962 (inclusive) and those featured a "Haunted House" party where the guests had to spend their night with ghosts, murderers, and other terrors, and; the tale of a woman, caught in a storm while driving, who got off the highway and pulled into a remote motel managed by a quiet young man who seemed to be dominated by his mother, and; another based on a ghost story written by Henry James, wherein a woman experiencing apparitions had to confront the evil spirits & exorcise the demons head on, plus one more story... "so unusual, it will burn itself into your mind"! After that, on day eighteen, I shared four more films (again, one per year) from 1963 - 1966 (inclusive) and those included tales of ravens, repulsion, The Red Death and a Gothic horror from Mario Bava! Following on from there... for my next post, on day nineteen, I shared four films (one for each year) from 1967 - 1970 (inclusive) which featured a tale about a group of people beset by flesh-eating zombies, as well as the second part of the "Coffin Joe" trilogy - featuring more possessed corpses and sadistic practices, and another about a demented cremator who enjoys reading the Tibetan book of the dead, plus a surreal tale in which love, fear, sex and religion merge into one fantastic world! The next post in this series, on day twenty, featured four more films (one per year) from 1971 - 1974 (inclusive) and those included a film which is widely considered to be the "grandfather" of the modern slasher, as well as a mystery surrounding a series of child killings in a remote southern Italian town, and the story of a teenage girl possessed by a mysterious entity, whose mother sought the help of two priests in order to save her, plus the tale of some youngsters who had the misfortune to meet a family of cannibalistic psychopaths! After that... on day twenty-one, came four more films (again, one for each year) from 1975 - 1978 (inclusive) and those included the tale of a high school senior who unleashed the full extent of her telekinetic powers on the classmates that humiliated her, as well as an account of a series of grisly murders at a ballet academy involving a coven of witches, and the tale of a psycho-killer who, having been in a mental hospital for 15 years (after stabbing his sister to death), broke-out and returned to his home town, just in time for Halloween... plus a story about a Great White shark, menacing the small community of Amity Island, which attacked people as they enjoyed the water at the beach!

As we began week four of this month-long blogathon, on day twenty-two, I shared four more films (one for each year) from 1979 - 1982 (inclusive) and those included stories of mysterious alien life-forms, and evil spirits causing mid-winter havoc for the caretaker-manager & his family in an isolated hotel, as well as five friends who must fight for their lives when flesh-possessing demons are unleashed upon them, as they vacation in a remote cabin, plus the crew of an isolated U.S. research station in Antarctica, who must endure the ultimate in alien terror! After that, on day twenty-three, I shared another four films with you (again, one per year) from 1983-1986 (inclusive). Those included tales of a sleazy cable-TV programmer who began to see his life spin out of control in a very unusual fashion when he acquired a new kind of programming for his station, as well as a group of friends being hunted by a serial killer murdering victims in their dreams, and a dedicated student at a medical college who became involved in bizarre experiments to re-animate dead tissue when an odd new student arrived on campus, plus the story of a brilliant but eccentric scientist who began to transform into a man / fly hybrid after one of his experiments took an unexpected turn! Following on from there, on day twenty-four, I shared four more films with you (one for each year) from 1987-1990 (inclusive). Those featured a strange puzzle box that (once unlocked) let loose some sadomasochistic creatures which took great pleasure in ensnaring human victims to toy with, as well as some special sunglasses which enabled the wearer to see the world as it really was (including how some people were, in fact, aliens) and that there was a grand scheme to keep humans subdued, and another story about a bizarre character with an insane compulsion to stick pieces of scrap metal into his body and the bodies of those who had wronged him, plus the tale of a best-selling novelist who was rescued from a car crash only to be held captive and abused by his "number one fan" who became even more unhinged on discovering the heroine in those novels had been killed-off by the author! The next batch of four films, on day twenty-five, included one film per year from 1991 - 1994 (inclusive) and those featured stories of a young F.B.I. cadet who confided in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help in catching another serial killer, a vampire from eastern Europe who came to England and began a reign of seduction and terror, as well as a mysterious device (designed to provide its owner with eternal life) which resurfaced after four hundred years... leaving a trail of destruction in its path, plus a "Cemetery Man" who had to kill the dead for a second time, when his graveyard was overrun by zombies! For my next post in this month-long series, on day twenty-six, I shared four more films (again, one for each year) from 1995 - 1998 (inclusive). These included the story of two detectives, one a rookie and the other a veteran, who were hunting a serial killer that used the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi, and a teenage girl who, one year after the murder of her mother, was then terrorised (along with her friends) by a new killer, using horror films as part of his deadly game, as well as six strangers who were involuntarily placed in an endless Kafka-esque maze of deadly traps, plus a tale involving the ghost of a seer's daughter, herself ruthlessly murdered by her psychic father, who inexplicably killed all those that watch a mysterious video tape, unless they broke the curse before seven days had passed! After that, on day twenty-seven, came another batch of four films (one per year, as before) from 1999 - 2002 (inclusive) and those featured a psychological thriller about some film students who visited the Black Hills in Maryland (USA) to make a documentary about a local legend, and a film which focused on the difficult relationship between the director and lead actor in a well-known silent era vampire film, as well as the tale of a woman and two children living in a haunted mansion in the Channel Islands, plus the story of how some scientific research led to a viral outbreak, which left the surrounding area inhabited by a horde of zombie-like humans who caused mass carnage & horror everywhere! Following that, on day twenty-eight, I shared four more films with you (again, one per year) from 2003 - 2006 (inclusive). Those included a tale of two sisters (and I meant that quite literally) who were haunted by the tragedies of multiple deaths within their family, as well as a mystery thriller about the sadistic "Jigsaw Killer" who played a game of death with his victims in which every piece had a puzzle, and the story of a caving expedition that went horribly wrong, when the explorers became trapped and, ultimately, pursued by a strange breed of predator, plus a monster that emerged from Seoul's Han River and started killing people! :-O

As we begin week five of this month-long blogathon, with only a few more days remaining until we reach Halloween (and the end of this series of posts), I plan to share four more films (one per year) from 2007 - 2010 (inclusive). These are set to include the story of a young couple who, after moving into their new suburban home, become increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence, as well as the tale of an overlooked and bullied boy, Oskar, who finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful girl with the characteristics of a vampire, who gives him the strength to hit back... and a girl who takes on the job of baby-sitting for a couple that practice satanism in the suburbs, plus a man who abandons all compassion to take bloody vengeance on a dangerous psychopath serial killer - who murdered his fiancée in such a diabolical way - even if it means becoming a monster himself!

Welcome back, Boils & Ghouls...

... to 'Day Thirty' of "A Cinematic History of Horror for Hallowe'en On Roku" in which I'll bring you my next batch of fright flicks from the enormous back-catalogue of macabre movies that have been thrilling cinema-goers for more than a century and can now be streamed to your television sets via the magic of Roku player - so, let's dim down the lights... and enjoy some more frights! :-O

If you read my special hallowe'en blogathon preview - FOUND HERE - which I published at the end of September, then you'll know that I plan to post one Hallowe'en / Horror related article each day, throughout the month of October, and to feature one horror movie per year from cinematic history, starting in 1895 and ending in 2016. This should average out at about four films per day, so you'll have plenty of choice for your macabre movie viewing as we count down the days to Hallowe'en! ;-)

To get things started, in the first week of this blogathon, we went all the way back to the end of the 19th century for some of the earliest horror cinema ever recorded. The movies on day one were from 1895 - 1898 (inclusive) and featured beheadings, vampires, skeletons and nightmarish dreams. For my second article on day two of this series, I shared four films (one for each year) from 1899 - 1902 (inclusive) and those featured ghostly apparitions, aliens and selenites, plus a visit from the devil to a convent. In my next post on day three, I shared four films (again, one for each year) from 1903 - 1906 (inclusive) and those featured impish devils, demons and ghost brides, plus a man who practices entomology being pinned to a cork like an insect. For my fourth article on day four in this series of posts, I shared four more films (one for each year) from 1907 - 1910 (inclusive) which featured evil spectres, haunted houses, plus the first filmed version of the story of Frankenstein's monster. Following that post, on day five, I shared four films (again, one per year) from 1911 - 1914 (inclusive) and those were all based on works of literature by either Dante Alighieri, Robert Louis Stevenson or Edgar Allan Poe. Next up, on day six, four more films were shared (one for each year) from 1915 - 1918 (inclusive) and those included one about a spooky portrait, another about the victim of a kidnapping, plus a Faustian tale told from a female perspective and another about an artificial creature produced by a mad scientist. For my next post, on day seven, I (again) shared four more films (one for each year) from 1919 - 1922 (inclusive) and those featured an epic account of the horrors of war, plus tales of vampires and phantom carriages, as well as a hypnotist who used a somnambulist to commit acts of murder!

To kick-off the second week of my month-long blogathon, on day eight of this series, I shared another four films (again, one per year) from 1923 - 1926 (inclusive) and those included tales of hunchbacks, phantoms, and a pact with the devil plus a pianist whose hands were replaced by those of a murderer (following a train accident) after which he discovered they had a will of their own! Then for my next post, on day nine, I shared four films (one for each year) from 1927 - 1930 (inclusive) and those included a truly stunning "mood piece" based on the work of Edgar Allen Poe, along with the story of a master criminal who terrorized the occupants of an isolated country mansion, plus the creepiest, spookiest, mystery melodrama ever produced, with an early animated horror short thrown in for good measure. After that, on day ten, I shared four more films (again, one for each year) from 1931 - 1934 (inclusive) and those told various tales of terror, including: two American honeymooners trapped in the home of a Satan-worshipping priest, a colossal gorilla hitting the heights in New York with a movie starlet, a tale of love between a siren, a giant and a dwarf from a circus sideshow, plus the story of the strangest passion the world has ever known! Following on from there, on day eleven, I shared four more films (one per year, as before) from 1935 - 1938 (inclusive) and those featured the story of an escaped convict who used miniaturized humans to wreak vengeance on those that framed him, more tales of the horrors of war, and a Chinese ghost story (of sorts) plus the film which, when first released, was billed as the super shocker of the twentieth century! In the subsequent post, which I made on day twelve, four more films were shared (one per year) from 1939 - 1942 (inclusive) featuring strange creatures such as Werewolves, Cat People and The Hound of the Baskervilles, as well as some light-hearted comic relief (of the horror variety) courtesy of Bob Hope! Yesterday... the four films that I shared, on day thirteen, were from 1943 - 1946 (inclusive) and there was (again) one film per year - as there has been for each of my previous posts from this series. That batch of macabre movies included films about ghosts, zombies, and severed hands, plus what is widely believed to be the forerunner of all the horror anthology films that would follow it - a British film, from Ealing Studios! Yesterday, on day fourteen, I shared four more films spanning the years from 1947 to 1950 (inclusive) with one movie per year (as previously) Those included faceless killers, hidden secrets and a tale of human avarice, plus further light-hearted comedy (of the 'tongue-in-cheek' horror variety) courtesy of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello!

Then, as we entered week three of this month-long blogathon... on day fifteen, I shared another four films (again, one for each year) from 1951 - 1954 (inclusive) and those featured a dinosaur-like beast out to destroy the world, an artist (out for revenge) who created wax sculptures from human cadavers, a woman who visited her local shaman and was turned into a white reindeer vampire, plus... the tale of the thing that turns your blood ice-cold, as it creeps and crawls, then strikes without warning! For my next post, on day sixteen, I shared four more (one film per year) from 1955 - 1958 (inclusive) and those included the tale of of a sadistic boarding school headmaster whose wife & mistress plotted to kill him, another about a doctor with a demonic curse put upon him by a devil cult leader, and one from Hammer Films involving Count Dracula, plus the extraordinary tale of the most awesome fate that ever happened to earth people... with the invasion of the body snatchers from another world! For the next post, on day seventeen, I shared another four films (one for each year) from 1959 - 1962 (inclusive) and those featured a "Haunted House" party where the guests had to spend their night with ghosts, murderers, and other terrors, and; the tale of a woman, caught in a storm while driving, who got off the highway and pulled into a remote motel managed by a quiet young man who seemed to be dominated by his mother, and; another based on a ghost story written by Henry James, wherein a woman experiencing apparitions had to confront the evil spirits & exorcise the demons head on, plus one more story... "so unusual, it will burn itself into your mind"! After that, on day eighteen, I shared four more films (again, one per year) from 1963 - 1966 (inclusive) and those included tales of ravens, repulsion, The Red Death and a Gothic horror from Mario Bava! Following on from there... for my next post, on day nineteen, I shared four films (one for each year) from 1967 - 1970 (inclusive) which featured a tale about a group of people beset by flesh-eating zombies, as well as the second part of the "Coffin Joe" trilogy - featuring more possessed corpses and sadistic practices, and another about a demented cremator who enjoys reading the Tibetan book of the dead, plus a surreal tale in which love, fear, sex and religion merge into one fantastic world! The next post in this series, on day twenty, featured four more films (one per year) from 1971 - 1974 (inclusive) and those included a film which is widely considered to be the "grandfather" of the modern slasher, as well as a mystery surrounding a series of child killings in a remote southern Italian town, and the story of a teenage girl possessed by a mysterious entity, whose mother sought the help of two priests in order to save her, plus the tale of some youngsters who had the misfortune to meet a family of cannibalistic psychopaths! After that... on day twenty-one, came four more films (again, one for each year) from 1975 - 1978 (inclusive) and those included the tale of a high school senior who unleashed the full extent of her telekinetic powers on the classmates that humiliated her, as well as an account of a series of grisly murders at a ballet academy involving a coven of witches, and the tale of a psycho-killer who, having been in a mental hospital for 15 years (after stabbing his sister to death), broke-out and returned to his home town, just in time for Halloween... plus a story about a Great White shark, menacing the small community of Amity Island, which attacked people as they enjoyed the water at the beach!

As we began week four of this month-long blogathon, on day twenty-two, I shared four more films (one for each year) from 1979 - 1982 (inclusive) and those included stories of mysterious alien life-forms, and evil spirits causing mid-winter havoc for the caretaker-manager & his family in an isolated hotel, as well as five friends who must fight for their lives when flesh-possessing demons are unleashed upon them, as they vacation in a remote cabin, plus the crew of an isolated U.S. research station in Antarctica, who must endure the ultimate in alien terror! After that, on day twenty-three, I shared another four films with you (again, one per year) from 1983-1986 (inclusive). Those included tales of a sleazy cable-TV programmer who began to see his life spin out of control in a very unusual fashion when he acquired a new kind of programming for his station, as well as a group of friends being hunted by a serial killer murdering victims in their dreams, and a dedicated student at a medical college who became involved in bizarre experiments to re-animate dead tissue when an odd new student arrived on campus, plus the story of a brilliant but eccentric scientist who began to transform into a man / fly hybrid after one of his experiments took an unexpected turn! Following on from there, on day twenty-four, I shared four more films with you (one for each year) from 1987-1990 (inclusive). Those featured a strange puzzle box that (once unlocked) let loose some sadomasochistic creatures which took great pleasure in ensnaring human victims to toy with, as well as some special sunglasses which enabled the wearer to see the world as it really was (including how some people were, in fact, aliens) and that there was a grand scheme to keep humans subdued, and another story about a bizarre character with an insane compulsion to stick pieces of scrap metal into his body and the bodies of those who had wronged him, plus the tale of a best-selling novelist who was rescued from a car crash only to be held captive and abused by his "number one fan" who became even more unhinged on discovering the heroine in those novels had been killed-off by the author! The next batch of four films, on day twenty-five, included one film per year from 1991 - 1994 (inclusive) and those featured stories of a young F.B.I. cadet who confided in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help in catching another serial killer, a vampire from eastern Europe who came to England and began a reign of seduction and terror, as well as a mysterious device (designed to provide its owner with eternal life) which resurfaced after four hundred years... leaving a trail of destruction in its path, plus a "Cemetery Man" who had to kill the dead for a second time, when his graveyard was overrun by zombies! For my next post in this month-long series, on day twenty-six, I shared four more films (again, one for each year) from 1995 - 1998 (inclusive). These included the story of two detectives, one a rookie and the other a veteran, who were hunting a serial killer that used the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi, and a teenage girl who, one year after the murder of her mother, was then terrorised (along with her friends) by a new killer, using horror films as part of his deadly game, as well as six strangers who were involuntarily placed in an endless Kafka-esque maze of deadly traps, plus a tale involving the ghost of a seer's daughter, herself ruthlessly murdered by her psychic father, who inexplicably killed all those that watch a mysterious video tape, unless they broke the curse before seven days had passed! After that, on day twenty-seven, came another batch of four films (one per year, as before) from 1999 - 2002 (inclusive) and those featured a psychological thriller about some film students who visited the Black Hills in Maryland (USA) to make a documentary about a local legend, and a film which focused on the difficult relationship between the director and lead actor in a well-known silent era vampire film, as well as the tale of a woman and two children living in a haunted mansion in the Channel Islands, plus the story of how some scientific research led to a viral outbreak, which left the surrounding area inhabited by a horde of zombie-like humans who caused mass carnage & horror everywhere! Following that, on day twenty-eight, I shared four more films with you (again, one per year) from 2003 - 2006 (inclusive). Those included a tale of two sisters (and I meant that quite literally) who were haunted by the tragedies of multiple deaths within their family, as well as a mystery thriller about the sadistic "Jigsaw Killer" who played a game of death with his victims in which every piece had a puzzle, and the story of a caving expedition that went horribly wrong, when the explorers became trapped and, ultimately, pursued by a strange breed of predator, plus a monster that emerged from Seoul's Han River and started killing people! :-O

As we began week five of this month-long blogathon, on day twenty-nine, I shared four more films (one for each year) from 2007 - 2010 (inclusive). Those included the story of a young couple who, after moving into their new suburban home, became increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence, as well as the tale of an overlooked and bullied boy, Oskar, who found love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful girl with the characteristics of a vampire, who gave him the strength to hit back... and a girl who took a job baby-sitting for a couple that practiced satanism in the suburbs, plus a man who abandoned all compassion to take bloody vengeance on a dangerous serial killer that had murdered his fiancée - even if it meant becoming a monster himself! All of which brings us rather nicely to this post... wherein I plan to share another four films (again, one per year) from 2011 - 2014 (inclusive). These are set to include... well, if you read on, you'll find out soon enough! ;-)

HAPPY HALLOWE'EN, EVERYBODY !!!!!!!

Well, Boils & Ghouls... the BIG DAY has arrived !! Yes, October 31st is here at last and FINALLY we can REALLY get into the spirit of things (ahem!) and celebrate HALLOWE'EN in fine style !! Of course, this also means that the Countdown To Hallowe'en 2016 is now over, and this will be the last post in the month-long blogathon that was "A Cinematic History of Horror for Hallowe'en On Roku"!

So, let's begin 'Day Thirty-One' of "A Cinematic History of Horror for Hallowe'en On Roku" by bringing you my last batch of fright flicks from the enormous back-catalogue of macabre movies that have been thrilling cinema-goers for more than a century and can now be streamed to your television sets via the magic of Roku player - and then dim down the lights... to enjoy all those frights! :-O

If you read my special hallowe'en blogathon preview - FOUND HERE - which I published at the end of September, then you'll know I have been posting one Hallowe'en / Horror related article each day, throughout the month of October, each featuring one horror movie per year from cinematic history, starting in 1895 and ending in 2016. This averaged out at about four films per day, until now, but there's only two more years (as well as films) left to go. Even so, you'll have plenty of choice for macabre movie viewing as we enjoy "A Cinematic History of Horror for Hallowe'en on Roku"! ;-)

*********************************************

Our first movie today is a feature-length film from the USA, directed by David Robert Mitchell, and first released in 2015 under the title of "It Follows"... while based on an original screenplay that was also written by the director. This horror mystery movie tells the tale of Jay Height (Maika Monroe)... a nineteen year-old girl for whom Autumn was supposed to be about school, boys and week-ends out at the lake. But, after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, she finds herself plagued by strange visions and the inescapable sense that someone, or something, is following her. Faced with this burden, Jay and her friends must find a way to escape the horrors of this unknown supernatural force, which seems to always be no more than a few steps behind them at any time, wherever they go!

Hi, everyone !!

As is often the case, for the "long-suffering" and "hard done-by" Roku users of the UK, there hasn't been much Roku-related news, during the past seven days - since my last 'Weekly RoundUp' post was published - but details for what little there was, amounting to little more than one or two (device dependent) new features in the 'Settings' menu (with the update to Roku OS 7.5 being rolled-out), will have to wait... while I look into the specifics, before commenting further. Feel free to have a poke around in the 'Settings' menu of your own device(s) - or read the release notes published by Roku - to see what (if any) "improvements" were made to your Roku player(s). Thankfully, however, we have been blessed with an above-average crop of new channel additions to occupy our time. That said... you will notice, when you browse the current list, that there are seven channels (near the very end) which (currently) have no active links to 'Roku Guide' reviews. This is because they were only added to the "New" category of the "Official" Roku (USA) Web Channel Store after the weekly publishing deadline for the current batch of reviews (published via the 'Roku Guide' website) had passed.

Needless to say, you can expect the "missing" reviews to be added to this post once they do become available. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that these channels are already available to Roku owners in the USA (as evidenced by their inclusion in the Roku web channel store) and readers of this blog from the United States can follow the links provided below (and to the left of) these, plus each and every other channel icon listed here, to view their respective channel descriptions... until such a time as the "missing" reviews do get published via the 'Roku Guide' website.

Unfortunately, Roku UK users are still subject to restrictions (imposed by Roku) and (bizarrely) remain unable to access the channel descriptions in the web channel store on the Roku (USA) website. That said, the majority of the text from those web store descriptions can also be found within the individual channel 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 you 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 below and (instead) rely on the link to the right (below each channel icon) which will redirect you to an 'Roku Guide' review for additional details on each channel. As it stands, the links below (and to the left of) each channel icon are (currently) only of use to readers of this blog from the USA. This means 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 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 which were released between 30th October and 5th November 2016:-

GREAT BIG STORY..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

MVC (THE MUSIC VIDEO CHANNEL).............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

DAVE CLARKE's WHITENOISE.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

4KUNIVERSE.................COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

LEO TRAINING....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SPUD's DRAMA CHANNEL................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

INDIE MUSIC SCENE..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

KY BASKETBALL TV.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ROLLER HOCKEY TV.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

BLUE SCREEN ROMANCE................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

GV TV GREAT VIEW TELEVISION...................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ERIC THE CAR GUY............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

GUILTY SEASON ONE........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

HTML5 FOR BEGINNING BEGINNERS............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

CONGDON MINISTRIES.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, since this "Vintage TV" channel is not (currently) available within the Roku USA Channel Store, the link provided above will take you to the official UK website for the company, instead of the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store description... as would be the norm. For those who may not be familiar with "Vintage TV" it was founded by David Pick, and first launched as a television channel on 1st September 2010. Since then, it has established itself as "the music-lover’s TV channel of choice"... and now has a following of over ten million UK adult viewers every month. They produce some 30 hours of original shows each month, filming both 20th century music artists and emerging talent, inspired by earlier generations & their sounds. The folks at Vintage TV describe themselves as: "a destination channel for music of quality and longevity; a vital, unique offering for those who grew up with the many vintage artists still touring and recording, and younger audiences whose musical appreciation includes the best sounds of any decade".

Broadcast from the UK, Vintage TV is available on Eurobird 1 at 28.8 degrees East, Transponder: C1 Upper, Frequency: 11264 H, SR: 27.5 Msym, FEC: 2/3 and can be enjoyed for free on Sky 369, Freeview 82, Virgin 343, Freesat 505 and BT / TalkTalk 82. Vintage TV's 24/7 schedule includes intimate live sessions, concerts, exclusive artist interviews, festivals, album review shows and a unique archive of vintage videos... much of which is now available "on-demand" to UK Roku users. In addition to their Roku channel, the company also has both iOS and Android apps for mobile devices... which are obtainable via the links below:-

FREE DOWNLOAD: of iOS App for Apple Mobile Devices [from iTunes UK App Store]

FREE DOWNLOAD: of Android App for Mobile Devices [from the Google Play Store]

For anyone wishing to connect with them via social media, they have a Twitter Feed: @VintageTV and FB Page: Vintage TV (Facebook) where I am sure they will be only to answer any further questions you may have about their new Roku channel and/or other aspects of their business! :-)

PLEASE ALSO NOTE:- That despite my reaching-out to 'Vintage TV', via Twitter, when their Roku channel was launched on 3rd November 2016... to request a copy of their Roku channel icon (also known as an 'HD Poster' by developers) nothing was forthcoming. Consequently, the above image (of their regular logo) has been substituted for this post (on a temporary basis) until the correct image is provided by the developer of this channel. In fairness, the folks at 'Vintage TV' did endeavour to get the 'HD Poster' for me but (unfortunately) were unable to provide me with it ahead of my publishing deadline this weekend. Needless to say, as soon as I have received the correct image from them, I will replace the above (temporary) channel icon. That said, the company logo (shown above) does form the main focus of the actual 'HD Poster' (or, "channel icon", if you prefer) and you should, therefore, be able to easily recognise the 'Vintage TV' app in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store from that. Apologies for any inconvenience which may have been caused by it's absence in the meantime! ;-)

OPERACIÓN REPO..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ISLAND TV NETWORK................................COST: £6.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

CELEBRATION NETWORK................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

AFRICA24 MUSIC................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

KINETICS SPLASH..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

JAVASCRIPT CRASH COURSE...........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SCI & TECH" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

THE WEB DEV SHOW.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SCI & TECH" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY RADIO & TV...........................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

STEVENSON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS.........................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

CELEBRITY ACTION NETWORK......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

VATV (VIEW AFRICA TV)..................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

THE MIDNIGHT MOVIE PALACE.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SILENT MOVIES..................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

Hi, everyone !!

Further to my comments about the recent update to Roku OS 7.5 - from my last 'Weekly RoundUp' - which amounted to little more than one or two (device dependent) new features in the 'Settings' menu there has since been another (minor) build update, within Roku OS 7.5, that saw the software on my 'Roku 3' devices change from "Build 4092" to "Build 4096", as evidenced by the screenshot below:-

In so far as I can tell, there were no major changes with this build... and, as is common following an update to the Roku OS, it's likely this was solely to address a few minor bugs with the new software. That said, there's still no sign of my being able to control the volume of my TV using the buttons on my enhanced Roku remote (supplied with 'Roku 3' models) as was promised in the release notes for Roku OS 7.5 - and, worse still, my (previously) functioning basic HDMI-CEC ability to power-up my TV and switch to the source input for my Roku with any button press on my remote has now gone! Seems the old adage of, "...if it ain't broke, don't fix it", clearly passed the Roku software engineers by when it came to putting this new OS together! :-/ Anyway, I'd love to hear from anyone else who has experienced this (or any other) issue further to this latest software update, so do leave a comment below if this affected you in any way. Meanwhile, like I said before, I plan to look into the specifics of this update in much greater detail (before commenting further) so please feel free to have a poke around in the 'Settings' menu of your own device(s) - or read the release notes published by Roku - to see what (if any) "improvements" were made to your Roku player(s) and let me know what you find.

Software issues aside, we have (again) been blessed with an above-average crop of new channel additions to occupy our time. Among them is a brand new music and entertainment channel, found in the "Film & TV" genre, featuring no less than seven sub-channels... all of which are from the UK: The Box, Box Upfront, Box Hits, 4Music, Kiss, Magic, and Kerrang! If that's not enough for you... they have also curated an amazing selection of on-demand music and entertainment shows, as well as viral videos from their new digital channel, BeBox! When you browse through the list of new apps, aside from there being some pretty good Roku channels on offer this week, you will notice that there are two channels (towards the end) which (currently) have no active links to 'Roku Guide' reviews. This was because they were UK-only channels... although that could (possibly) change in future!?! ;-)

Meanwhile, Roku UK users are still subject to restrictions (imposed by Roku) and (bizarrely) remain unable to access the channel descriptions in the web channel store on the Roku (USA) website. That said, the majority of the text from those web store descriptions can also be found within the individual channel 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 you 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 below and (instead) rely on the link to the right (below each channel icon) which will redirect you to an 'Roku Guide' review for additional details on each channel. As it stands, the links below (and to the left of) each channel icon are (currently) only of use to readers of this blog from the USA. This means 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 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 which were released between 6th and 12th November 2016:-

HER TUBE TV NETWORK............................COST: £5.49 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, when the 'Roku Guide' review for this channel was first published (back in June 2014) this "HerTube TV Network" channel was both FREE-TO-ADD and FREE-TO-STREAM on Roku devices in the USA... as was the "private" channel which was later made available to owners of Roku devices in the UK (at my request) - and that is why the (original) channel store description ended with, "...and what's even better is that HerTube.TV is free", although (clearly) that is no longer applicable - since the (current) description from the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store states that a monthly subscription of £5.49 is now payable by those wishing to enjoy the content of this channel.

Should you choose to subscribe, please remember that it is a recurring payment... and that, therefore, YOU WILL BE CHARGED £5.49 EVERY MONTH - UNTIL YOU CANCEL - plus, there is also the added caveat that ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE for this Roku channel.

Other than the pricing information, the 'Roku Guide' review of this channel is nevertheless reasonably accurate for the present incarnation of the "HerTube TV Network" channel and the link provided to the HerTube TV website also remains valid. For those considering a subscription, there is the added offer of a 7-DAY FREE TRIAL when you first sign-up for an account with "HerTube TV Network" and visitors to their website will also find details of various apps that are available for mobile devices. In addition, the website provides more in-depth details of the content and video categories available.

FUSION........COST: FREE (n.b. some content may require a subscription) [Roku Guide Review]

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

SOCIAL MEDIA CHURCH...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

JASON HORTON...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

AFRICAN NETWORK TV - ANTV......COST: FREE (30-DAY TRIAL) + $15.00 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

COUNTLESS CLASSICS - FREE MOVIES..........................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

BLARNEYBERG CARTOONS NETWORK!........................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

POLITICAL FICTION THEATER TEST................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

TALK BUSINESS WITH AUDREY.................COST: £3.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

REMNANT & PRAISE NETWORK........COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

TCN COUNTRY.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

COZY FIREPLACE............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

RADIO UNT............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

WOMEN ON TV.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

BEST CHRISTMAS CHANNEL EVER!................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SOUND THEORY LOUNGE.................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

DOLLS n CRAFTS [by HappyKids.TV].................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

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

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

BREATH OF LIFE TV............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

LIFE TOGETHER..............................COST: FREE + $3.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

AUTOBLOG SCREENSAVER..............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SEXY SHORTS......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

TELE HOSANNA...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

COLLEGE CHANNEL...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

TPSN NETWORK...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

HOPSTER...........COST: FREE (7-DAY TRIAL) + £3.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

PLEASE NOTE:- That, since this new "Hopster" channel is not (currently) available within the Roku USA Channel Store, the link provided above will take you to the official website for Hopster, instead of the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store description... as would be the norm. For those who may not be familiar with "Hopster TV" it's the UK's leading TV and learning platform for preschool children and kids aged two to six, in general. They offer a curated selection of some of the best TV shows from around the globe geared specifically towards preschoolers. They (currently) have around 35 shows available in the UK but this can vary. Anyone can get a 7-DAY FREE TRIAL when they register for a new account with Hopster TV but, for those in the market for a new tablet, there is an excellent special offer from EE which gives you either 2 YEARS FREE or else 3 MONTHS FREE depending on which payment plan you opt for. Should you qualify for either offer from EE, you will be sent a voucher code (via email) and there is a dedicated web portal to redeem your voucher online so you get your extended free trial. There are also help articles explaining how to subscribe on Roku as well as cancel via Roku if you wish to terminate your subscription before the trial ends. However, my advice would be to sign-up online (via the website) whether or not you have a voucher to redeem and then simply login via the Roku channel using the same credentials you provided on registration. There's even more good news for subscribers in that, as well as their Roku channel, Hopster TV also has apps for both iOS and Android mobile devices... either of which can be obtained via these links:-

FREE DOWNLOAD: of iOS App for Apple Mobile Devices [from iTunes UK App Store]

FREE DOWNLOAD: of Android App for Mobile Devices [from the Google Play Store]

For anyone wishing to connect with them via social media, they have a Twitter Feed: @HopsterTV and FB Page: Hopster TV (Facebook) where I am sure they will be only to answer any further questions you may have about their new Roku channel and/or other aspects of their business! :-)

ALL WARRIOR NETWORK.........COST: FREE (7-DAY TRIAL) + $6.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

GLOBAL CPN......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SNAKES AND LADDERS.............................COST: £0.69 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

THE LIVING CHRIST.............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

BOX PLUS...............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

FREE OR DIE TV...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

JAVA FOR BEGINNING BEGINNERS................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

APPLAUSE NETWORK.......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

TEETER TAUGHT ANIMATION..........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

Hi, everyone !!

The BIG NEWS this week, in terms of UK-specific Roku matters, is... thanks to some prolific output from developers, we've seen the HIGHEST-EVER NEW CHANNEL ADDITIONS IN ONE WEEK! Amazingly, there were OVER SIXTY NEW CHANNELS RELEASED in the last seven days - since my previous 'Weekly RoundUp' was published - which (in itself) marks only the first time this has happened since Roku devices were first introduced in the UK. To put this into perspective for you... that amounts to MORE NEW ROKU CHANNELS ADDED IN ONE WEEK to the Roku UK Channel Store THAN WERE ADDED TO NOW TV BOXES IN OVER THREE YEARS! :-O

Another landmark resulting from this huge influx of new Roku apps is that the total number of "public" channels available (i.e. those that feature in the Roku Channel Store) has now reached over three thousand four hundred (yes, that's 3,400+ Roku channels) on UK Roku devices and this figure does not include any of the "private" channels (of which there are hundreds) so it's clear we've come a long way from the forty-odd channels that were originally available to early adopters of Roku in the UK, such as myself, back in 2012. As you might expect, this means there's lots more ground for me to cover this week... but extra channels means more choice for all of us so (hopefully) it'll be worth it!

When you browse through the list of new apps shown below, aside from there being some interesting new Roku channels on offer this week, you will also notice that there are thirty-three channels (in the latter portion of this list) which (currently) have no active links to 'Roku Guide' reviews. This was because there were simply too many channels released during the past seven days for all of the 'Roku Guide' reviews to be completed prior to their regular publishing deadline on Friday. Consequently... as has been the case with similar occurrences in the past, the channel reviews will be split across two separate posts this week... the first (featuring 46 channels) has already been published, and the second (covering all of the remaining channels) likely to follow sometime later this weekend ;-)

Needless to say, you can expect the thirty-three "missing" reviews for the U.S. channels to be added to this post once they do become available. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that these channels are already available to Roku owners in the USA (as evidenced by their inclusion in the Roku web channel store) and readers of this blog from the United States can follow the links provided below (and to the left of) these, plus each and every other channel icon listed here, to view their respective descriptions... until such a time as the "missing" reviews do get published by 'Roku Guide'.

Unfortunately, Roku UK users are still subject to restrictions (imposed by Roku) and (bizarrely) remain unable to access the channel descriptions in the web channel store on the Roku (USA) website. That said, the majority of the text from those web store descriptions can also be found within the individual channel details from the built-in "Channel Store" (accessed via "Streaming Channels" from the main menu) on all Roku devices and, together with their associated screenshots (where available), should give you 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 below and (instead) rely on the link to the right (below each channel icon) which will redirect you to an 'Roku Guide' review for additional details on each channel. As it stands, the links below (and to the left of) each channel icon are (currently) only of use to readers of this blog from the USA. This means 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 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 which were released between 13th and 19th November 2016:-

MOTORLAND.........................................COST: FREE + $5.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

ALL SCREEN RECEIVER......COST: FREE (n.b. requires companion app) [Roku Guide Review]

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

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

UNIVERSITY CHANNEL..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

HEAVY STORM RELAXATION....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

THE SPARK TV NETWORK.......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

CHRIST FELLOWSHIP MIAMI...............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

DOCENT CHANNEL..................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

REEL BIG MOVIES......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ENGINEER GUY...........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SCI & TECH" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

CHRISTMAS CLASSICS.............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

MY SUCCESS VIDEOS...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

CITY OF FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

LANORA MEANS MINISTRIES..............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

WJAX ACTION NEWS JAX.......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ESCAPE AND SURVIVE...................COST: £2.99 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

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

WESTERN CLASSIC MOVIES...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

NEW FREEDOM CHURCH......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

RANDY MORRISON.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

ADLTV.ORG................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

DIANA LESTAT..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

REED TAYLOR....................COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

HOST ARMOR.............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SCI & TECH" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

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

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

USILK....................................COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

FIRESIDE ROMANCE................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SILVER SCREEN ACTION........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

HOLIDAY LOUNGE TV....................COST: £1.49 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

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

CURT LANDRY MEDIA............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

HEAVEN'S COUNTRY...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SILVER SCREEN COMEDY MOVIES.......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SILVER SCREEN WESTERN MOVIES.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SILVER SCREEN THRILLER MOVIES.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

7-GUN CINEMA...........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SILVER SCREEN ROMANCE....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SILVER SCREEN DRAMA........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

SILVER SCREEN SY-FY.............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

RED CARPET COMEDY............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

RED CARPET DRAMA...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

RED CARPET ACTION..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

ECONOMIST FILMS..................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

EL ARTE DE PAU.......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

THE CHRISTMAS CHANNEL TV............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ASÍ O MÁS FÁCIL.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

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

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

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

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

THE THREE MUSKETEERS.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

WINE SAVVY.............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

Hi, everyone !!

If you have your Roku device(s) set-up with "Custom Themes" enabled, then (hopefully) you spotted the (brief) switch to a "Fall Leaves" theme for Fall 2016... better known to those of us in the UK as "Autumn" and, if you did, you'll know this rare (in the UK) theme change was very "autumnal" as well as a welcome rest from the "other" regular Roku themes we see for the rest of the year. For those who missed it, the "Fall Leaves" theme came and went in a matter of days just before (and ending on) Thursday 24th November - aka "Thanksgiving" to readers from the USA - but by the next day - aka "Black Friday" to, well... pretty much everyone in the english speaking world, these days! - normal service had been resumed and we're unlikely to see further "Custom Themes" from Roku until just before "the holidays" at the end of December. Speaking of which... if your thoughts are now turning towards the forthcoming festivities, there was a special feature published by 'Roku Guide' this week in which they assembled a handy list of Roku Christmas Channels to inform Roku users as to where they can find seasonal-themed movies and TV shows which can be streamed on Roku devices, plus some additional sources for holiday music and festive screensavers to get you in the Xmas spirit!

Meanwhile, further to my recent comments about Roku OS 7.5 - from my 'Weekly RoundUp #191' - and the subsequent (minor) build update, within that update, which saw the software on my 'Roku 3' devices change from "Build 4092" to "Build 4096" - as reported in my 'Weekly RoundUp #192' - the rollout has since seen another minor software update to "Build 4099", as per the screenshot below:-

ROKU 3 SOFTWARE UPDATE - FROM 7.5.0.4096 TO 7.5.0.4099

Shortly after this latest (minor) build update was applied to 'Roku 3' devices in the UK, the rollout was expanded to include older devices, such as my original 'Roku 2 XS' model, which was updated from Roku Software "Version 7.2.0 - Build 4100" to Roku Software "Version 7.5.0 - Build 4099" to bring it inline with my 'Roku 3' devices, as evidenced by this additional screenshot:-

ROKU 2XS SOFTWARE UPDATE - FROM 7.2.0.4100 TO 7.5.0.4099

In so far as I can tell, there were (once again) no major changes with this build... and, as with the last update to the software build, it's likely this was simply to address a few minor bugs with the software. That said, there's still no sign of my being able to control the volume of my TV using the buttons on my enhanced Roku remote (supplied with 'Roku 3' models) as was promised in the release notes for Roku OS 7.5 - and, worse still, my (previously) functioning basic HDMI-CEC ability to power-up my TV and switch to the source input for my Roku with any button press on my remote is still AWOL! There's been some minor progress in so much as it will now "wake" my TV and receiver from "sleep" but, since it is still incapable of switching to the correct source input, there's little advantage to using this feature at the moment. Like I said before, the old adage of, "...if it ain't broke, don't fix it", clearly passed the Roku software engineers by when it came to putting this new OS together! :-/ Meanwhile, I'd love to hear from anyone else who has experienced this (or any other) issue further to this latest software update, so do leave a comment below if this affected you in any way. As mentioned as part of a previous post, I do still intend to look into the specifics of this update in far more detail (before I comment any further) so please feel free to have a poke around in the 'Settings' menu of your own device(s) - or read the release notes published by Roku - to see what (if any) "improvements" were made to your Roku player(s) and let me know if you find anything of interest other than new icons.

Software issues aside, we have (again) been blessed with an above-average crop of new channel additions to occupy our time. It's a long way short of the sixty-one channels which were added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store last week but still a significant increase on the average of sixteen new channels which was the average amount for any given seven-day period throughout 2015.

Meanwhile, Roku UK users are still subject to restrictions (imposed by Roku) and (bizarrely) remain unable to access the channel descriptions in the web channel store on the Roku (USA) website. That said, the majority of the text from those web store descriptions can also be found within the individual channel 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 you 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 below and (instead) rely on the link to the right (below each channel icon) which will redirect you to an 'Roku Guide' review for additional details on each channel. As it stands, the links below (and to the left of) each channel icon are (currently) only of use to readers of this blog from the USA. This means 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 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 which were released between 20th and 26th November 2016:-

FIGHT NETWORK......COST: FREE (30-day Trial) + $2.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, since this "Fight Network" channel first appeared in the Roku USA Channel Store back in August 2014, you won't find it listed in the 'New' genre (i.e. category) of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store - despite only being made available to UK Roku users, within the last seven days, since my previous 'Weekly RoundUp' post was published. Instead, anyone that wishes to install this channel will need to look for "Fight Network" within the 'Sports' category... and, even then, it will require you to scroll to the very end of the list of channels to find it. PRO TIP:- Use the built-in Roku "Search" function, found within the channel store, to locate and install it... avoiding the need to scour through the one hundred and fifty channel icons which make up the 'Sports' genre! ;-)

ALSO:- In addition to the 30-DAY FREE TRIAL and monthly subscription of $2.99 PER MONTH, there is the option to purchase an ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION at a cost of $29.99 PER YEAR which will (effectively) give you another TWO MONTHS FREE on top of your initial free trial offer. Those who really enjoy watching combat sports may find this annual subscription is the best way to access all the MMA, Judo, Kickboxing, Karate, Boxing and Professional Wrestling action, plus fight-themed drama series, documentaries & feature films on offer from this Canadian 24/7 combat sports channel. Those who do subscribe will find both live-streaming and on-demand content is available, with a full programming schedule for the live stream available via the Fight Network website online. Should you wish to "get social" with the folks at 'Fight Network', their Twitter Feed: @FightNet is one option you can choose... while another way to connect with them is through FB at: Fight Network (Facebook)

WAR MOVIES........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ENTER SHAOLIN........COST: FREE (14-day Trial) + $9.97 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, while the "Enter Shaolin" channel is FREE-TO-ADD and does include some video content which is FREE-TO-STREAM, you will need to get a MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION at a cost of $9.97 PER MONTH for full access to their entire catalogue. Further details of what you can expect from this channel can be found in the 'Roku Guide' review, which I recommend that you read prior to subscribing... because you may find that the content of their YouTube channel will suffice! ;-)

COMBAT SPORTS.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

WILLOW CREEK TV............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

TASTE THIS TV - NO RULES COOKING..........................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

Q106.8 COUNTRY CLASSICS.............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

G4R SUDOKU.................COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this 'G4R Sudoku' game is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices and does offer a certain amount of FREE-TO-PLAY content, the description from the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store states that it "May require additional fees"... however, it is unclear (at this time) what these fees are for - or what kind of "in-app purchases" (IAP's) they may pertain to. The 'Roku Guide' review speculates that registration (which is also free) might "unlock" more puzzles which could need you to pay a fee, in order to play them, but nothing has been confirmed thus far. That said, as always, I do recommend that you read the 'Roku Guide' review for additional information on how to play this 'G4R Sudoku' game on Roku devices and, for now at least, enjoy the few levels that are free to play!

MEMORY MATCH CHRISTMAS...............COST: £0.69 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, since this paid (monthly subscription) version of "Memory Match Christmas" is not (currently) available on Roku devices in the USA... the channel description, for which I have provided a link above, pertains to the free (ad-supported) version that was published via the online Roku (USA) Web Channel Store - called "Memory Match Free Christmas" - as played by Roku users in the United States. The reason we, in the UK, must purchase a monthly subscription to play this game is that the ads used to support the free version in the U.S. are considered (by the developer) to be of little or no relevance for the UK market. As such, if it helps, you can consider the UK channel to be an ad-free (premium) version which can be played without any interruptions due to adverts! ;-)

ALSO:- For similar reasons, there is no 'Roku Guide' review of the paid version and (therefore) the link provided (above) is for the 'Roku Guide' review of "Memory Match Free Christmas" and not for "Memory Match Christmas" (the paid version) which is found on Roku devices in the UK. The reason I have included this link is the game (itself) remains the same, whether free (ad-supported) or paid (ad-free) and so the information provided, within the 'Roku Guide' review, about how to play the game (as well as any screenshots provided therein) are equally of relevance to Roku UK as for USA. Just be aware that any mention of the game being "free" and/or "ad-sponsored" are in reference to the version found on Roku devices in the USA and, aside from that, it's the same for the paid (UK) app.

N.B. CHANNEL ICON STILL TO FOLLOW -

NOT AVAILABLE AT TIME OF PUBLISHING

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

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, since this UK-based "Property TV" channel is not (currently) available via the Roku USA Channel Store, the link provided (above) will redirect you to the official website for "Property TV" instead of the channel description from the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store, as would be the norm. Property TV is the UK's only television channel dedicated to the world of property and, if it sounds familiar to you, you may well know it because it has been airing on Sky channel 238 since June 2015. Launched with the aim of becoming the number one source of property information in the UK, it has now found it's way onto UK Roku devices and, best-of-all, is FREE-TO-STREAM! :-)

ALSO:- Despite my having reached-out to the developer of this channel (Airbeem) to request a copy of the 'HD Poster' [aka "Channel Icon", for the purposes of this blog] they were unable to provide me with the necessary image prior to my publishing this post. In fairness, they did get back to me saying that I should have it sometime next week - as they were still busy adding content to the channel - so (hopefully) I'll be able to add the channel icon to this post sometime soon. One thing I don't expect to be forthcoming anytime soon, however, is a 'Roku Guide' review for the channel... since, as explained above, it is not (currently) available via the Roku USA Channel Store. Needless to say, should that situation ever change, I will add the review to this post as soon as I am made aware of it! ;-)

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

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

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

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

UNO IPTV v2.........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

NEW TV...........................COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this 'NewTV' channel is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices and does offer a certain amount of FREE-TO-STREAM content, the description from the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store states that it "May require additional fees"... however, it is unclear (at this time) as to what these additional fees might apply. The 'Roku Guide' review (see link above) states that they were able to watch only one video, despite others being listed in the channel menu, and that there were no fees associated with doing so... but nothing else has been confirmed. While it will (probably) only appeal to a minority of viewers, if Chinese-language documentaries and TV shows are among your viewing choices, I recommend reading the 'Roku Guide' review for extra info as to what this channel claims to offer Roku users and, for now at least, enjoy the one video that is free-to-stream!

BRASIL PLAY TV...........COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this 'Brasil Play TV' channel is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices and does offer a certain amount of FREE-TO-STREAM content, the description from the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store states that it "May require additional fees"... however, you first need to subscribe before any content becomes available on the 'Brasil Play TV' channel. Some of you may remember this as a Roku private channel and, if so, you'll know what it offers. Basically, as you might expect, the content is geared towards those who are fluent in Portuguese (especially those from Brasil) while including drama series, news and sports - streaming 24 hours per day - bringing all of "your favourite Brazilian TV channels" to your living room via Roku devices worldwide. So, if that's something you might be interested in, I recommend you read the 'Roku Guide' review to learn more about the service before you sign-up... but do bear in mind that the cost of your subscription could vary from those shown, depending on your package and in accordance with the currency for your particular location.

HAVOC TV........................COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this "Havoc TV" channel is FREE-TO-ADD and does include some video content that is FREE-TO-STREAM, if you wish to stream any of the movies on offer or enjoy the live-stream aspect of this channel... you will first need to purchase a subscription and then link your Roku device to your account. There is a 7-DAY FREE TRIAL available, after which you will be required to pay a MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION at a cost of $1.99 PER MONTH although you could save some money by choosing their ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION which costs $17.99 PER YEAR if you feel this independent music and action sports channel is something you'd watch year-round. As of right now, the original "Havoc Television" channel is still available (and working) on UK Roku devices, so you might just want to stick with that. However, if you plan on checking-out this latest incarnation of "Havoc TV" with all the extra content and features it offers then, as always, I suggest you read the 'Roku Guide' review (see link above) for the lowdown on what you're getting! ;-)

FIVE MINUTES OF FAME - SEASON 1......COST: £6.99 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

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

A WORD TO THE WISE:- As stated above (and in the channel description) this Roku app requires that you pay a ONE-TIME PURCHASE FEE OF £6.99 (or $9.99 USD) to stream the content. It has come to light, via the 'Roku Guide' review, that you can WATCH THEM FOR FREE ONLINE before going ahead with your Roku purchase by visiting the official website for 'Five Minutes of Fame' and decide for yourself if it's worth paying extra to watch on the big screen via your Roku device! ;-)

HAIVISION - VIDEO AT WORK.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SCI & TECH" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

NORTHWOODS COMMUNITY CHURCH.........................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

Hi, everyone !!

The BIG NEWS this week, in terms of UK-specific Roku matters, was... once again, UPDATES - only, this time around, it wasn't a succession of Roku software build updates for Roku OS 7.5 which caught my attention but, rather, a MASSIVE INCREASE IN ROKU UK "SEARCH" PARTNERS that saw the number of featured services multiply from five to thirty in just three days! Sadly there was still nothing to indicate the return of "All 4" (formerly '4oD', or 'Four On-Demand' to some) or "The Great Courses" to the list of Roku UK 'Search Partners' which were both present until the new Roku software rollout began... but seem to have disappeared from my devices since that firmware update was completed. Hopefully they will return in due course but, for the time being, here's a list of the TWENTY-FIVE NEW "SEARCH" PARTNERS ADDED TO ROKU UK DEVICES this week:-

Cracked
Leo Training
Sing and Spell
4KUNIVERSE
DroneTV
Cell Life Church Live
RANGARANG
desiCinema
Silent Movies
Lucy Show
RMGTV - Rover's Morning Glory TV
Istikana TV
Teeter Taught Animation
DeenTV
RCCG Winners' Chapel TV
HappyKids 3
Great Big Story
Red Carpet Action
Red Carpet Comedy
Red Carpet Drama
Western Classic Movies
Dad's Favorite Movies
Green Screen
Phoenix Flix
Reel Flix

Since I've tweeted about these new Roku UK "Search" Partners in great detail over the last few days, I won't go into it anymore than to provide this list for reference purposes. You can always check-out the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels if you'd like to know more. Either way, those all join the previous (if rather short) list of five channels, which were the only ones Roku UK users were able to "Search" for content until the latter part of the week just gone. To recap, here's the five channels which complete the full compliment of thirty Roku UK "Search" Partners that we can enjoy today:-

Amazon Video
GooglePlay Movies & TV
Netflix
NowTV
SnagFilms

Obviously, the ideal would be for Roku "Search" to find any content, on any channel that is available via the built-in channel store found on all Roku streaming media players... and, better still, have the ability to search for content on any private channels that happen to be installed on any given device. Until then, we'll just have to make do with what we're given. Unfortunately, however, there doesn't seem to have been much thought put into this particular feature when it comes to adding the kind of search partners that would benefit Roku UK users the most. For example, you'd think that having all of the major UK CatchUpTV players on their devices would be reason enough for Roku to include content from 'BBC iPlayer', 'ITV Hub', 'All 4' and 'My5' (bizarrely, still called 'Demand5' on Roku) among their search results!?! These are, afterall, among the 25 "Most Popular" Channels in the UK!

When 'All 4' was added to Roku UK "Search" earlier this year, I thought... "Great, they have added another worthy 'Search Partner' and assumed the other UK CatchUpTV services would soon follow. Instead, it seems Roku giveth... and then taketh away - at least, when it comes to Roku UK search partners - but, given the recent new additions, it's anybody's guess what we'll get next! Perhaps, instead of spamming Roku UK "Search" with channels that contain minimal content - I'm not going to mention any names, but check out the above list and you'll soon discover which ones I mean - they could add partners like 'Sky Store', or; 'WuakiTV UK', or; 'CinemaNow', or; 'CultTV-A-Go-Go', or; 'IndieFlix', or; 'Sainsburys Entertainment', or; 'Shudder', or; 'Stream Now TV', or; 'UltraFlix', or; 'Viewster', or; 'We Are Colony', or; how about some of the channels from 'BigStar Movies', or; 'INC', or; 'MaddyGTV', or; 'OVGuide' and (perhaps) even music services like 'Spotify' or 'Vevo'!?! Come to think of it... whatever happened to 'PopcornFlix', who Roku (themselves) said would be one of the initial Roku UK "Search" partners back when the feature was first introduced!?!! Basically, what I'm trying to say is they should not just add any old channel(s) to make-up the numbers... but, instead, give it some serious thought and make it the useful feature I'd always imagined it would be! So, come on Roku, if we're not getting any new Roku models... at least give us some decent search partners! ;-)

New UK Roku "Search" partners aside, we have (again) been blessed with an above-average crop of new channel additions to occupy our time. As with two weeks ago, when sixty-one channels were added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, we've seen a significant increase on the average of 16 new channels which was the average amount for any given seven-day period throughout 2015.

Meanwhile, Roku UK users are still subject to restrictions (imposed by Roku) and (bizarrely) remain unable to access the channel descriptions in the web channel store on the Roku (USA) website. That said, the majority of the text from those web store descriptions can also be found within the individual channel 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 you 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 below and (instead) rely on the link to the right (below each channel icon) which will redirect you to an 'Roku Guide' review for additional details on each channel. As it stands, the links below (and to the left of) each channel icon are (currently) only of use to readers of this blog from the USA. This means 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 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 which were released between 27th November and 3rd December 2016:-

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

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

FFC (Final Fight Championship)...........COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, despite this "FFC" channel being added to the Roku USA Channel Store, it seems to have escaped the notice of the good folks at 'Roku Guide' who (currently) have no review posted for it. This is (probably) due to the fact this "FFC" (aka Final Fight Championship) channel was not listed within the 'New' category (i.e. genre) of the channel store. Instead, anyone wishing to install the channel will need to look for "FFC" within the 'Sports' category... and, even then, it will require you to scroll to the very end of the list of channels to find it. PRO TIP:- Use the built-in Roku "Search" function, found within the channel store, to locate and install it... avoiding the need to scour through the one hundred and fifty-three channel icons which make up the 'Sports' genre! ;-)

Needless to say... I'll endeavour to make contact with the publisher of 'Roku Guide' and tip them off as to the existence of this new Roku channel so that, as and when a review does appear on their site, I will (as a matter of course) add the "missing" link to this post for ease of reference. Meanwhile, those of you who are into MMA, kickboxing and fighting or combat sports in general, will find more info on the Final Fight Championship (headquartered in Zagreb, Croatia) by visiting the official website where you'll find a full schedule of forthcoming events (as well as a list of previous events) together with all the latest news, profiles of the fighters, plus a breakdown of the rules and much more! Should you wish to "get social" with the folks from 'FFC' you can do so either via Twitter: @FFCprofight or else through their FB page: Final Fight Championship (Facebook) with any questions, comments or suggestions you may have about their Roku channel and/or other aspects of their company. :-)

GREAT OUTDOORS NETWORK......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

WESTERN ON THE WEB..................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, despite the channel icon for this "Western On The Web" channel using the plural noun, "Westerns", the channel name itself (rightly, or wrongly) features the singular, "Western" format and that's how it appears for the description page on the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store, plus the 'Roku Guide' review, and (most likely) any other reference you may find for this Roku channel on the world wide web. So, in case you were wondering, it is not a "typo" on my part (although, they can and do happen from time to time) but, rather, something the channel developer is responsible for! ;-)

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

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

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

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

CHRISTIAN MOVIES DIRECT TV....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

VEGO TV NEW...............COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

FOUNDERS LEAGUE CHANNEL.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

GIGLI DI NOLA...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

FUNKER TACTICAL................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

RESORT CHANNEL............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

SEEVII SINEMA..................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SEEVII SPLAY.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

NEW MEXICO TV...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SANTA FE TV......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

PEG SOLITAIRE.............................................COST: £0.69 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, since this paid (monthly subscription) version of "Peg Solitaire" is not (currently) available on Roku devices in the USA... the channel description, for which I have provided a link above, pertains to the free (ad-supported) version that was published via the online Roku (USA) Web Channel Store - called "Peg Solitaire Free" - as played by Roku users in the United States. The reason we, in the UK, must purchase a monthly subscription to play this game is that the ads used to support the free version in the U.S. are considered (by the developer) to be of little or no relevance for the UK market. As such, if it helps, you can consider the UK channel to be an ad-free (premium) version which can be played without any interruptions due to adverts! ;-)

ALSO:- For similar reasons, there is no 'Roku Guide' review of the paid version and (therefore) the link provided (above) is for the 'Roku Guide' review of "Peg Solitaire Free" and not "Peg Solitaire" (the paid version) which is found on Roku devices in the UK. The reason I have included this link is the game (itself) remains the same, whether free (ad-sponsored) or paid (ad-free) and therefore the information provided, within the 'Roku Guide' review, about how to play the game (as well as any screenshots provided therein) are equally of relevance to Roku UK as for USA. Just be aware that any mention of the game being "free" and/or "ad-sponsored" are in reference to the version found on Roku devices in the USA and, aside from that, it's the same for the paid (UK) app! :-)

AMERICAN HOTEL CHANNEL.......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

AMERICAN RESTAURANT CHANNEL...........................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

CHRISTMAS WINDOW...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

CHRIST IN MY LIFE............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, despite the channel icon for this "Christ In My Life" channel using the extra word, "TV", the channel name itself (rightly, or wrongly) features the shortened format (as shown) and that's how it appears for the description on the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store, plus the 'Roku Guide' review, and (most likely) any other reference you're likely to find for this Roku channel online. So, in case you were wondering, it's not an "omission" on my part (although they can, and do, happen on occasion) but, rather, something for which the channel developer(s) themselves are responsible! ;-)

GONE TV...........................................COST: FREE + $5.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, although this "GONE TV" channel is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices and does allow you to browse the content library therein, you will soon find (when attempting to stream any of the videos) that A MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION IS REQUIRED, for which you will be billed the sum of $5.99 PER MONTH - or your local currency equivalent, plus exchange fees - in order to be able to watch anything in full. That said, if you are serious enough about hunting and fishing to require year-round access to this channel, there is also an ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION OPTION at a (slightly reduced) cost of $64.99 PER YEAR which will save you a small amount over the year! ;-)

THE BARBERS NETWORK....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

PREMIER WRESTLING FEDERATION..............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

BBC-TV..................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

RADIO FREE CYBERTRON...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

1950s - 1990s OLD COMMERCIALS......COST: £1.49 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, despite the channel icon for this "1950s - 1990s Old Commercials" channel dropping any reference to the years for their 'old commercials' and using the extra word, "TV", the channel name itself (rightly, or wrongly) features the altered format (as shown above) and that's how it appears for the description on the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store, plus the 'Roku Guide' review, and (most likely) any other reference you're likely to find for this Roku channel online. So, in case you were wondering, it's not an "error" on my part (although they can, and do, occasionally happen) but, rather, something for which the channel developer, 'Bluemooner', is responsible! ;-)

FACTS VERSE.........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

DEFEND THE HOUSE..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, despite the channel icon for this "Biztales" channel using the singular noun, "Biztale", the channel name itself (rightly, or wrongly) features the plural, "Biztales" form and that is how it appears for the description page on the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store, plus the 'Roku Guide' review, and (most likely) any other reference you may find for this Roku channel on the world wide web. So, in case you were wondering, it is not a "typo" on my part (although, they can and do happen from time to time) but, rather, something the channel developer, John Hilla, is responsible for. That said, unlike similar differences with other channels (listed previously) in this case... the change of name was more likely necessary due to an earlier (now withdrawn) but similarly-named version of this channel which was released by the same developer, although in a slightly different format! ;-)

NODE. JS FOR BEGINNERS..............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

KARAOKE CLOUD................COST: FREE (7-DAY TRIAL) + $9.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this "Karaoke Cloud" channel is FREE-TO-ADD and does include some FREE-TO-STREAM content in addition to offering a FREE 7-DAY TRIAL with full access, you will need to pay for a MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION at a cost of $9.99 PER MONTH - or your local currency equivalent, plus exchange fees - in order to be able to continue getting full access to their library of karaoke videos after your trial period has ended. That said, if you are serious enough about karaoke to warrant year-round access to the hundreds of karaoke songs (from many different music genres) found within this channel, there is also an ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION OPTION at a cost of $99.99 PER YEAR which (effectively) gives you TWO MONTHS FREE over the year! ;-)

CULINÁRIA TERAPIA.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

FAITH UNVEILED NETWORK...........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

NAPOLINOVA TV..........................................COST: £10.49 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, to all intents and purposes, this "Napolinova TV" channel offers nothing more than can be found on the earlier (and slightly cheaper) Roku channel - "Napoli Nova TV" - but, having said that, BEFORE YOU SUBSCRIBE to either one, READ THE 'ROKU GUIDE' REVIEW as it contains not one... but, two links to where YOU CAN WATCH FOR FREE ONLINE and (given the overly-high subscription rate being charged for this channel) you'd do well to look elsewhere if this local news and entertainment content (from Naples, Italy) is something you'd like to stream! ;-)

ALL ELECTRONIC MUSIC CHANNEL...........................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

DEEP POCKETS JAZZ.......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

FUNIMATION NOW..........COST: FREE (30-DAY TRIAL) + £4.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That this "FunimationNow" channel replaces the original "FUNimation" channel that was previously available on Roku devices in the USA. Luckily for UK Roku users, the content merger between "Crunchyroll" and "FUNimation" which led to the creation of "FunimationNow" has seen the (previously US-only) service expanded to UK Roku users who now have access to their vast collection of both "subbed" and "dubbed" anime on their streaming media players! :-) You can find out more about "FunimationNow" via their official website and sign-up for a FREE 30-DAY TRIAL after which you can subscribe for only £4.99 PER MONTH to get full access to all of Funimation's streaming content - including hundreds of shows, movies and early-access home video dubs. Those choosing to get this 'Premium Plan' can also watch ad-free anime (in HD quality) anytime, anywhere
on desktop computers or with any of the free mobile and console apps available. Additionally, you'll be among the first to stream exclusive English Dubs shortly after their original Japanese broadcast! Of course, you can always select the 'Free Plan' when you sign-up and still get the 30-day free trial without being charged but, if you don't upgrade to the 'Premium Plan', you'll miss the extra benefits. ;-)

PLEASE ALSO NOTE:- That the link provided (above) to a 'Roku Guide' review is for the original "FUNimation" channel and not this latest incarnation, as "FunimationNow", although there are some similarities and overlap between the two. Until such a time as the 'Roku Guide' review is updated to include details of this new version for 2016, that is all I can offer you by way of information. Should you need to know more, you can always connect with the UK branch of "FunimationNow" through their Twitter Feed: @FunimationUK or their FB Page:- FunimationUK (Facebook) where I am sure they will be only to pleased to help you out by answering any questions you might have! :-)

Hi, everyone !!

With the "office party" season getting underway, it's hardly surprising that work levels (in general) have seen a significant drop in the last seven days, especially when you compare it with the output from preceding weeks. Likewise, the amount of Roku-specific news ground to a halt during that time, with even the "Official" Roku Stream Blog resorting to posting "news" about features which Roku users "may not have discovered", or competitions to ~~plug~~ win existing Roku devices - causing the Roku hashtag on Twitter to be filled with untold copies of the same (re)tweet like some social media equivalent of "spam" in your (my) inbox - and how to stream movies on Hallmark (don't even bother looking if you're in the UK), as well as a "guest post" about "How to stream basketball...", but still no sign of any news about the UK release date(s) - if it ever happens - for the latest crop of streaming media players from Roku which, let's face it, is now WAY OVERDUE for those of us who bought into the brand in the UK! :-/ Anyway, with nothing by way of Roku-specific news to share with you, I had little option but to resort to sharing the few Roku-related tidbits that came my way...

Luckily for me, I was kept busy (day-to-day) in my "spare time" with finding & then sharing details of an "Advent Calendar" promotion by 'Amazon Video UK' via my Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels. If you haven't been following my tweets, there have been some amazing "Limited-Time Offer" savings throughout the last seven days... so it's worth checking the 'Amazon Video UK' webpage (see link above) on a daily basis, from now until 24th December, for more great deals on film and TV content which can all be streamed on UK Roku devices via the "Amazon Video" channel. Once you're on the webpage, just scroll down until you see the following image:-

If you click on the above image (via the 'Amazon Video UK' webpage - not the one shown here!) you will be redirected to the current deal for that particular day. Thus far, there have been several movies available with varying discounts (e.g. The Revenant, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Twilight, and Jack Reacher) plus TV series (e.g. Band Of Brothers, Red Dwarf, Brooklyn Nine Nine, and Grimm) - all with significant savings over competing UK streaming services (i.e. Google Play Movies & TV, Netflix, NowTV, Wuaki TV UK, TalkTalk TV Store, iTunes, etc.) - so, if you can keep an eye on this promotion on a daily basis... you may discover something that's right for you, or someone you know. Alternatively, you could choose to follow the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels to this blog, where I will continue to share full details of these offers - specific to each day - throughout the remainder of this promotion... and, if that's easier for you, I'm only too happy to be of service! ;-)

In addition to the assortment of "Advent Calendar" offers from Amazon Video UK this week, we have (once again) been blessed with an above-average crop of new channel additions to occupy our time. While the number of apps pales in comparison to the total new additions from three weeks ago, when sixty-one channels were added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, and is less than half the total number released last week, we have (at least) seen an increase on the weekly total of 16 new channels... which was the average for any given seven-day period throughout the year in 2015.

Meanwhile, Roku UK users are still subject to restrictions (imposed by Roku) and (bizarrely) remain unable to access the channel descriptions in the web channel store on the Roku (USA) website. That said, the majority of the text from those web store descriptions can also be found within the individual channel 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 you 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 below and (instead) rely on the link to the right (below each channel icon) which will redirect you to an 'Roku Guide' review for additional details on each channel. As it stands, the links below (and to the left of) each channel icon are (currently) only of use to readers of this blog from the USA. This means 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 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 which were released between 4th December and 10th December 2016:-

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

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

MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

BEST OF ONE STEP BEYOND............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

TORRE FUERTE....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

WBNS-10TV NEWS...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

GRINDHOUSE TV..........................................COST: £1.49 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

RUCHKAR MEJWANI...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this "Ruchkar Mejwani" channel for Roku devices provides videos in the language of Marathi (as spoken by the people of Maharashtra and Goa in Western India), it has come to light (via the 'Roku Guide' review) that their 'YouTube' channel offers similar video content but with English-language subtitles added for each of the recipes. Needless to say, this could be of great benefit to any UK Roku users who might be interested in the cuisine of Maharashtra and/or Goa but are not fluent in the Marathi language of Western India. So, if that sounds like you, I recommend that you access these videos via 'YouTube' instead of adding this channel to your Roku device(s)! ;-)

RAJSHRI FOOD.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

LITTLE FOX CHINESE.......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

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

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

FLIX PREMIERE................COST: FREE + £3.99 (PPV RENTAL FEE) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this "Flix Premiere" channel is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices and (once registered) does include a voucher (sent via email) to WATCH YOUR 1st MOVIE FOR FREE, to enjoy more content A PAY-PER-VIEW (PPV) RENTAL FEE IS REQUIRED FOR EACH FILM in the amount of £3.99 PER RENTAL which buys you a 48-HOUR VIEWING PERIOD before the video ceases to be available in your queue. For true movie buffs, the "Flix Premiere" channel also has a SPECIAL "TICKET BUNDLE" where you "BUY FIVE, GET ONE FREE" and are then able to use those "tickets" to ENJOY FIVE FILMS FOR LESS THAN TWENTY POUNDS on your Roku device which, let's face it, means SAVING A FORTUNE IN CINEMA TICKET PRICES to boot! ;-)

ALSO:- While the Roku channel for "Flix Premiere" will allow subscribers to view a trailer of each movie, prior to selecting a film, we've found the best method is to buy "tickets" or "ticket bundles" via the website (achieved by clicking on your profile and providing your credit card info) after which you'll be able to watch films simply by selecting the video within the "Flix Premiere" Roku channel.

BETTER YET:- As some of you are (perhaps) already aware, the "Flix Premiere" streaming service is also available via apps for iOS (Apple) and Android mobile devices as well as online - through any web browser you may care to mention - meaning you can take this online Cineplex experience with you, for those times when (for whatever reason) your Roku device may be inaccessible. For the full list of current content, please visit the official website for the "Flix Premiere" service. If you wish to connect with them via social media, "Flix Premiere" has both a Twitter Feed: @FlixPremiere and an FB Page: Flix Premiere (Facebook). They also have an online presence via their 'YouTube' channel. Meanwhile, here are some links to free downloads of the "Flix Premiere" mobile apps:-

FREE DOWNLOAD:- Flix Premiere iOS App for Apple Mobile Devices (via iTunes App Store)

FREE DOWNLOAD:- Flix Premiere Android App for Mobile Devices (via Google Play Store)

ADDITIONAL INFO:- For those who may be unfamiliar with it, the "Flix Premiere" streaming service provides a cinema experience, but with on-demand availability, and thereby positions itself between the likes of Netflix, Amazon Video, etc. and the Video-on-Demand (VoD) services provided by cable and/or satellite companies (i.e. Sky, Virgin, TalkTalk, etc.) while also offering a large choice of films which are not available via those competing services. You won't find any episodic TV shows on the "Flix Premiere" streaming service, but there's dramas, animations, comedies & documentaries galore! What you're most likely to find is the kind of exclusive (and elusive?) indie films which may otherwise have passed you by. However this is far from being an assortment of "straight-to-video" films but, rather, an assortment of hand-picked gems which have been assembled by a large team of people who watch and grade movies for "Flix Premiere", with the company applying further scrutiny to those with the highest ratings... including, but not limited to, where they may have been previously screened (e.g. film festivals, limited theatrical releases, etc.) plus their reception via social media, and several other factors. The end result is akin to an online movie theatre (cinema) offering a carefully curated selection of world-class film productions, including: brand new movies from award-winning movie directors, as well as featuring break-out stars and some new voices of global cinema. Every 10-14 days, Flix Premiere offers viewers 8-9 new exciting movies, exclusive to the service. In addition, Flix Premiere viewers can enjoy theatrical releases of movies online, offering a red carpet experience at home with behind-the-scenes footage, cast and production interviews and much more. So if, like "Flix Premiere", you believe that films are not measured by budget, or talent, or who made them... but by their resonance, the impact they make, their relevance, and the story they tell - feel free to add "Flix Premiere" to your Roku channels because it offers a truly "red carpet" experience! :-)

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

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

BEG TV's THE ONYX CHANNEL.......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

BRAIN CANDY TV..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

THE ANIMAL FILM FESTIVAL.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

U - CHRISTMAS...........................COST: £1.99 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

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

VERSUS MEDIA MUSIC VIDEOS.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

THE WELL - WEEKLY SERMONS.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SPANISH SUBTITLE CLASSICS.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

MOVIE TIME MACHINE.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

Hi, everyone !!

Those of you who've been using UK Roku devices for several years now, will (doubtless) recall that the weeks leading up to the end of each year have often yielded some unexpected surprises among the selection of Roku channels on offer. The last seven days could easily have been one such week... but, sadly, it was not to be! The first "surprise" came on the morning of Tuesday 13th December 2016, when I discovered the user interface (UI) of the 'Amazon Video' channel had been updated to more closely resemble the look and feel of the UI on Amazon's own-branded 'Fire TV' devices. However, closer inspection revealed the categories and content pertained to the U.S. version of 'Amazon Video' (via Amazon.com) and not the UK version of 'Amazon Video' (via Amazon.co.uk) and none of the content (previously) purchased via the UK website was showing up. Once it became clear that this was an error of some sort, I took to social media in the hope of discovering what had happened. The only comments I could find (early on) were from Roku users in the U.S. who (for the most part) were not best pleased with the change(s). This surprised me as, from my own brief experience of it, the new-look UI was a vast improvement over the original 'Amazon Video' UI on Roku devices and the fact it resembled the 'Home Screen' on my Fire TV Stick gave it a more familiar and unifying feel across the two platforms. Here is an image which was shared on social media, later that day, by UK Roku user Ben Davis [Twitter Feed: @BenDavis__] which illustrates what I was saying:-

Anyway, as it later transpired, this turned out to be an error on the part of Roku who had uploaded the new-look 'Amazon Video' UI intended for U.S. users to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, too... Oops! :-/ What it did do was offer me the opportunity to witness first-hand just how much more there is to 'Amazon Video' in the USA, when compared to what we get here in the UK, and I must say this left me feeling like it was another case of "Rip-Off Britain" in terms of what your money buys you as an 'Amazon Prime' member and 'Amazon Video' subscriber in the U.S. versus my own experiences of the equivalent services from Amazon UK. Clearly we have a long way to go... but, at the very least, I hope we get this new 'Amazon Video' UI on Roku devices in the UK sometime soon - because, now that I've had a taste of what it could be like, the current UI for 'Amazon Video' on UK Roku devices just isn't "cutting the mustard" for me! Those of you who experienced the error, earlier in the week, will (no doubt) agree with this - I know that Ben (Davis) certainly shared my opinion of it - but, if you missed it (due to Roku correcting the error that same day) don't bother looking for it now because UK Roku devices have since been returned to the previous version of 'Amazon Video', unfortunately.

Moving on... the second "surprise" of the week came on the morning of Friday 16th December 2016, when I discovered (via cordcutting.com) that a Roku channel for the "MUBI" streaming service had been added to Roku devices in the USA. Needless to say, I rushed to check my own Roku devices and see if "MUBI" subscribers in the UK were also going to (finally) have access to the service via Roku streaming media players. Sadly, once again, it was not to be... and I spent a great deal of my spare time on Friday attempting to find out WHY the channel was not available and IF it was due to be added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store anytime soon. The thing which I found most puzzling about the whole "MUBI" situation is WHY a channel developed by 'MUBI UK Ltd.' was not available on Roku devices in the UK and, again, I took to social media to vent my feelings via the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels for the benefit of UK Roku users who (like me) have long been asking for "MUBI" to add support for the Roku platform. Here is an annotated screenshot of the webpage (on cordcutting.com) from where I first learned of the existence of 'MUBI' on Roku:-

Having shared the above image on Twitter, as part of my communication with "MUBI" on the matter, I did (eventually) receive a reply which stated, "We promise that we're working on it", and that is as much as I can tell you (at this stage) because, despite my requesting a time-frame for the UK app, I have yet to hear back from "MUBI" with any details on the subject. Even a repeated request, sent later that same day, produced no further comment. However, MUBI UK did (at least) acknowledge that last (followup) message with a "Like"... so I'm hoping that MUBI will stay true to their word and deliver on their promise of a Roku channel for "MUBI" in the UK sooner, rather than later! :-)

Meanwhile... here's some screenshots which I managed to capture, of the channel description from the Roku (USA) Web Channel Store, that will give you some idea of what to expect when it does show-up on Roku devices here in the UK at some time in the (hopefully) not too distant future:-

HINT:- Please CLICK on the above images TO ENLARGE THEM for easier viewing !!

In addition to these images there were also four screenshots, which would have been submitted with the channel package and accessed by Roku users via the built-in channel store on their devices. This is done by selecting the "Screenshots" button (from within the channel description) but, since we do not yet have the 'MUBI' channel for Roku devices in the UK, I'm going to share those here as well... because I feel that they better illustrate the user interface (UI) of the MUBI channel as well as giving a little more insight as to the kind of films you're likely to find on this channel:-

AS BEFORE... Please CLICK on the above images TO ENLARGE THEM for easier viewing !!

As can be seen from the first of these four screenshots (see top image above) there is a special offer for new users... who are entitled to a 30-DAY FREE TRIAL of the streaming service, in which to try out their hand-picked selection of thirty films - with ONE NEW FILM ADDED EVERY DAY to the selection on offer, with the oldest being removed from the rotation to make way for the new - and, as there is NO CREDIT CARD REQUIRED FOR THE TRIAL, you'll be able to relax and enjoy some amazing films without the need for endless scrolling just to find something good to watch! Of course, this assumes that 'MUBI' will make the same offer (here in the UK) as they have for Roku users in the U.S. but, based on my experience of the trials offered here, I think that's pretty much a given! ;-)

Personally, I can't wait for 'MUBI' to be added to the channel selection on UK Roku devices... and those of you who have been following me on Twitter over the years will know that I have been trying to get 'MUBI' to support the Roku platform for years. At least now, it would seem, there is some light at the end of the tunnel... and I hope to take advantage of whatever cut-price offer comes along once the 'MUBI' streaming service hits Roku in the UK. Speaking of which... if anyone from 'MUBI' happens to be reading this, I recently declined an offer for half-price annual membership (made as part of a 'Black Friday' weekend deal) purely and simply because 'MUBI' had no presence on Roku. So, if you care to honour that offer (or repeat it) once 'MUBI' for Roku is available to Roku UK users, I will gladly take you up on it - should the opportunity present itself - HINT, HINT! ;-) :-)

Still, temporary disappointments aside, we have (once again) been blessed with an above-average crop of new channel additions to occupy our time. While the number of apps pales in comparison to the total new additions from four weeks ago, when sixty-one channels were added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, and falls just short of the total number released in the week before last, we have (at least) seen a significant increase on the weekly total of 16 new channels... which was the average for any given seven-day period throughout the year in 2015. You will, however, notice that there are half a dozen new channels (at the very end of this list) for which there are (currently) no active links to any 'Roku Guide' reviews. The reason for this is that, for five of the six channels, their details were not made public via the Roku (USA) Channel Store until the weekly publishing deadline for the current crop of reviews had passed. These "missing" reviews should be published before the next of my 'Weekly RoundUp' posts is made, so look for them to be added here in due course. When it comes to the last of the six channels... I've posted an explanation below the entry (at the bottom of this week's list of new channels) so I won't bother going into it in greater detail just now! ;-)

Meanwhile, Roku UK users are still subject to restrictions (imposed by Roku) and (bizarrely) remain unable to access the channel descriptions in the web channel store on the Roku (USA) website. That said, the majority of the text from those web store descriptions can also be found within the individual channel 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 you 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 below and (instead) rely on the link to the right (below each channel icon) which will redirect you to an 'Roku Guide' review for additional details on each channel. As it stands, the links below (and to the left of) each channel icon are (currently) only of use to readers of this blog from the USA. This means 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 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 which were released between 11th December and 17th December 2016:-

COLOR SHIFT'R..............COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this "COLOR SHIFT'R" game is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices and does allow for FREE-TO-PLAY use when "AD-SUPPORTED" (by commercials between each game) as per the default installation, there is another option whereby Roku users can pay a ONE-TIME FEE of £0.69 ($0.99 USD) after which all ads are removed & the game will play COMMERCIAL-FREE! So, if you were wondering what was meant by "May require additional fees" in the description from the "Official" Roku Channel Store (or, from my "COST" summary, above), any additional "fees" for this game are entirely optional. It is for the individual Roku user to decide whether they'd rather play the game for free (with ads) or pay a small amount to remove all ads & play ad-free from then on! ;-)

G4R-KABOOM!!..............COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, while this "G4R-KaBoom!!" game is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku your device and does allow for FREE-TO-PLAY use of the app, the description from the built-in channel store on Roku streaming media players states that it, "May require additional fees", so please be aware of this possibility should you choose to install it. The game also asks for your Roku account information to unlock "extra features" (optional) but, currently, it is not obvious whether doing so is tied-in with any additional charges. Even the 'Roku Guide' review (see link above) said they were unable to determine precisely what those extra features were... other than allowing you to use a nickname in the game. As for "FEES", the 'Roku Guide' review shows "None" but if, at any time, it becomes clear what those "additional fees" relate to... I will update this post accordingly. In the meantime... if you do provide your details, and then later decide that you wish to remove them, you can easily "unregister" by clicking the * (asterisk) button on your Roku remote to access the options menu and delete your info! ;-)

DEEP HOUSE DISTRICT......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

HOUSE FLOOR......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

TECHNO WAREHOUSE.......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

TECH HOUSE TERRACE.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ICN TV CHANNEL................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

HOLIDAY FLIX.....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

TELEBELLUNO DOLOMITI TV ITALY........COST: £8.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That this 'Telebelluno Dolomiti TV Italy' channel is another of those subscription channels from developer, 'MariaTv sas', which comes at (what I consider to be) a fairly hefty price... based on the content you are getting for your money, versus what is charged by similar subscription video on-demand (SVOD) providers for access to their service(s). Granted, this is fairly specialist... on account of having Italian-language content only and, as such, is only likely to appeal to a minority of UK Roku users. However, if you happen to fall into that category, BEFORE YOU SUBSCRIBE... you should visit 'Streema.com' where you can SAMPLE THE FREE VIDEO-ON-DEMAND (VoD) content - which also comes from 'Telebelluno Dolomiti' - and THEN DECIDE if this channel is going to be right for you, or IF IT'S WORTH PAYING £8.99 PER MONTH to watch it on your Roku! ;-)

UN NUEVO DESPERTAR.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

CRIMSON FRIGHT................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

MANIC MOVIES...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ACTION HOUSE MOVIES...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

OLD REEL MOVIES.............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ZOMBIE YULE LOG.............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

DANCING IN THE DESERT.................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

PSYOP CHANNEL.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

DJ WUN MINISTRY..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SHIPS AT WAR......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

CHECKERS LIVE!.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

CHESS LIVE!........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

RADIO PUSHERS TV...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

MIRACLE TOUCH NETWORK............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

CHILE TV EN VIVO..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

C++ FOR BEGINNERS..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

N.B. CHANNEL ICON STILL TO FOLLOW -

NOT AVAILABLE AT TIME OF PUBLISHING

UNKNOWN CHANNEL..............................................................COST: tbc [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That the above "UNKNOWN CHANNEL" has yet to be identified... and, until the details become clear to me, I am also unable to say (with any certainty) under which genre it is filed. All that was known (at the time of publishing) is that there are several discrepancies, within the total number of channels for each genre (i.e. category) of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store, which will require further investigation prior to completion of this post. What I can say (for now) is that the possibilities have been narrowed down to the "International", "Special Interest" and "Travel" genres of the channel store. However, since it will be necessary to audit close to five hundred channels from those three categories to obtain the details of this "missing" channel, it may take a few days for me to update the information in this post. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this may cause you in the meantime... but I will endeavour not to leave it too long before I look into the matter! ;-) :-)

Hi, everyone !!

As you might expect, in the week leading-up to the festive period, there have been zero new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store and very little of interest in terms of either Roku-specific (or even Roku-related) news during the past 7 days. In fact, if you've been using your Roku device(s) at all in the time between my previous 'Weekly RoundUp' post and this one, the chances are you will already be aware of the one significant piece of Roku news I have for you...

Never ones to shy away from celebrating a big occasion, Roku have (once again) offered a change of scenery for the background imagery on our favourite streaming media player(s) in recent days. For those with (relatively) short memories... previous changes have included a "Hallowe'en" theme at the end of October, plus an "Autumn" theme (i.e. "Fall", for the benefit of our Trans-Atlantic cousins) during the Thanksgiving period. Anyway, given that "Christmas Day" 2016 is fast approaching, on this occasion we have been treated to an "Holiday Wonderland" theme... ensuring that Roku owners in all regions will have a 'White Christmas' on their streaming media players, even if there's no snow on the ground outside! Like I said... pretty much everyone that owns a Roku device, no matter which "region" they're from, will (more than likely) have (also) witnessed this latest change in backdrop (i.e. "theme") on the "Home" screen of their streaming media player(s) but, for those who didn't... as always, I was quick to announce the news via the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels to this blog and share the following screenshots which were taken from one of my own Roku devices:-

HINT:- Please CLICK on the above images TO ENLARGE THEM for easier viewing !!

If, by virtue of the 'Settings' on your Roku device(s), you did not notice a switch to the above "theme" for Roku's "HolidayWonderland" but would like to experience this (brief) change of scenery... there is no need to worry as there is still a (small) window of opportunity for you to take advantage of it, if you do want to add it to your Roku player(s). Of course, there may equally well be some of you who were less appreciative of the enforced change of scenery thrust upon your television screen(s) as a result of yet another back-door "update" from Roku !! Anyway... if it happens again and you don't like the new theme, or if you missed it (at first) but would like to add it while it's still a "current" option, it's very easy to switch back to a previous theme (or select another, from the choices available) via the 'Settings' menu on your Roku. All you need do is navigate to "Settings > Themes > My themes" from the "Home" screen & highlight your choice of "theme". This gives you a thumbnail screenshot of what you can expect as your backdrop (if selected), as per the (above) screenshot, and it's then just a matter of pressing the "OK" button to confirm your choice and save the change.

In future, should you rather not take advantage of (or, be subjected to) these "featured themes", then you can SIMPLY SWITCH THEM OFF, which is (again) easily achieved VIA THE CUSTOM SETTINGS in your Roku 'Settings' menu. Simply navigate to "Settings > Themes > Custom settings", from the "Home" screen of your Roku, and you will see the option to "Enable featured themes", which will toggle between "On" or "Off" based on whether there is a check mark (i.e. tick) beside that option. It's then just a matter of deciding what's best for you by pressing the "OK" button to toggle it and then save the change by exiting the menu. Those choosing to leave "Enable featured themes" with a check mark, i.e. "On", will find that their Roku player(s) will automatically switch to a "featured theme" whenever one is available, and then automatically switch back to their previous choice of "theme" when it expires. Anyone opting to leave "Enable featured themes" without a check mark, i.e. "Off", will find that their Roku player(s) DOES NOT automatically switch to a "featured theme", BUT... for the period of time that a "featured theme" IS AVAILABLE, you can still switch to it (manually) as and when you like. In other words, IF YOU DO NOT WANT to have your Roku switch to a "featured theme", without your actively choosing to do so, then all you need do is deactivate FEATURED THEMES by leaving "Enable featured themes" without a check mark, i.e. "Off", which will leave your Roku player "Theme" set just as you like it, with no danger of any unexpected changes in the future, unless you choose otherwise !!

Personally I rather like the (slight) "surprise" element of these "featured themes" which, as will (likely) be the case this time, appear only for a matter of days and I was (once more) excited to discover the "Holiday Wonderland" theme on my Roku in the days leading-up to 25th December. Needless to say, I (for one) will be leaving my "featured themes" set to "On" for the foreseeable future to discover what surprises lies in store as the days, weeks, months and years unfold from now. Speaking of which... maybe the folks at Roku could give us some virtual "Flowers" by way of a new "theme" for Mothers' Day in the UK on Sunday 26th March 2017?! Not forgetting the opportunity (prior to that) for "the wearing of the green", when it'd be great to see our TV screens adorned with green ribbons & shamrocks to celebrate St Patrick's Day on Friday 17th March 2017 - they could even go "black & white" and get Guinness to sponsor it - SO, HOW ABOUT IT ROKU!??!!! :-)

In the meantime, while there may not be any new channels to report on this week, we don't like to think of you going empty-handed... we leave that to owners of 'NowTV' boxes who are (let's face it) well used to being short-changed, in terms of new additions to their "Roku Powered" App Store! ;-) So, here's a few FREEBIES and SPECIAL OFFERS which may be of interest to UK Roku users:-

Firstly, for those who are lucky enough to be activating a new Roku device over the festive period, there is an offer from WuakiTV UK whereby you can GET 3 HD MOVIES FOR FREE when using a promotional code which will be sent by Roku (via email) when a new Roku streaming media player is activated by a UK Roku user via their Roku UK account (provided they have already signed-up to receive notifications from Roku, of course) as illustrated by the screenshot below:-

AS BEFORE:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!

PLEASE NOTE:- That, to take advantage of the above offer from WuakiTV UK and Roku, your new Roku UK device MUST BE ACTIVATED BY 8th JANUARY 2017 IN ORDER TO QUALIFY under the terms of this promotion. Then, having received the voucher code (via email) from Roku, please be aware ALL PURCHASE CODES MUST BE REDEEMED BY 31st MARCH 2017 after which they will be null & void with no further opportunity to redeem them for any free movie(s) that may have been unclaimed as of that date. Please read the full T&C's for more information.

Which brings us nicely onto our next FREEBIE for UK Roku owners and, in particular, those who have purchased (or been gifted) an Roku Streaming Stick (HDMI Version) [Model: 3500EU] but who were perhaps unaware of their entitlement to claim an FREE HDMI EXTENDER from Roku simply by completing an online form (requiring only the serial number of the Roku Streaming Stick, plus the usual contact information) in order to receive this useful bit of extra kit for their Roku device. This is well worth getting hold of (for free) since, even if you have no immediate need of it, you never know when you might run into some WiFi-related issues (e.g. while on your travels) that can be resolved by using this simple (but effective) cable extension to improve the wireless signal to your device, or else just make it easier to insert and/or remove the Roku Streaming Stick to/from an overcrowded HDMI input panel on the back of the TV through which you are attempting to stream media. Again, this is offered COMPLETELY FREE to anyone who has purchased a Roku Streaming Stick... so please do take Roku up on this offer if you are eligible because it won't cost you anything to get hold of one! ;-)

Moving on... if you (or someone you know) likes Horror films (as much as I do) then you'll maybe want to give "The Gift of Fear" to the horror fiend in your life (it's okay if it's you... go ahead and treat yourself - you deserve it!). Whomever is the intended recipient, those wishing take advantage of the offer by the folks at Darkest Night Podcast, in conjunction with the Shudder UK horror streaming service, will receive an (extended) trial period, i.e. AN 30-DAY FREE TRIAL OF SHUDDER UK, instead of the usual 7-day free trial offered as standard to all new (or returning) subscribers by the folks at Shudder UK and other regions where the 'Shudder' horror streaming service is available. Should this sound like something that might interest you... just USE CODE: darkestnight ON SIGN-UP and you'll be good FOR ONE MONTH OF SHUDDER - COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE which, as I'm sure you'll agree is a pretty fantastic offer if you are a fan of the 'Horror' genre, or know someone else who you think might like to take advantage of this generous offer from Shudder UK who, by the way, also happen to sponsor the 'Darkest Night' podcast - so you know it's going to be good! ;-) Those wishing to "get social" with the folks at 'Darkest Night' can connect with them either via their Twitter Feed: @DarkestNightPod or their FB page:- Darkest Night Podcast (Facebook) where I'm sure they'll be only too pleased to hear any questions or comments you may have! ;-)

Of course, not everyone is into horror movies... so, this next SPECIAL OFFER from Amazon UK will allow both horror and non-horror streaming devotees to pick & choose a movie from whichever genre is more to their liking. This current 'Amazon Instant Video' promotion from Amazon UK will allow you to RENT ANY ONE FILM FOR £0.99, regardless of the regular rental price for that film. To take advantage of this special offer, simply pick any film out of the 34,000+ that qualify, and click the “More Purchase Options” link on the product page. In the pop-up window that appears, you must then click the “Redeem a gift card or promotion code” link and enter the promo code RENTAL99 after which you'll need to click on "APPLY" to redeem it. You can then return to whichever film you chose to rent (in either SD or HD quality) and proceed to rent that film... for which you’ll only be charged £0.99 (yes, just ninety-nine pence). PLEASE NOTE:- That the discounted price won’t appear on the film listing, or during checkout, but you can always check your digital order history to verify that you were only charged £0.99. ALSO:- Do remember that, once you rent a film via Amazon UK, you then have just 30 days to start watching it and only 48 hours to finish it, once you've started! ;-)

N.B. You will find further instructions on how to redeem the above offer on the Amazon UK website, along with a list of supported devices plus the full terms & conditions for this particular promotion. :-)

Last, but by no means least, if you'd like to have access to the complete range of 'Sky Cinema' movie channels plus a vast selection of on-demand films, courtesy of the 'NowTV' video library, there is an opportunity for both new and existing subscribers to experience all that this streaming service has to offer and enjoy ONE MONTH OF NOWTV MOVIES - COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE thanks to a SPECIAL OFFER from 'NowTV' which means you're SAVING £9.99 versus their usual fee for an monthly 'Sky Cinema' pass. To take advantage of this offer, simply visit the NowTV website and click on 'My Account' at the top (right-hand side) of the page to get to a drop-down menu from where you can click on 'My passes' to see an overview of your current subscriptions. PLEASE NOTE:- If you are not already (automatically) signed-in, then clicking on 'My passes' will bring-up the 'Sign in' page - requiring you to enter the 'Email' or 'Username'& the 'Password' associated with your NowTV account, or set-up a new account... if you are new to the service - after which you'll see the overview of your current subscriptions. Look for the green text marked, "Apply a voucher", below where it says "Sky Cinema Month Pass" and click on that link to ENTER CODE: AANOWDMRW7MP and apply the "voucher" to your account. When the code has been applied successfully, you should then see a confirmation message and will be able to check the date when your free month starts and ends. Do bear in mind that, unless you cancel before the end of your free month, you will be charged the regular fee of £9.99 for a Sky Cinema Month Pass going forward - unless, of course, you happen to enter another voucher code while you're still enjoying the benefits of this offer period! ;-) :-)

*********************************************

Anyway, with no new channel additions to list this week, all that remains is for me to wish every one of you "Happy Holidays" - INSERT YOUR CHOSEN HOLIDAY CELEBRATION HERE - and to give you a heads-up that the coming week, up to and including the New Year celebrations, could well prove to be as unfruitful as the one we've just had. If so, it might afford me the opportunity to look back over the year and provide a summary of what were the high (and low) points as far as Roku users are concerned but I can't say for certain if that will be the case. So, if not, I'll do my best to find some more special offers for you to tide everybody over until whatever comes our way at CES 2017. Meanwhile, keep an eye on the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels for any "Boxing Day" UK Roku bargains that I come across and stay tuned for more offers in the January Sales! ;-) :-)

Hi, everyone !!

The New Year celebrations have meant that I've had to put my 'Weekly RoundUp' post on the back burner today (Saturday) and this will simply serve as a place-marker for the full article which will be published sometime over the next day or two, so... look out for that in due course! :-)

In the meantime, I'd like to wish all of you a "Happy New Year" and all the best for 2017 !!

Thanks for reading this blog... we'll be back soon with more Roku-related news and updates! ;-)

Hi, everyone !!

As has been the case for the last couple of weeks, there have (again) been zero new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store during the last seven days. That said, with 'CES 2017' in full flow for the latter part of the week, there were some items of Roku-related news which were shared via the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels that are worthy of a second mention. Unfortunately, my time has (once more) been occupied by other commitments, meaning that (as with last week) I've had to put my 'Weekly RoundUp' post on the back burner and settle for leaving a place-marker to the full article which will be published as and when I find the time, so... look out for more in due course! :-)

In the meantime, I also posted details for a couple of private channels (available in all regions) plus some special offers for UK Roku users among the other Roku-related bits and pieces that were shared via my Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels so it may be worth looking back over those, while you wait!

Anyway, thanks for reading... and, rest assured, we'll be back with more Roku-related news soon! ;-)

Hi, everyone !!

While the festive period gave UK Roku users a taste of the week-to-week reality for NowTV box owners, with no new channel additions whatsoever, the last seven days have served as a thankful reminder as to why we prefer Roku streaming media players over the devices from NowTV. To put things firmly into perspective, there have been more new channels (or, "apps", if you prefer) added to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store in the last week than the sum total of Roku channels which have been accumulated in the (ahem) "Roku Powered" App Store (built-in to NowTV boxes) during the three and a half years since the first (white box) NowTV-branded device was launched! :-O

As there's so much to get through this week, I'm going to (once again) ask you to refer back to the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels for details of any Roku-related news, as well as some special offers which may be of interest. In addition to that, I also posted details for some more private channels (available in all regions) among the other Roku-related bits and pieces that were shared via Twitter... so, as always, it's worth looking back over my recent tweets for some extra treats! ;-) :-)

We kick things off this time around with a few 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. Personally, I love coming across apps like these... because they illustrate precisely why it is worth taking the time to read the 'Weekly RoundUp' posts on this blog. 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 for identifying the latest additions to UK Roku devices risk missing-out on these channels altogether. Other websites offering Roku channel listings base their contents on the Roku USA Channel Store, which means they also include apps which are unavailable to Roku UK users. So, if you really want to know what's available to UK Roku users channel-wise... be sure to keep reading this blog! ;-)

NLL TV.......................................COST: FREE + SUBSCRIPTION FEES [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, although this "NLL TV" channel does not yet appear to have been added to the Roku USA Channel Store, it is available to any Roku users in the U.S. who may be interested in watching the National Lacrosse League games simply by using VANITY CODE: nlltv for which you will need to login to your Roku account online - VIA THIS LINK - and scroll down to the section headed 'Manage Account', beneath which you will see a link to "Add a channel" and, once you click on that link, you can type in the vanity code and then you just need to confirm that you want to add the channel. After that, just go to your Roku and you should see "NLL TV" at the end of your list ;-)

BAEBLE MUSIC...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SDM.............................COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

ISRAEL TV NETWORK.......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

WOTG RADIO......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

91, 9 SPORTS MONTRÉAL.................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ELEMENTS MEDIA NETWORKS......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

MAGGIE and the FEROCIOUS BEAST................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

KID GENIUS CARTOON CHANNEL..................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

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

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

CLASSIC MOVIES, TV and POETRY..................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

BAD VOLTAGE....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SCI & TECH" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

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

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

ULTRA TOXIC TELEVISION..............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

RESTAURANTE ANDES.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

EDM MAINSTAGE..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SPARKK TV - WEEKLY T-10...............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ANALAI EXPRESS...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

BADANAMU CHINA...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

DANCE NETWORK..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

BALKANIYUM TV HD........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

BEATBOX BATTLE.............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

REACTION RESPONSE KING...........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

2048 PLAY.......................................................COST: £0.69 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, since this paid (monthly subscription) version of "2048 Play" is not (currently) available on Roku devices in the USA... the channel description, for which I have provided a link above, pertains to the free (ad-supported) version that was published via the online Roku (USA) Web Channel Store - called "2048 Free" - as played by Roku users in the United States. The reason we, in the UK, must purchase a monthly subscription to play this game is that the ads used to support the free version in the U.S. are considered (by the developer) to be of little or no relevance for the UK market. As such, if it helps, you can consider the UK channel to be an ad-free (premium) version which can be played without any interruptions due to adverts! ;-)

ALSO:- For similar reasons, there is no 'Roku Guide' review of the paid version and (therefore) the link provided (above) is for the 'Roku Guide' review of "2048 Free"not"2048 Play" (paid version) as found on Roku devices in the UK. The reason why I've included this link is that the game (itself) remains the same, whether free (ad-sponsored) or paid (ad-free) and therefore the information provided, within the 'Roku Guide' review, about how to play the game (as well as any screenshots provided therein) are equally of relevance to Roku UK as they are for those in USA. Just be aware that any mention of the game being "free" and/or "ad-sponsored" are in reference to the version found on Roku devices in the USA and, aside from that, it's the same for the paid (UK) app! :-)

COPTIC COPT4G...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

RESTAURANTE MEXICO....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

THE CHRONIC RIFT............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

GEOGRAPHY NOW..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

UPTOTEN.COM...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

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

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

ON CLASSIC MOVIES.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

PAST TO PRESENT...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

BLANKET FORT..................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

SURFACEPROARTIST.COM TV.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

CHURCH OF CHRIST CHANNEL...................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

WHPR TV NOW....................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

UPTOTEN FRANÇAIS.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

VALENTINE'S DAY SCREENSAVER......COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

ITDLIVETV PLUS................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ALL AUTOMOTIVE............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

TRIBAL FUSION BELLYDANCE.......COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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

CROWN OF LIFE GLOBAL TV........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

Anyway, as you can see, there's still a lot of 'Roku Guide' reviews missing from the above list of channels... which is because, in their own words, "It takes time to watch and review each and every channel" and, with so many channels released in the last week, it's no wonder that they've only had the time to review half of them! So, you can expect this article to be finished-off as and when those "missing" reviews become available... along with details of a few more (as yet) undetermined new channels for UK Roku users. In the meantime, all of the above are available on your Roku devices now... so, if you're really keen to find out about a particular channel, why not install any that you like the look of (or are simply curious about) and see for yourself?! We'll be back soon with more info... but, until then - that's all folks! :-)

Hi, everyone !!

The BIG NEWS this week, in terms of Roku-specific announcements, came courtesy of the "Official" Roku Stream Blog who posted individual articles for UK Roku users, as well as those in the USA and Canada, all of which shared information about important changes to their Roku apps for iOS (Apple) mobile devices (i.e. iPads, iPhones, etc.) plus Android mobile devices (again, incl. phones & tablets).

This new and improved 'Version 4.0' of the Roku app offers Roku users simpler access to popular features of the app thanks to the sleek, new navigation bar (located at the bottom of the screen) that makes both the remote function and access to channels (installed, or not) far easier to get at. There are also new tabs (shortcut buttons) to discover "What's On" or share "Photos+" any visual media to your TV that happens to be stored on your mobile device. Launching "Channels" can now be done with just one tap of the channel icon and, better yet, whenever a channel is launched (via the app) an remote control interface will appear on-screen (again, in-app) to provide a more seamless experience in getting to the content found within your chosen channel. In addition, you'll find a "Search" icon at the top of the "Channels" and "What's On" screens, making it even easier to find what you want! :-)

When it comes to controlling your Roku device(s) via the app, the on-screen remote (accessible, at any time, using the new "Remote" tab on the navigation bar) the directional pad and the "buttons" have been moved closer together... making it easier to operate with only one hand, if need be. There is also a "Channels" icon (found top-right of the screen) within the "Remote" tab to facilitate quick and easy access to your installed channels, for whenever you need to switch between Roku apps! :-)

In other Roku-related news, the original "Havoc Television" channel for Roku devices has been taken "Out of Service" and anyone who had previously installed this channel will now see a message, when the channel is launched, which says: "Sorry, this channel is no longer in service" and the only option is to press the "OK" button on your Roku remote (either the original, or Roku app version) to "Quit" the "Havoc Television" channel. This news is worse for NowTV Box owners since, unlike Roku UK devices, the replacement "Havoc TV" channel (available in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store since November 2016) has yet to find it's way into the "App Store" found on streaming media players from NowTV. As a result, there is now ONE LESS ROKU CHANNEL ON NOWTV DEVICES with the "Music" genre (i.e. category) of the "Roku-powered" (ahem) App Store on NowTV devices being reduced from five channels to only four. Another reminder of why UK streamers should be choosing to buy genuine Roku-branded models (Roku Stick, Roku 2, Roku 3, etc.) instead of "Roku-powered" NowTV devices, which are now 3,500+ Roku channels short of offering the vast array of streaming options that are (currently) available to UK Roku owners! So, while those with NowTV devices have little choice but to accept their App Store now offers even less than it did last week...

... anyone with an UK Roku device can simply use the Roku "Search" feature to find and install the "Havoc TV" channel, to continue enjoying content from Havoc Television on Roku devices. Here is the channel icon for the newer version of the app (not available on NowTV devices) so that you can more readily identify the replacement channel from the search results (or via the channel store):-

As always, there were a few other snippets of Roku-specific and/or Roku-related news this week, but due to time constraints I'm going to refer you back to the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels for that, as well as some new channel-specific content which may be of interest to those of you who subscribe to the "Shudder" horror streaming service and one or two other niche channels (who shared info via social media) that I decided to retweet. In addition, I posted some other Roku-related bits & pieces (again, via Twitter) so it's worth looking back over my recent tweets for some extra treats! ;-)

Meanwhile, as was the case in my previous 'Weekly RoundUp' post, we (once more) begin our list of new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store with some more apps that, despite being new to UK Roku devices, are not listed in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the Roku UK Channel Store. As I said last week, I love coming across apps like these... because they illustrate precisely why it's worth taking time to read the 'Weekly RoundUp' posts on this blog. 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 for identifying the latest additions to UK Roku devices risk missing-out on these channels altogether. Other websites offering Roku channel listings base their contents on the Roku USA Channel Store, which means they also include apps which are unavailable to Roku UK users. So, if you want to know what's available to UK Roku users... be sure to keep reading this blog! ;-)

DM13DO.................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GOOGLE PHOTOS ALBUM................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

LUNDY CHAPEL...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

HEART SHAPED BONES......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

THE BAZILLIONS.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

PLEASE NOTE:- That "The Bazillions" channel for Roku players, which was recently developed by Future Today Inc., should not be mistaken for the much older "Bazillions TV" channel which was created by the kid-friendly rock-n-rollers themselves & added to Roku devices back in 2013. In fact, this potential for confusion over the two Roku apps is the most likely explanation for the absence of any active link to a 'Roku Guide' review for "The Bazillions" channel. Presumably, once the folks at 'Roku Guide' realise that there are two separate channels available, we will see a 'Roku Guide' review of the above (more recent) channel published soon after. Needless to say, once details of this review have been made public, I will (of course) add the "missing" link to this post! ;-) :-)

ROGUE COUNTRY...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

CORNER FRINGE MINISTRIES..........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

SUPER BABY ENGLISH.......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

VIET SONG MEDIA..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

IMPD PLAY.............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ANDREW FARLEY MINISTRIES........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

REEL MOVIE CLASSICS.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

PAULA HEWELL MINISTRIES...........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

CHRISTIAN CHANNELS.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

WGUD-TV..............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

RESTAURANTE LATINO.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

98,1 RADIO X - QUÉBEC.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

GOLF NEWS NET..................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ATMOSPHERE FOR HEALING...........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

GHANA360.............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

SECOND EBENEZER............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

Anyway, as you can see, there's still a couple of 'Roku Guide' reviews missing from the above list of channels... which is because they either missed them (as with the 'Second Ebenezer' channel), due to their publishing deadlines, or mistook them for existing channels (as with 'The Bazillions' channel). So, expect this article to be finished-off as and when those "missing" reviews become available... along with details of another (as yet) undetermined new channel for UK Roku users. In the meantime, all of the above are available on your Roku devices now... so, if you're really keen to find out about a particular channel, why not install any that you like the look of (or are simply curious about) and see for yourself?! We'll be back soon with more info... but, until then - that's all folks! :-)

Hi, everyone !!

It's been a pretty quiet week all-round since my previous 'Weekly RoundUp' post was published and, needless to say, that means I have no Roku-specific news to share with you and very little by way of new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store to bring you. So, without further ado, here is the (rather short) list of just ten channels which were released in the last seven days:-

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

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

EPIC MEAL TIME.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

JESUS SCREENSAVER.................................COST: £0.69 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

HOT SPANISH.......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

BEST NEW HIP HOP MUSIC VIDEOS.............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

100 LIVE................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

DREAM PALACE.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

Hi, everyone !!

Before I get into the Roku-specific and/or Roku-related news from the past week, I'd just like to draw your attention to a LIMITED-TIME SPECIAL OFFER on the flagship 'Roku 3' streaming player via the Tesco Direct website. Please be aware that the deal price is for THIS WEEKEND ONLY and the T&C's state that THE OFFER ENDS ON MONDAY 6th FEBRUARY 2017... so, if you want to take advantage of this HUGE SAVING on the top-of-the-range UK Roku model, you will need to be sure that you ACT FAST to secure your discount of 51% OFF THE ORIGINAL MSRP OF £99.99 and get a 'Roku 3' with FREE DELIVERY TO YOUR LOCAL TESCO STORE via Tesco "Click & Collect"!

HINT:- Please CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!

To get a 'Roku 3' for ONLY £49.00 WITH FREE 'CLICK & COLLECT' TO YOUR LOCAL TESCO simply visit the relevant product page from the Tesco Direct website, before the offer ends and make your purchase online, for collection in-store at a later date. No matter whether you are looking to buy your first Roku device in the UK, or add another (e.g. to a second television) to expand your viewing options, this is a really great price for this flagship streaming media player from Roku in the UK! :-)

It is also AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY for owners of 'NowTV' branded devices to improve on their (massively restricted) NowTV boxes, somewhat misleadingly labelled as "Roku Powered": with only 51 Roku channels in the built-in App Store, for an original UK Roku-branded streaming device that offers a vastly superior choice of 3,500+ Roku channels (including Netflix, Amazon Video, etc.) while still offering access to 'NowTV' for those with 'Sky Cinema', 'Entertainment', 'Kids' or 'Sport' passes from the NowTV streaming service. So, for a better choice of content, forget 'NowTV' boxes and UPGRADE TO THIS FLAGSHIP ROKU MODEL FOR LESS THAN HALF-PRICE! ;-) :-)

Speaking of 'NowTV', there was some anxiety among subscribers to their 'Entertainment Month Pass' earlier in the week... after the news of a dispute between Sky and Discovery over the renewal of their carriage deal had come to light the week before and it was beginning to look like 'NowTV' may have to find a replacement for the 'Discovery Channel' in the channel line-up for their 'Entertainment' pass if an agreement wasn't reached by 1st February 2017. However, at the 11th hour, a solution was found and subscribers to the 'Entertainment Month Pass' from NowTV were able to breathe a sigh of relief when it became clear that an agreement had been reached to keep the channel(s) as part of the overall carriage deal with Sky and NowTV. That said, I can't help but still wonder what the replacement may have been (had it come to that) or whether Sky / NowTV would have continued to charge the same amount to subscribers for a reduced service. Obviously, this would have been worse for subscribers to Sky's satellite service (with a total of 12 or 13 channels under threat) but, thankfully, no-one needs to worry about that any more. Even so, it would have presented an ideal opportunity for Discovery UK to "go it alone" and perhaps develop their own Roku channel(s) with the likes of 'Eurosport' being an ideal choice for boosting the (current) selection of 158 channels within the 'Sports' category of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store still further. Whether this might still happen is anybody's guess but, while it's unlikely that 'Eurosport' will be added to the channel line-up on 'NowTV Sport' passes, the opportunity to develop a channel for UK Roku devices definitely remains a viable option for the folks at 'Discovery UK' to consider going-forward. The fact that they haven't already done this is what I find harder to fathom - are you listening Discovery UK? There's a place for you on Roku! :-)

The other 'NowTV' news story to surface earlier this week was a change to the "Most Popular" genre of the (ahem) "Roku-Powered" (really!?!) App Store on NowTV devices. Having witnessed a similar change to the "Most Popular" genre (i.e. category) of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store on my own genuine Roku-branded media players, from 25 channels to 75 channels, it seemed like being a fairly straight-forward move to replicate that on NowTV devices. However, due to the restrictions / limitations (imposed by Sky / NowTV) on the channel selection available in the 'App Store' from NowTV, there are not 75 channels to list... "Most Popular", or not! So, bizarrely, this category of the 'App Store' on NowTV boxes now lists ALL 51 ROKU CHANNELS AVAILABLE for installation by users of 'NowTV' devices. In other words, the "Most Popular" category now includes every single channel from all the other categories combined!?! Can someone please explain to me... what exactly was the point of doing that? Unless, of course, there's so few channels to choose from in the NowTV 'App Store' that every one of them has proven to be "most popular" among NowTV users!?!! :-/ :-|

Anyway, at least the increase in "Most Popular" channels for UK Roku devices is worthwhile... it is, after all, far easier to list 75 channels from a choice of 3,500+ than it is to list 75 channels from a selection of only 51 channels (as is the case with NowTV devices) and the added exposure for the fifty channels selected by Roku for inclusion in this category will, I am certain, be welcomed very much by the developers of those particular apps - as well as any which may be afforded that honour in future revisions to that list. Personally, I'm still not convinced as to the legitimacy of what makes certain Roku channels (listed as "Most Popular" by Roku) worthy of inclusion... when other channels with more and/or higher ratings from UK Roku users are not part of the list, but - it is what it is! :-/

Another bit of good news I shared via the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels this week was that 'SuperBowl LI' - that's, 'SuperBowl 51', to you and me - will be FREE-TO-STREAM for both Roku UK users and NowTV Box owners, thanks to 'BBC iPlayer' providing a LIVE STREAM of the annual highlight in the American Football calendar on Sunday 5th February 2017 (i.e. tomorrow!) from 11:20pm (UK time) with the game starting at 11:30pm and coverage continuing until 4am on Monday 6th February for those who follow the sport (and don't need much sleep before work!). This year the showpiece event comes from the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas and will see the 'Patriots' of New England take on the 'Falcons' from Atlanta, Georgia for the title of Superbowl Champions!

While we're on the subject of Twitter... there was an interesting tweet from the Roku Developers Feed: @RokuDev which could prove useful for anyone looking to find a Roku channel developer, well-versed in BrightScript, for their Roku-related project. Essentially, Roku have opened-up their LinkedIn page to allow people to post details for relevant job opportunities and attract candidates. Since far fewer UK programmers are familiar with BrightScript, especially when compared to the USA, this could turn out to be a useful resource for any UK companies looking to get into the OTT streaming market by developing a Roku channel through which to stream their media-based content.

Another news item of relevance to Roku developers was the recent article published by SlashGear which detailed plans by Roku to end support for legacy SDK Visual Screen components. Essentially, this means "pushing" developers to update the look of their Roku channels (or, "apps", if you prefer) according to their proposed timeline... whereby, as of 1st January 2019, all legacy visual screen components will be removed entirely from the Roku OS. In the meantime, Roku developers are being advised to make the switch to Roku SceneGraph (or use 'Direct Publisher' for Roku) by 1st July 2017. Starting with immediate effect, no new features will be added to the legacy SDK visual screens arena and, from 1st January 2018, it will be a requirement for all channel updates to be made using either 'Direct Publisher' or 'Roku SceneGraph' (RSG)... YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! ;-) :-)

Moving on, for Roku USA users with Comcast (cable) subscriptions, there is now a BETA TRIAL of their new Roku channel for 'Xfinity TV' which may interest those in the U.S. looking to access cable content through conveniently placed Roku devices on televisions (perhaps) in other rooms around the home. While there is no charge for this, during the trial period, Roku users would be well-advised to read the full terms & conditions when joining-up because, from what I've read, Comcast plans to charge users for each Roku box (much like they do now for additional cable boxes) once the final version is released. Any readers of this blog from the USA wishing to know more about this latest beta trial for Roku users from Comcast / Xfinity TV can read the official announcement from Roku, posted by Andrew Ferrone, via the "Official" Roku Stream Blog on Tuesday 31st January 2017.

I also took the opportunity this week to conduct a brief (24-hour) poll of Netflix subscribers... so as to determine how many people are as displeased as I am about the "Auto-Start" feature that has been implemented within the Netflix main menu which (as far as I'm concerned) serves no useful purpose other than to interrupt my browsing experience when looking for something to stream on Netflix. As can be seen from the above screenshot of my post on the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels the results were pretty conclusive (despite being only a small sample of Netflix subscribers) and I was sure to send my findings to both Reed Hastings (CEO, Netflix) and Netflix Customer Service, as well as the Twitter feeds for Netflix (USA) plus Netflix UK & Ireland... but, as with any big company, it remains to be seen whether they will take any action to remove this latest "feature" from their UI, or if they will only be able to look back in hindsight once they start losing too many subscribers as a result of their (seemingly) "couldn't-care-less" attitude towards their paying customers! :-/ :-|

Other than that... there's been some interesting news for Roku UK gamers, including an update on the progress to his latest retro-gaming remake, "Donkey Kong", by indie developer Marcelo Lv Cabral [Twitter Feed: @LvCabral] who has added "Fireballs" to the weapons arsenal of the title character. Below is a 'YouTube' video recently uploaded by Marcelo, showing how development of the game was progressing prior to this latest update. Meanwhile, in other Roku gaming news, there have also been a couple of FREE GAMES added to Roku devices this week (see list of new channel additions) that are compatible with all current generation UK Roku devices (including Roku Stick, plus both Roku 2 and Roku 3 models) as well as Roku 2 XS - the original Roku UK flagship device! :-)

While there may have been a number of both Roku-specific and Roku-related items of news during the past seven days, unfortunately the new channel additions were not quite so forthcoming. In fact, we've seen the lowest amount of new apps in one week for UK Roku devices since the (expected) lull over the festive period & into this year. Meanwhile, Roku UK users are still subject to restrictions (imposed by Roku) and (bizarrely) remain unable to access the channel descriptions in the web store on the Roku (USA) website. That said, the majority of text from those web channel store listings can also be found within the individual channel 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 below and (instead) rely on the link to the right (below each channel icon) which will redirect you to an 'Roku Guide' review for additional details on each channel. As it stands, the links below (and to the left of) each channel icon are (currently) only of use to readers of this blog from the USA. This means 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 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 which were released between 29th January and 4th February 2017:-

GET CONNECTED TV..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SCI & TECH" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

BA RECIPES..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

CUPS AND BALL FREE.......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

GIZMOOT PLAYER..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That the above 'Gizmoot Player' channel for Roku devices requires the use of a free companion 'Gizmoot' app for either iOS (Apple) or Android mobile devices, to act as a remote control for the playback of music, movies, photos, podcasts & internet radio over your WiFi network. Internet services such as Vimeo or Flickr can be used within Gizmoot, while RSS feeds can also be browsed and played. Other features include: play queue, favourites, recently played, loop, shuffle and slideshows. For more information about 'Gizmoot', please visit their official website, and for further details of the 'Gizmoot Player' app (itself) there is a dedicated page which offers a basic explanation as to how the player functions, as well as a user manual for more in-depth instruction. If you do get stuck, there is an 'FAQ' section for frequently asked questions which might provide a fast answer for any issues you may be experiencing. Meanwhile... if you'd prefer to connect with 'Gizmoot' via social media, then please visit their "Official" FB Page at:- Gizmoot (Facebook) ;-)

Hi, everyone !!

While things have been relatively quiet, in terms of both Roku-specific and Roku-related news, in the last week... the same can (thankfully) not be said of the new additions to the Roku Channel Store that have far surpassed the collective output from the two weeks which preceded the last. As there's so many apps to get through this week, I'm going to (once again) ask you to refer back to the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels for details of any Roku-related news, as well as some special offers which may be of interest. In addition to that, I also posted details of the access codes for more private channels (available in all regions) among the other Roku-related bits and pieces that were shared via Twitter... so, as always, it's worth looking back over my recent tweets for some extra treats! ;-) :-)

Anyway, we kick things off this time around with another handful of 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. As I've said before, I love discovering apps like this... because they illustrate precisely why it's worth reading the 'Weekly RoundUp' posts on this blog. 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 (for identifying the latest additions to UK Roku devices) risk missing-out on these channels altogether. Other websites offering Roku channel listings base their contents on the Roku USA Channel Store, which means they also include apps which are unavailable to Roku UK users. So, if you really want to know what's available to UK Roku users channel-wise... be sure to keep reading this blog! ;-)

Speaking of other Roku-related websites, you will notice (towards the end of the list of new channel additions) that some of the channels do not (yet) have an active link to a 'Roku Guide' review specific to that channel. In (almost) all incidences, this is because those channels were not released until after the publishing deadline for the current crop of reviews had passed. Needless to say, any links to these "missing" reviews will be added to this post once the details have been made known to me. Apologies for any inconvenience which may have been caused by their absence from this post in the meantime.

Readers of this blog from the USA will be able to use the links below (and to the left of) each listing to access the official descriptions from the Roku Web Channel Store, until the "missing" links to any upcoming 'Roku Guide' reviews are added. Unfortunately, however, Roku UK users are still subject to restrictions (imposed by Roku) and (bizarrely) remain unable to access those 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 below and (instead) rely on the link to the right (below each channel icon) which will redirect you to an 'Roku Guide' review for additional details on each channel. As it stands, the links below (and to the left of) each channel icon are (currently) only of use to readers of this blog from the USA. This means 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 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 which were released between 5th and 11th February 2017:-

LION MOUNTAIN TV...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

TELLING THE TRUTH TV...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

FUNKER TACTICAL............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHANNEL.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

N.B. CHANNEL ICON STILL TO FOLLOW -

NOT AVAILABLE AT TIME OF PUBLISHING

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

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

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

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

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

***FILED UNDER: "SCI & TECH" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

FEET FACE FORWARD YOGA............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

MYRTLE BEACH...................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

OUTSIDE TV SHORTS.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

TONY EVANS NOW..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

WEDDING CHANNEL..........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ROAD JUNKIE RADIO.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ALL UNITED STATES HISTORY.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

ELCRIS1017...........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

APRENDA INGLÈS................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DESI MOVIES.......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

MIDDLE EASTERN MUSIC.................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

RELAXING BG VIDEOS - PRO...................COST: £27.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

RELAXING BG VIDEOS - BASIC...............COST: £20.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

RELAXING BG VIDEO - LITE....................COST: £13.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

AYU BRAZIL.........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

TIFFANY ROTHE WORKOUTS..........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

CARBOT ANIMATIONS.......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

KNOXVILLE EDGE..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

CANALES-DOMINICANOS.................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

TMN RADIO..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

CAMP MEETING RADIO....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

Hi, everyone !!

Yet again, things have been relatively quiet, in terms of both Roku-specific and Roku-related news, in the last seven days... but, despite amounting to only half the number of apps that were released in the previous week, the same can (thankfully) not be said of the new additions to the Roku Channel Store. As I did with my last 'Weekly RoundUp' post, I'm going to (once more) ask you to refer back to the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels for details of any Roku-related news, as well as some special offers which may be of interest. In addition to that, I also posted details of the access codes for more private channels (available in all regions) among the other Roku-related bits and pieces that were shared via Twitter... so it's worth looking back over my recent tweets for some extra treats! ;-)

Anyway, we kick things off this time around with another channel that, despite being new to UK Roku devices, is not listed in the "New" category (i.e. genre) of the Roku UK Channel Store. As I've said before, I love discovering apps like this... because they illustrate precisely why it's worth reading the 'Weekly RoundUp' posts on this blog. 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 (for identifying the latest additions to UK Roku devices) risk missing-out on channels like this altogether. Other websites offering Roku channel listings base their contents on the Roku USA Channel Store, which means they also include apps that are unavailable to Roku UK users. So, if you really want to know what's available to UK Roku users channel-wise... be sure to read this blog every week! ;-) :-)

Before I run through the list of new channels... a brief 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 below 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 each 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 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 which were released between 12th and 18th February 2017:-

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

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

FAST COMPANY NETWORK.............................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

STGN-49.................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

BEER, STEAK and POTATOES....COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

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

VALENTINE'S FOR GUYS...........COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

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

TJC (THE JEWELLERY CHANNEL)..................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, since this "TJC" channel for Roku streaming devices is not (yet?) available in the Roku USA Channel Store, there is no web channel store description on the Roku website... which means that clicking on the link provided above will (instead) redirect you to the official UK website of 'The Jewellery Channel' from where further information can be obtained. Should you have any questions, comments, or suggestions pertaining to the new 'TJC' channel on UK Roku devices, or other aspects of their business, I'm sure that 'The Jewellery Channel' will be only too pleased to hear from you. Those wishing to connect with them via social media can do so easily via their official Twitter Feed: @TJCSHOPPING or else, their FB page, at:- The Jewellery Channel (Facebook) ;-)

ALSO:- For similar reasons to those given for the lack of a web channel store description, there is also (currently) no active link to any 'Roku Guide' review of the "TJC" channel. Furthermore, as there is already a sister channel called "ShopLC" available for Roku devices in the USA, it is unlikely that we will ever see an 'Roku Guide' review of the (currently) UK-only "TJC" channel for Roku devices. Those wishing to read a 'Roku Guide' review of the "ShopLC" channel, as found on Roku devices in North America, will find the article posted on their website alongside other releases from this week.

THAT CHURCH CONFERENCE.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

TRUTH for LIFE - ALISTAIR BEGG...................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

PLEASE NOTE:- That, for some (as yet) unknown reason, this "Truth for Life - Alistair Begg" app for Roku devices appears to have escaped the attention of the folks at 'Roku Guide' so, consequently, there is (currently) no active link to an 'Roku Guide' review of this channel. However, those of you wishing to know more about the bible-teaching ministry from Alistair Begg (or find additional links for further information) can always read an earlier 'Roku Guide' review pertaining to a slightly older version of the channel, called "Truth for Life", which was released sometime around January 2015. Meanwhile, if an 'Roku Guide' review of the current version should happen to be published in future, we will endeavour to add the "missing" link to this article once any details are made known to us. :-)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EDGY and BEAUTIFUL.................................COST: £0.69 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

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

TX GAME HUNTERS...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

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

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

DoPE 45..................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #190

A Cinematic History of Horror for Hallowe'en On Roku - DAY 29: Ghosts, Vampires & Devil Worship! (2007-2010)

A Cinematic History of Horror for Hallowe'en On Roku - DAY 30: Zombies, Conjuring & Babadook! (2011-2014)

A Cinematic History of Horror for Hallowe'en On Roku - DAY 31: Folktales & Supernatural Forces! (2015-2016)

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #191

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #192

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #193

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #194

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #195

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #196

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #197

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #198

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #199

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #200

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #201

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #202

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #203

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #204

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #205

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #206