- Free, ad-supported channels now available on Roku TVs and streaming devices
- The selection is very focused on the United States
- Major UK broadcasters are still in their own apps
Roku has added a host of new free channels for viewers in the UK, and the programming includes some familiar names including Deal or No Deal, PGA Tour golf and MLB.
All 40 new channels are available now and you can find them in The Roku Channel and Live TV Zone on your Roku TV or Roku streamer. You don’t need to register or install any additional apps.
The arrival of these channels was first announced in September, and while it’s a long-awaited addition — Roku has long offered ad-supported free TV channels in the United States, Canada, and South America — I’d like to see more channels added soon so that the live TV section is worth visiting.
What channels do UK Roku users receive?
Roku has listed a dozen highlights of the new live TV section (the full lineup is here). And these are:
- Sporty: PGA TOUR, TNA Wrestling, MLB
- Entertainment: Deal or No Deal, fear factor
- Drama: The Bold and the Beautiful
- Home: The Martha Stewart Canal, this old house
- Crime and medicine: Unsolved mysteries, untold stories from emergencies
- Nature and wildlife: NatureTime, love pets
While it’s nice to get more free content, the channels listed give off a distinct “20th page of the EPG” vibe. And if these are the best, that means Roku is still lagging behind Amazon, whose Fire TV live channels also include UK broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV. They are not part of the Live TV selection on Roku.
You can of course still get these channels on Roku. But for this you need individual applications. And that means the live TV section doesn’t feel like a one-stop shop for all your favorite channels and shows — which it needs to be if Roku wants to make money selling ads there.
Hopefully this means this is the start of a series of improvements in the UK, with more coming soon.
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