- Free Ad-Supported Channels Now Available on Roku TVs and Streaming Devices
- The selection is very focused on the United States.
- Major UK broadcasters still have their own apps
Roku has added tons of new free channels for viewers in the UK, and the programming includes some familiar names like Deal or No Deal, PGA Tour golf and MLB.
All 40 new channels are available now and you can find them on The Roku Channel and in the Live TV Zone on your Roku TV or Roku Streamer. There is no need to register for anything or install any additional applications.
The arrival of these channels was first announced back in September, and while it’s a long overdue addition (Roku has long offered free, ad-supported TV channels in the US, Canada, and South America), I’d like to see more channels added soon to make the live TV section worth a visit.
What channels do UK Roku users get?
Roku has listed a dozen highlights from the new Live TV section (the full lineup is here). And they are:
- Sports: PGA TOUR, TNA Wrestling, MLB
- Entertainment: Deal or no deal, fear factor
- Drama: The bold and the beautiful
- Home: The Martha Stewart Channel, this old house
- Crime and medicine: Unsolved mysteries, untold emergency stories
- Nature and wildlife: NatureTime, I love pets
While it’s nice to get more free stuff, there’s a distinct “EPG page 20” vibe to the channels listed. And if these are the best, it means Roku is still behind Amazon, whose live Fire TV channels also include UK broadcasters like the BBC and ITV. They are not among the Live TV selection on Roku.
Of course, you can still get those channels on Roku. But you need individual apps to do it. 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 on it.
Hopefully that means this is the start of a series of improvements in the UK and there will be more soon.
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