Users of Roku’s various streaming devices in the UK can now access a bundle of just over 40 TV channels via its new live TV guide, initially with a distinct lack of UK broadcast partners.
- Entertainment, children’s and music channels among line-up
- Familiar UK services absent from the streaming service
Roku has rolled out its new live TV guide to users in the UK, following on from its rollout in other parts of the world, including the USA.
The initial launch line-up consists of just over 40 channel, grouped by genre in a traditional TV guide. Some channels feature in multiple genres.
You’ll be able to access the channels via the new live TV guide, which features prominently in the Home and Live TV tabs.
At launch, UK viewers can stream mostly US content, including US soap The Bold and the Beautiful and The Martha Stewart Channel, alongside channels dedicated to the US version of Deal or No Deal or Major League Baseball. Roku’s dedicated Fireplace channel is integrated into the service, allowing your TV to become an ambient centrepiece of your living room.
SEE ALSO: ROKU LIVE TV UK LAUNCH LINE-UP OF CHANNELS
Not much UK content
The service is notably lacking in UK partner broadcasters, unlike other similar streaming services. As a result, you won’t currently find much British content. There’s no Sky News, like on Samsung TV Plus and you won’t find 5’s streaming-only extra channels like on Pluto TV.
There’s good reason – if you’d find the BBC, ITV or Channel 4 on Roku’s live TV guide, you wouldn’t need Freely, the hybrid streaming service backed by the above broadcasters that aims to eventually replace Freeview.
Roku does ship TVs that includes Freely. But even then, you won’t be able to see all of Roku’s and Freely’s streaming channels combined in one channel list in one place.
If you’ve got one of Roku’s standalone streaming devices plugged into your TV, you’ll still need to access the various broadcaster’s apps to stream live UK channels.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Roku