Updates for Roku 2, Roku LT and new Roku HD

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Tom Markworth

As always, the Roku team has been hard at work improving the streaming experience on the Roku platform. In that spirit, we’ve released Roku software 4.9 build 5060 for Roku 2, Roku LT and new Roku HD players.

For users, we fixed a number of bugs and improved platform stability. We also made several behind the scenes improvements to enable some exciting upcoming channels.

For developers, we added support for in-app subscriptions. Additionally, we enabled the ability to display closed captioning for any developer who adds SMPTE Timed Text closed captioning to their MP4, Smooth Streaming or HLS video streams.

The update will be pushed automatically to all Roku 2, Roku LT and new Roku HD (model 2500) players over the next 48 hours and Roku Streaming Sticks next week. To update manually, simply select Settings > Software update > Check now on your Roku player.

Read about the previous 4.8 software release here.

Posted in Announcements, Roku News | Tagged , , , | 48 Comments

New releases and recommendations for November 30

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Kacie

Gloomy winter weather is in full force, but being stuck indoors doesn’t have to ruin your weekend! Brighten up your rainy day with our awesome lineup of new releases – you just might forget about the storm clouds outside. Happy streaming!



Amazon Instant Video New Releases:

  • Total Recall- Colin Farrell and Kate Beckinsale star in an action-packed remake of the original 1990 Schwarzenegger flick. (2012)
  • Lawless- Based on the novel “The Wettest County in the World,” this Prohibition-era crime drama follows the infamous bootlegging Bondurant Brothers as they make a run for the American Dream. (2012)
  • American Horror Story Season 2- The twisted saga continues with a new cast of characters and a creepy new location. (2012)

Amazon Prime Instant Video New Releases:

  • The Terminator- Ahhnold is unforgettable as a murderous, muscle-bound cyborg in one of the greatest Sci-Fi films of all time. (1984)
  • Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans- A drug-addled detective investigates the killing of five Senegalese immigrants in post-Katrina New Orleans. (2009)
  • Bullitt- 60′s heartthrob Steve McQueen stars as a cop assigned to guard a star witness, but the real star of this classic thriller is a legendary car chase through the streets of San Francisco. (1986)

Hulu Plus New Releases:

  • The Mindy Project: Teen Patient- Mindy is put in a tight spot. (2012)
  • Parks and Recreation: Pawnee Commons- Leslie makes a public appeal for park design suggestions, but becomes suspicious when the best design comes from an architect in Eagleton. (2012)
  • Family Guy: Joe’s Revenge- The guys seek justice for Joe. (2012)

Netflix New Releases:

  • American Horror Story Season 1- This stylish, wacky and thrillingly addictive psychodrama will keep you on the edge of your seat with twisted love and murderous revenge. (2011)
  • Hugo- A lonely orphan discovers a secret left by his father and embarks on a quest that will change his life in this visually stunning film for all ages. (2011)
  • The King’s Speech- Britain’s King George VI struggles with an embarrassing stutter for years until he seeks help from unorthodox Australian speech therapist in this Academy Award-winning biographical drama. (2011)

Crackle New Releases:

  • Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story- The kooky faux biopic of troubled fictional music legend Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly) will be available for streaming Dec 1. (2007)
  • Legends of the Fall- This epic period drama featuring an all-star cast including Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt will be available for streaming December 1. (1994)
  • Seinfeld: The Strike- Better known as the Festivus episode, this hilarious Seinfeld classic will be available for streaming Dec 1. (1997)

Fandor New Releases:

  • Satan’s Sadists- Fans of 70s shlock, motorcycle gang shenanigans and ‘Twin Peaks’ star Russ Tamblyn will revel in this gem from cult exploitation master Al Adamson. (1969)
  • Isadora Duncan- This unsentimental portrait of the complex and charismatic “Mother of Modern Dance” traces the life and artistic development of San Francisco-born Isadora Duncan. (1989)
  • X: The Unheard Music- This documentary mixes live performances with footage from record stores and old TV shows to tell the story of iconic Los Angeles punk band X. (1985)
Posted in New Releases, Recommendations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

NOW TV launches on Roku for UK streamers

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Clive

NOW TV, the popular streaming movie service powered by Sky, is now available on Roku players in the UK!

As of today, NOW TV customers can instantly stream more than 600 movies on Roku, including recent blockbusters and up to 20 new premieres a month. Sky Movies is also offering exclusive on-demand access to all eight Harry Potter films throughout the Christmas holidays.

In the coming months, NOW TV customers will be able to enjoy live action from Sky Sports, including the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, England Test cricket, Heineken Cup rugby, ATP tennis, F1™, Masters Golf and much more. Also coming in the future are must-see shows from Sky 1, Sky Atlantic, Sky Arts and Sky Living.

New NOW TV customers can take advantage of a free 30-day trial, plus a three-month introductory offer of £8.99 a month. UK streamers can add the channel here or find it in the Roku UK Channel Store.

Happy Streaming!

Posted in New Channels, UK | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

New releases and recommendations for November 9

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Kacie

Tonight feels like a snuggle up, stay in and stream on kind of night. From classic pirate adventures to political comedies, current TV episodes and martial arts thrillers , we’ve got a multitude of new releases to help you kick off this cozy weekend right. Happy Friday! 



Amazon Instant Video New Releases:

  • The Campaign- Seasoned Congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) is challenged by newcomer Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) in this mud-slinging,back-stabbing, home-wrecking comedy. (2012)
  • Dragon- Action icon Donnie Yen stars in a gripping martial arts thriller about a reformed gang lord on the run and the ruthless detective determined to bring him to justice. Watch before it hits theaters! (2012)
  • Savages- Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, John Travolta, Benicio del Toro and Salma Hayek star in this brutal, sexy thriller about friends forced into war against the Mexican Baja Cartel. (2012)

Amazon Prime Instant Video New Releases:

  • Warrior- The moving and inspirational story of a broken family who finds redemption in the ring. (2011)
  • The Conspirator- From director Robert Redford comes the riveting true story behind the assassination trial of Abraham Lincoln – including the lone woman who was accused of plotting his murder. (2011)
  • Platoon- A naïve young soldier must choose between his two platoon leaders and confront his fears in the terror of Vietnam. (1986)

Hulu Plus New Releases:

  • Parks and Recreation: Ben’s Parents- Leslie is determined to bring together Ben’s divorced parents. Meanwhile, Tom prepares to pitch his new business to Ron with the help of Jean-Ralphio. (2012)
  • Scandal: All Roads Lead to Fitz- A governor takes the law into his own hands when his wife is raped. (2012)
  • The Office: The Boat- Andy deals with a family crisis; the staff teams up for a prank on Dwight, and Kevin learns Oscar’s secret. (2012)

Netflix New Releases:

  • Treasure Island- In this retelling of the classic adventure novel, young Jim Hawkins is the only one who can direct a schooner to an island known for buried treasure. (2012)
  • Lockout- A former government agent wrongly accused of a crime  can only win his freedom if he rescues the president’s daughter in a dangerous mission to outer space. (2012)
  • The Pact- After returning home for her mother’s funeral, a woman soon senses an evil presence and is forced to face old demons. (2012)

Crackle New Releases:

  • District 9- A daringly original and darkly visionary cinema verité sci-fi thriller full of brains, brawn and prawns. (2009)
  • The Forsaken- A sexy vampire hunter flick that doesn’t skimp on blood, guts and gore as it travels down the horror highway. (2001)
  • So Close-A Hong Kong karate take on Charlie’s Angels that overflows with fun, wit and action-packed thrills. (2002)

Fandor New Releases:

  • The Big Fix- A combination of documentary and investigative journalism, this Cannes Film Festival selection uncovers the true story behind the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig on Earth Day 2010, the worst oil spill in history. (2011)
  • The Dragon Lives- Bruce Lee, “the greatest martial arts star the world has ever known,” gets the biopic treatment in this action-packed, spirited homage. (1978)
  • Louis Armstrong in Copenhagen- This delightful performance piece spotlights the legendary Satchmo himself during a tour of Europe. (1934)
Posted in New Releases, Recommendations | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

NBA Game Time tips off on Roku

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Kacie

Basketball fans, rejoice! The NBA 2012-2013 season tips off tonight, and you can follow the action live on your Roku.

The updated NBA Game Time channel gives fans access to more video, deeper stats and current league news. NBA.com League Pass subscribers can enjoy 40+ live regular season NBA games a week*, plus full on-demand game replays and highlights from around the league.

Simply purchase an NBA League Pass, enter your All-Access login when prompted and you’re ready to watch live basketball. You can find NBA Game Time in the Roku Channel Store under ‘Sports’ or add the channel to your Roku here.

Happy streaming!

*Blackout rules apply

Posted in Announcements, New Channels | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Introducing Roku Search [Video]

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Tom Markworth

Imagine it’s Saturday night and you’ve just settled in with a big bowl of popcorn. You want to watch Breaking Bad on your Roku, but you’re not sure which of your favorite channels can cure your Heisenberg craving. In the past, you might have spent time browsing through various Roku channels to locate the show. No longer! Today, we’re thrilled to announce the arrival of our free one-stop Roku Search tool in the U.S.

Roku Search makes it a snap to find movies, TV shows, actors and directors across Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Crackle, VUDU and HBO GO. When you search for a title, Roku Search shows you where it’s available on the Roku platform. Simply select a channel and Roku Search will take you straight to your desired movie or show. Check out the video below to see Roku Search in action.


As we continue to add partners, the Roku platform will play an important role in helping you find the content you want to stream. In all, Roku Search can help guide you to nearly 130,000 movies and TV episodes and almost 100,000 actors and directors.

Roku Search works with Roku 2, Roku LT, new Roku HD players and the Roku Streaming Stick. You can even search with the keyboard in the Remote tab of the Roku iOS and Android mobile apps!

We’ll automatically push a free update including Search to supported players over the next week. If you just can’t wait, select Settings > Software update > Check now on your Roku player to update your software to version 4.8 352x (available later today). Then click here to install Roku Search via channel code.

As always, we welcome your input as we continue to improve the Roku experience. Please send your feedback to feedback@roku.com.

Happy searching!

Posted in Announcements, Roku News | Tagged , , , , , , , | 309 Comments

New releases and recommendations for October 20

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Kacie

With blustery weather outside and Halloween right around the corner, it’s time to embrace the spooky and mix some scary movies into your weekend streaming lineup. We’ve got  you covered with everything from classic horror flicks to current big screen thrillers – don’t blame us if you have to sleep with the lights on!



Amazon Instant Video New Releases:

  • Seeking a Friend for the End of the World- Steve Carell and Keira Knightley lead an all-star cast in this clever and heartwarming comedy that explores the crazy things people do when humanity’s last days are at hand. (2012)
  • That’s My Boy- Adam Sandler returns to the big screen as Andy Samburg’s dysfunctional dad in this rowdy comedy co-starring Leighton Meester and featuring cameos from Susan Sarandon, Vanilla Ice and James Caan. (2012)
  • Chernobyl Diaries- Six tourists hire an “extreme tour” guide to take them through the abandoned city of Chernobyl and soon discover they are not alone. (2012)

Amazon Prime Instant Video New Releases:

  • Parenthood Season 1- The very large and colorful Braverman family deals with the trials and tribulations of parenthood. (2010)
  • Battlestar Galactica Season 1- The Battlestar crew is put to the test as sleep deprivation mixes with the gloomy reality of a Cylon-apocalypse. (2005)
  • Heathers- This dark ’80s cult classic comedy takes high school angst to a brutal new level. (1989)

Hulu Plus New Releases:

  • Nikita Season 3- Maggie Q stars as a beautiful and deadly rogue assassin in the third season of this action-packed crime drama. (2012)
  • Suburgatory Season 2- Tessa returns from NYC and Dalia experiences a crisis. (2012)
  • The Blob- This cult classic melds ’50s schlock sci-fi and teen delinquency pics with strong performances and ingenious special effects. (1958)

Netflix New Releases:

  • Werewolf: The Beast Among Us- When a mysterious creature terrorizes a village by moonlight, a local young man joins a team of werewolf hunters to bring it down. (2012)
  • Touch Season 1-  Trying desperately to connect with his severely autistic son, a single dad (Kiefer Sutherland) discovers that his child has peculiar gift for numbers that could unlock the mysteries at the heart of the universe. (2011)
  • Paranormal Activity 3- A malign and murderous spirit continues to dwell within a San Diego home in this second creepy sequel to 2007′s chilling Paranormal Activity. (2011)

Crackle New Releases:

  • Suit Up- College football, crisis management and stripper poles collide in an irreverent and timely pigskin-fueled dark-comedy. (2012)
  • The Crimes of the Black Cat- This Italian giallo may even shock today’s desensitized horror fans with its brutal streak. (1972)
  • The Antichrist- The Exorcist is re-imagined as a demonically creepy slice of ‘70s Italian  horror, complete with gratuitous sleaze and gory camp. (1974)

Fandor New Releases:

  • Live from Tokyo- A vivid look at Tokyo’s music culture as a reflection of Japanese society and its relation to international music (2010)
  • The Strangers Gundown- This dark Spaghetti Western with “Euro gothic” horror-movie-undertones earned an “X” rating when initially released in Italy (1974)
  • The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery- Superstar Steve McQueen stars as a shady career criminal who sets out to rob one of America’s richest banks in this 1950′s film noir classic (1959)
Posted in New Releases, Recommendations | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

New releases and recommendations for October 13

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Kacie

As the days get shorter and the evenings grow chillier, making time for fun becomes even more important. Cozy up with friends and family to enjoy old classics and discover new favorites this weekend – we’ve got a great list to get you started. Happy streaming!



Amazon Instant Video New Releases:

  • The Raven- When a brutal killing spree terrorizes 19th-century Baltimore, a young detective turns to notorious author Edgar Allan Poe for help getting inside the mind of a serial killer. (2012)
  • Prometheus- Legendary director Ridley Scott (Alien) returns to his sci-fi origins in this epic adventure bursting with spectacular action and mind-blowing visual effects. (2012)
  • Moonrise Kingdom- Wes Anderson’s poignant pre-teen love story starring Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray and Frances McDormand is currently available for purchase. (2012)

Amazon Prime Instant Video New Releases:

  • Fringe Season 4- The fourth season of this suspenseful sci-fi thriller kicks off with relationship drama and inter-universe action. (2012)
  • Damages Season 4 - Glenn Close stars in a brainy legal thriller full of red herrings and unexpected twists.  (2011)
  • Absolutely Fabulous Season 1- Jennifer Saunders leads an all-star cast as the outrageous, fashion-obsessed,  hedonistic Edina in this beloved, multi award-winning British comedy. (1992)

Hulu Plus New Releases:

  • The Vampire Diaries Season 3- Elena awakens on the morning after the accident to find the thing she dreaded most has come true. (2012)
  • 30 Rock Season 7-  Liz must balance her new professional success with her love life, all while helping Jack bring down NBC. (2012)
  • Supernatural Season 8- This haunting series follows the Winchester brothers as they hunt down evil supernatural forces on lonely country back roads. (2012)

Netflix New Releases:

  • Act of Valor- An elite squad of Navy SEALs must rescue a kidnapped CIA agent from a lethal terrorist cell in this covert-action thriller. (2012)
  • Get the Gringo- Mel Gibson stars as a man who ends up in a notorious Mexican prison after a failed attempt to escape with a million-dollar stash. (2012)
  • Indie Game: The Movie - This captivating documentary follows several independent game designers as they painstakingly develop their games and hope for breakthrough success. (2012)

Crackle New Releases:

  • The Black Keys: Live At The Crystal Ballroom- Blast The Black Keys’ bluesy, no-frills rock ‘n roll sound on the living room big screen. (2008)
  • The Exorcism of Emily Rose- This chilling horror flick is inspired by the true story of a lawyer who takes a negligent homicide case involving the exorcism of a young girl. (2005)
  • Knock Off- Jean Claude Van Damme plays a fashion designer who must join with a C.I.A. agent (Rob Schneider) to combat terrorism during the handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese. (2001)

Fandor New Releases:

  • Busking the System- This documentary chronicles the day-to-day lives of several subway musicians in New York City. (2011)
  • Hidden Love- Acclaimed actress Isabelle Huppert stars in this downbeat tale of a suicidal mental patient trapped in an endless maze of despair following the death of her only child.  (2010)
  • Balloonland- This 1930s cartoon follows a young girl and boy on a journey through a magical land populated with (you guessed it) balloons, singing balloon-like citizens, and the evil Pincushion Man. (1935)
Posted in New Releases, Recommendations | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Exclusive big-screen access to The Rumble 2012 on Roku

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Kacie

Bill O’Reilly. Jon Stewart. 2 podiums. 1 air-conditioned auditorium. 

Just like Thunderdome, two men will enter . . .and, well . . . two men will leave. Mortal frenemies O’Reilly and Stewart will go head to head on today’s most pressing political issues for the health of our great nation.

Sure, you could hunch over and watch on your tiny computer screen, but the rest of us will stretch out on the couch and enjoy exclusive big-screen access to the most anticipated debate of the year. Stream The Rumble 2012 live on your Roku this Saturday, October 6th at 8pm ET from Washington, D.C.!

To watch The Rumble 2012 on your Roku, just purchase The Rumble and add the channel to your player.

Happy Streaming!™

Posted in Roku | 63 Comments

Introducing the 3M Streaming Projector powered by the Roku Streaming Stick

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Chas

Earlier this year we announced the Roku Streaming Stick™, a tiny wireless Roku player the size of a USB drive.

The Roku Streaming Stick plugs into an MHL port (looks like HDMI but actually powers and commands the Streaming Stick) on Roku Ready® consumer electronics devices, bringing Roku to a range of new products. Today, I’m pleased to unveil the first product of its kind–the 3M Streaming Projector powered by the Roku Streaming Stick.

The 3M Streaming Projector uses the Roku Streaming Stick to provide access to the more than 600 channels on the Roku platform. Small enough to fit in one hand, yet able to project an image up to 120 inches, the 3M Streaming Projector is perfect for family movie nights, sleepovers and backyard parties.With up to a two-hour 45 minute battery life, the 3M Streaming Projector can project almost anywhere a Wi-Fi connection can be accessed – onto a basement wall, a bedroom ceiling or even a backyard fence.

The 3M Streaming Projector is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com for $299, and will begin shipping on Oct. 22. For more information, visit www.3MMobileProjectors.com.

You can find out more about the Roku Streaming Stick right here.

Happy Streaming!™

Posted in Announcements, Product, Roku, Roku News, Roku Streaming Stick | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments