Roku to add 10 more channels by year's end

Amazon and Netflix will be getting some company.

(Credit: Roku)

The Roku Digital Video Player may be getting as many as 10 new Internet video-on-demand channels by the end of 2009. So says Roku vice president Tim Twerdahl in an interview with U.S. News & World Report.

The Roku Player was originally a Netflix-only device, but it recently added Amazon Video On Demand. The U.S. News story reports Roku has "quietly distributed a development kit to what Twerdahl calls a few 'close, big-name' partners." More info is expected to be revealed this summer, at which time the development kit would be made available to additional programmers.

Providers weren't named, but tech blogger Dave Zatz points out that YouTube support on the Roku has been hinted at in the past, and that Blip.tv has outed itself as a Roku developer as well. If those are 2 of the 10, that still leaves 8 more.

Obviously, any of the existing video content aggregators (Hulu, Sling.com, and CNET sister-site TV.com) would be huge attractions to the Roku, as would individual network-video sites. I'd also like to see some music services (Pandora was just added to Roku rival Vudu, and will also be on most Samsung Blu-ray players and home theater systems shipping in 2009).

Which providers would you like to see added to the Roku box? And do you think that Roku is starting to steal some of Boxee's thunder? Share your opinions below.

[objectcentral]

I think almost anyone who has used a Roku, especially with Netflix, likely considers it a pretty big deal. Almost as big as a DVR. It certainly has changed the viewing habits in our household. If there were enough choice (especially on a subscription basis like Netflix - $2 a TV episode a la Amazon seems WAY too much), then why even have satellite or cable? (Locals, I guess...). So, yes, more choice - but I think it needs to be a subscription model. There is just something different about being able to pick a show, and then stop watching after you hate it, and not worry about the cash it cost.

The only real problem with Roku is fast forward and rewind. Takes that full 30 second to 1 minute buffer load, so it really isn't worth it. Maybe Roku model II will have a big enough buffer to store the past 5 minutes or so, and buffer ahead a couple of minutes. That would solve the "What did he say?" issue.

[BCF1968]

The reason shows are $2 is because A) you get to keep the show. B) It's commerical free C) It's higher quality than what you get on Hulu

The reason why Amazon doesn't offer subscriptionis because the studios don't want them to offer it. Even though Netflix offers online streaming via subscription the choices are paltry. Hardly any new movies on there. Any reason why Iron Man which came out on DVD in OCTOBER is not available on Netflix on Demand? The studios rather you buy the content since they make more money that way. Depending on how much TV you watch it may be cheaper to pay $2 per episode than to have cable.

By the way if you get a season pass it's $1.89 an episodes and typically older seasons are much cheaper. Some times less than $1 per episode. So example Season 1 of Heroes is on sale for $19.98 which is 87¢ per episode.

As far as locals you could go OTA( over the air ) with stations going all digital the picture you get is better than what you'll get from cable/sateltie anyways.

[davezatz]

Of course Sling.com is a meta aggregator, comprised of Hulu and CBS content. Regarding Boxee, they have lost their luster. Netflix is now available everywhere and Hulu is nowhere. :/

[rucknrun]

PlayOn still has Hulu and Netflix. I stream it to my PS3 and I get everything I want. That combine with Tversity I get all the internet TV I can imagine. It would be nice if CNETs video stream worked. It used to work fine but they changes something and I am getting sick of fooling around with it.

[BAFFLERKW]

We got a Roku in Jan, and we have not watched a DVD since -- also, have already spent $25 this month on Amazon -- if they get youtube, a sports option and tv.com, bye bye cable...

[dumbspammers]

When the Roku does DLNA, I'll buy one. That's all that's holding me back; I have cash in hand. But until I can use it to replace my HTPC, which I use to watch videos streamed from my home server, I'm not putting yet another box and yet another remote in my living room.

[dumbspammers]

When the Roku does DLNA, I'll buy one. That's all that's holding me back; I have cash in hand. But until I can use it to replace my HTPC, which I use to watch videos streamed from my home server, I'm not putting yet another box and yet another remote in my living room.

@ BCF1968: How do you figure you get to "keep the show" when you rent it from Amazon? The Roku box has no storage device; it's streaming-only.

[jpfalcone]

If you buy the content (movie, TV show) on Amazon, it's accessible at any time going forward on any Amazon-compatible device, including the Roku. (It's stored "in the cloud" for instant access, not on the device itself.) That includes TiVo DVRs, Sony's Bravia Internet Video Link and forthcoming Panasonic VieraCast devices (TVs and Blu-ray players). The more Amazon-compatible devices appear on the market, the more useful this feature becomes.

ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN as providers would be fantastic. Roku could easily provide the same content as provided offer through iTunes (as movies or podcasts). Adding a few news outlets and some of my favorite reality shows, and sitcoms, would make Roku a killer box and replacement for my cable service.

[nukepicnic]

I have the Roku box and an Apple TV. Frankly I don't use the Roku as much as I thought I would because the quality of video I've been getting from Netflix is rather poor. I haven't tried Amazon on demand yet, pretty much because I can get the same content from Apple which plays back really well once downloaded to the Apple TV... no buffering issues. How is the Roku for buffering from Amazon? video quality?

As for added features... if Roku wants a real Boxee killer, then add the ability to hook up an external hard drive to view video from most formats on your HDTV... that might be an Apple TV killer as well...

[shaunotter]

Little box has enough content to help me ditch most cable channels -- along watching the Comedy Central or other shows I like online via laptop connected to 20" screen or TV, and, of course, the DVDs still coming with newer releases from Netflix. Just hooked mine up and set it up for Netflix and my Amazon account in about 10 minutes. It has connections for almost every type of TV (except those with no inputs or just a coax cable input), came with an RCA composite video/ stereo audio cable, good simple & sturdy little remote with batteries, easy quick-start guide, and the actual device is even smaller than I thought it would be.
The user interface is easy, sleek, useful, and informative -- you can view summaries/actors/length/genre, ratings on Netflix, and a trailer or a 2 minute sample with Amazon.
Quality is great with my 8mbps cable from my LinkSys router about 20 feet away in another room, except details in most movies are just a little soft compared to a DVD. It is FAR better than watching online with a computer, even with my great Apple 20" Cinema monitor.
Great, affordable device that suddenly gives me a ton of free stuff to watch - - and then I can still use a cheap Netflix plan for newer DVDs, Amazon on the Roku for newer stuff instantly, and they're adding 8+ new content providers this year.
I wish the little box had more memory for buffering ahead and saving some of the just watched material, so fast forward/reverse/etc. would be more like a DVD ... but 5-10 seconds occasionally for that is a minor thing compared to the overall convenience of the whole experience.
Someday somebody will combine Apple TV, Roku/Netflix/Amazon/etc., Hulu, YouTube, TiVo, a Webcam channel, and more together, but until then, this is a great addition to home entertainment.
Roku's new content providers may make it THE top instant choice someday ... or maybe Apple or ? will buy Netflix, Roku, and TiVo and try to make things more pay per use.

[onepercentofone]

I WOULD LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE TO HAVE PANDORA ADDED TO ROKU. It does indeed need better variety, so adding music it would be big plus. Perhaps last.fm as well? Sonos is just too expensive. Since Pandora now available on several different wifi radios and now Samsung BluRay players...they might as well.

[ripvan80]

Roku is fantastic. We get HD quality on Netflix and MLB games. Two complaints:

(1) no subtitles except on foreign language films. One of us is hard of hearing. We love BBC films. Ever try to listen to Cockney without subtitles?

(2) Amazon Video, meh. Most of the titles are junk, or else already in our Netflix queue. Offer a subscription rate instead.

What we'd love to see added to Roku: All the good channels that Comcast removed from its basic tier, at least in NJ: BBC News, MSNBC, Weather Channel, and (big alas) Turner Classic Movies.

Adding music channels to TV seems a wasteful use of energy and screen. There are greener ways to get Internet sound to external speakers.

I'm desperately waiting for the NFL channel, NICK, TBS, NBC & ABC channels! I can only dream can't I? ;)

Chiller, Hulu and YouTube will also be great additions to the Roku Box!!!