Six channels were launched in the Roku Channel Store last week, and five private channels were added to the RokuGuide.com private channel listings. Here is a look at just a few of these public and private channels.
Into the Sunset - Westerns
Into the Sunset is yet another collection of public domain Western films, mostly from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. You'll find the usual assortment of films starring John Wayne, Roy Rogers, and Gene Autry. In addition to Westerns, this channel has action/adventure, drama, and horror films, along with classic cartoons.
As with most public domain channels, the video and sound quality aren't always the best. The films have not been restored and audio tracks have not been remastered - more often than not, these videos are transferred directly from film that may be over 70 years old.
What The Funny
What The Funny is a channel from Marlon Wayons, known for In Living Color, Scary Movie 1 & 2, and other productions. Described as a "site that engages and entertains the under-served urban demo," the channel features several webisodes that include the work of Rob Stapelton, Todrick Hall, Damon Wayans Jr., and many more. But be aware that the channel is uncensored and may not be appropriate for all ages.
Justin.TV
Justin.TV is a private Roku channel that offers a wide variety of live and streaming video from around the world. Video categories include Animal, Creativity, Entertainment, News, Poker, Sports, Social, and many more.
Many people watch Justin.TV to catch episodes of popular TV series like South Park, The Simpsons, and The Big Bang Theory, but that's barely scratching the surface of the 10s of thousands of videos you'll find here.
Tiny Desk Concerts from NPR
Tiny Desk Concerts is due to be released in the Channel Store later this month, but is currently available in beta as a private channel. The channel offers a series of short videos from National Public Radio (NPR) featuring artists performing live at the NPR Music office. Close to 300 videos are available. Performers selected as current Editor's Picks include Courtney Barnett, Asaf Avidan, Cate Le Bon, John Legend, and Mother Falcon
Red Bull TV
Red Bull TV is a private channel that follows the lives and careers of members of the Red Bull Team as they compete for World Titles and National Championships. The channel offers a single stream of shows that currently follow athletes competing in surfing, mountain biking, skiing, and other adrenaline-packed sports.
If you haven't visited RokuGuide.com recently, then you missed our listing of nearly 100 local news broadcasts available on Roku: Looking for Local News? The Complete List of Local News Broadcasts on Roku.
We also recently provided instructions for controling access to Roku channels that you don't want your children to watch: Saving Your Children from R-Rated Videos: How to Add Parental Controls to Your Roku.
