Roku to Add Major News Channel

6 Jul, 2010 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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Roku, manufacturer of an Internet-enabled media player, over the July 4 weekend launched a series of new initiatives, including a test channel featuring major news sources CNN, National Public Radio, PBS, BBC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, Fox News, HBO and CNET.com.

Saratoga, Calif.-based Roku, which cut its teeth as the first media player to stream Netflix movies and TV programming, unveiled Roku Newscaster, Bigstar.TV (subscription-based independent films), Radiotime (allows users to listen to their favorite radio station) and NASA TV.

Dubbed “Pod TV,” the beta test channel can be accessed by Roku owners at http://owner.roku.com and going to the “My Account” page and clicking on the link “Add Private Channel.”  The code to install Pod TV is: H9DWC.

In addition to aforementioned major news sources, the test channel features speaker series and selections such as Public Radio International, “A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor” on American Public Media, Archive.org (allows user to save favorite programming), Informagator (users can prioritize frequent searches and content offerings) and Woot! (Internet shopping deals, code: BPPIM).

Pod TV also offers channels on astronomy, government, gaming, home and garden, professional hockey, motor sports, and religion.

Last week Roku inked a deal with subscription-based music service MOG ($4.99 per month), which will go live later this summer.

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