Forum Discussion

creator's avatar
creator
Visitor
14 years ago

Why are there so many channels that don't work

I've noticed there are many channels that don't work. I get a message that says its not supported at the time etc. Is it because people are able to get a private channel pkg loaded as a channel but are not fully developing the channel before its published. It seems people will be somewhat frustrated as I am finding out there are private channels that are free but they don't work.
I know very little about the developer program yet I made sure my channel worked before I published it. It seems there is a big loophole in the publishing of "private channels". :roll:
Roku Developer Program

5 Replies

  • destruk's avatar
    destruk
    Streaming Star
    14 years ago
    It would help if you mentioned which channel doesn't work. Otherwise someone has to go through the 300+ private channels.
  • renojim's avatar
    renojim
    Community Streaming Expert
    14 years ago
    I'm guessing many of the private channels are no longer supported. It's been my experience that it's not unusual for a firmware update to come out that breaks something in one of my channels (see my post about audio status messages in the Roku2 for an example). The content the channel links to could change over time as well requiring an update to the channel. All the channels probably worked when they first came out, but if the developer isn't still around to support the channel it's going to fall by the wayside. Unfortunately, it happens to public channels in the Channel Store as well.

    -JT
  • kc8pql's avatar
    kc8pql
    Visitor
    14 years ago
    Orphanware is pretty common with all types of third party development in my experience.
  • creator's avatar
    creator
    Visitor
    14 years ago
    I should have said public channels displayed in the channel store. Several indicate they are not available or something else is wrong. Roku checks them before they are published but does roku ever check to see if they are still valid after a period of time? It doesn't seem so. The roku people should because it is a real pain to think some of these public channels are ready to go when they don't work for some reason. Don't you agree? Anybody got an answer?
  • gonzotek's avatar
    gonzotek
    Visitor
    14 years ago
    "creator" wrote:
    I should have said public channels displayed in the channel store. Several indicate they are not available or something else is wrong. Roku checks them before they are published but does roku ever check to see if they are still valid after a period of time? It doesn't seem so. The roku people should because it is a real pain to think some of these public channels are ready to go when they don't work for some reason. Don't you agree? Anybody got an answer?

    Can you provide specific examples? It would help Roku (and possibly the channel creators, if they still have interest in maintaining their channel) to identify the non-working channels. As the list of public channels grows and grows every week, the limited number of staff at Roku won't conceivably be able to check every channel, every day, to make sure that every piece of content offered within is still available.