Channels & viewing

[atc98092]

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@rodling wrote:

Saying the onus is on providers to enable it implies Roku itself can't (or won't) do it.

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There's zero reason Roku should make any attempt to provide a web interface to 3rd party providers. First, there's no income possible for them to cover the huge costs that would be involved. Next, they would likely need to pay licensing fees to the other providers (as they do now for the content they do offer via The Roku Channel). Huge expense, no income pathway, exactly what would be their business plan for something like that?

[rodling]

So you're telling me Roku's current licensing agreements specify that they have to make sure users are only watching the channels with a physical roku device ?

[JWS9518]

They don't have to make sure of anything.  They make a streaming device that various broadcaster/providers/channel makers can make apps for that allow access to their services.  A licensing agreement to access that content within a Roku channel or allow access on the Roku website are different things.  Roku is not a provider in the way like a cable/dish company are, in that cable/dish pay for a large number of broadcasters licenses to be able to view/watch those broadcasts via their service, whether that is via a cable box/streaming device or via an app or website, which is the reason the bill (if you are subscribed to them) is a large one, depending on what package you pay for.  

[atc98092]

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@rodling wrote:

So you're telling me Roku's current licensing agreements specify that they have to make sure users are only watching the channels with a physical roku device ?

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Roku has no licensing agreements for anything that isn't available via The Roku Channel. That is the only content they provide. They have agreements with other providers that allows the providers to provide users with an app to stream their owned/licensed content on Roku devices. Roku has no authority or permission to provide 3rd party content in any other way.