Channels & viewing

[SurfmanB]

TLA Gay Cinema ROKU Movies
https://www.tlavideo.com/aboutroku.html
There are 2 TLA gay channels [TLA gay movies & TLA gay, which is the porn channel] I have added both channels to my Roku device. Porn channel requires a subscription purchase via TLA video, and connects Roku channel with TLA web site via a code. The TLA gay movies Roku Channel is non-porn and requires you to setup a TLA gay video account using the TLA gay movies Roku channel and even though it gives you two options (login to TLA gay movies account or create a new account using your Roku User ID); the only successful way to proceed is by creating a new TLA gay movies account via Roku User ID, which will not give you access to any content already purchased from TLA video.

[RokuDanny-R · Accepted solution]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the posts.

For more information about that channel's features and functionality, you'll want to contact the channel provider support directly to inquire further. Many channels on Roku are developed and maintained by the channel provider themselves. 

Thanks,
Danny

[JerryInJxHts]

So this is still a problem, months after it was first reported.

You're welcome for the posts, RokyDanny-R, and zero thanks for not for suggesting a solution. 

It seems that Roku doesn't have enough employees taking care of technical support or isn't interested in working with channel providers to solve issues that keep channels from working properly--or both.

It's a strange way to run a business.

[DBDukes]

@JerryInJxHts 

Didn't @RokuDanny-R suggest to contact the company that actually runs the service and that actually built the app? When you did that, what did they tell you?

[SurfmanB]

I contacted both Roku and TLA Video, but couldn't get either company to take ownership of the TLA GAY Movies Channel. They both instructed me to contact the other for technical support. Actually Roku directed me here, and it was RokuDanny-R who tells us to contact TLA Video. TLA Video, however told me that Roku is the administrator of their TLA Gay Movies Channel, but it took them almost an entire month before they accepted that the Channel was actually active. They have two channels (1 gay porn & 1 gay movies). They kept telling me that they didn't have a Gay Movies Channel even though it was advertised all over their web site. When they finally so telling me that they didn't have the Channel They had no idea how it worked. Finally they told me that Roku was responsible for supporting it. And since all other Adult Channels were cancelled March 2022 I think they might be telling the truth. It is completely unacceptable that neither Roku nor TLA Video will support the Channel.

[DBDukes]

@SurfmanB 

First and foremost, Roku will not support an app that they didn't build. The fact that the developer and the service provider (same company) gives you the runaround says a lot about that company. They also gave you additional misinformation about the other Adult apps.

This requires some background as a lot of incorrect statements and conclusions have been reached and thrown around. I will try to be brief, but it's not a simple thing.

Roku had a process of Private Channels (later called Non-certified Channels/apps) that was designed to allow developers to put an app out to users ahead of getting it certified and listed in the Channel Store. However, many developers stopped developing after putting in that non-certified repository. It was designed to be a temporary place for apps, but developers left them there full time, abusing the Roku app development process.

Why would they do that? Money. You see, Roku requires that apps allow billing through Roku Pay. They don't force users to utilize Roku Pay, but it has to be an option. And if a user decides to use Roku Pay, Roku gets a commission. That's less money for the developer. So, just leaving the app uncertified without the Roku Pay code meant they got the benefit of being on the Roku platform without having to pay commission for subscribers who want to use Roku Pay.

That would be like you owning some property for vendors to set up shop and pay you for the floor space, but then others come along and set up in the parking lot and not paying you what they should. It's the app version of that situation.

Roku finally had enough and put hard limits on apps in the non-certified repository (not called Beta app). Apps now have a 120-day lifespan, and a limited number of users during Beta. By the end of the 120 days, the app must be submitted for certification or it is removed.

Back in October 2021, Roku notified everyone -- not just developers, but made a public announcement -- that the new process would go in effect in late February 2022, which was 120 days after the announcement. That's where the apps went. Some developers did code them to standard and submit them, and those are now in the Channel Store. But most developers didn't. Those apps went away.

Some are also saying Roku banned Adult apps. In truth, the app submission process has a place to mark an app as Adult.

With that background, I hope you are able to see that Roku does not support apps they didn't build. And Roku didn't build that app. And the people who did and are supposed to support it are refusing to support it, based on what you reported.

If Roku is able to confirm that the developer is essentially abandoning the app, it's likely Roku will remove it from the Channel Store.

[JerryInJxHts]

I can't find this post when I log in so I'm submitting it again.

To be clear, this is about TLA Gay Movies. It isn't a porn channel. It's the streaming channel of TLA's gay movies, some of which are also found on Tubi, kanopy and other Roku channels. 

And TLA Gay Movies app didn't go away in February. It can be found today by searching on the Roku Channel store: https://channelstore.roku.com/details/3b7580796100566bd1a277a52c3d70fe/tla-gay-movies. It can be installed. I've installed it two or three times. You can create an account using your Roku information. What I can't do is log in because I get an "Invalid credentials" message.

So is "invalid credentials" a Roku problem or a TLA Video problem? If the channel can be installed from the Channel Store doesn't that mean it's certified? Or is it still there because nobody bothered to remove the page?

Thanks in advance,

Jerry

[DBDukes]

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@JerryInJxHts wrote:

... So is "invalid credentials" a Roku problem or a TLA Video problem? If the channel can be installed from the Channel Store doesn't that mean it's certified? Or is it still there because nobody bothered to remove the page? ...

---

It could be either. If you can use the login on the Website, and watch content there (assuming they have a Web player) then the credentials are correct. If not, then it's an issue with the credentials/account.

[JerryInJxHts]

I spoke to TLA customer service and together we solved the problem. First of all, the customer service rep told me, TLA has no control over the channel because it's billed through Roku. TLA Video and TLA Gay Movies accounts aren't linked Also, the channel has a separate website--tlagaymovies.com --though there is a link on the TLA site.

Following the link, I clicked on the "Forgot Password" link, took the link from the e-mail I received, went back to the site and changed my password, and lo and behold, I was able to log in from the Roku screen.

It would have helped a lot if there was a "Forgot Password" option on the channel, but I guess no one thought of that.