Channels & viewing

[oesibius]

This has been posted before already, but replies are not answers!

This is the most stupid feature (or lack of!) with Roku.

I fully understand that some channels are restricted to specific regions. But frankly, not allowing people to simply SEARCH for channels (from within the list of those available in their region) and forcing us to scroll through thousands of channels when we know what we look for, proves a complete disrespect of users!! Seriously... which engineer at Roku dev team decided that search feature was optional?? Do they ever use any system at all?

Looking forward to hear a coherent answer supporting that decision by Roku, if that's possible at all...

[oesibius]

This has been posted before already, but replies are not answers!

This is the most stupid feature (or lack of!) with Roku.

I fully understand that some channels are restricted to specific regions. But frankly, not allowing people to simply SEARCH for channels (from within the list of those available in their region) and forcing us to scroll through thousands of channels when we know what we look for, proves a complete disrespect of users!! Seriously... which engineer at Roku dev team decided that search feature was optional?? Do they ever use any system at all?

[DBDukes]

Where are you located?

Here in the US, the Search feature will search for apps.

Is there not a Search option on the top level of the Main Menu? And does it not include apps (channels) in the results?

[Strega]

It's been a while since I needed to search but it was still there last time I needed it.  (I have heard that it might not be available in all locations?)  In addition to the device itself, I often do search for new channels here.

[oesibius]

Indeed, and that's my point: since when (and where else in the world) is the search functionality location-based??? Apparently only available in US, UK and Canada! Seriously??? I feel bad just to write it... and some people apparently decided for it!

[DBDukes]

In what Roku supported country are you? You never  answered when I asked earlier.

[oesibius]

Hi @DBDukes ,

I'm in Belgium.

[DBDukes]

Roku isn’t supported in Belgium. In all non-supported regions, its use at your own risk. 

[Strega]

And I assume the reason for limiting search to supported areas is that they would like to return search results that are actually licensed for you area and in other areas they just don't know. 

Apparently, they'll need a little time to figure out "everywhere".

[oesibius]

hi @DBDukes and @Strega ,

Thanks for your replies... these may be correct observations but certainly no defendable reason for the lack of Search functionality. I'm perfectly fine if they filter out from the search results, the channels that are not available in my region. I'm perfectly fine as well if they don't and leave it instead to the channel owners to filter their own access based on regions. While I'd be perfectly fine un both cases, it is plainly stupid from Roku to remove the search feature from certain regions (should say from all regions except 3 countries). There are still thousands of channels available, and they leave no way for thousands (millions?) of users to look up for a specific one without scrolling through the whole list.

I remain puzzled and curious if they have a decent, valid and defendable reason for this choice, which for me looks like the dumbest decision in application design that I've seen in a very long time.

[DBDukes]

Roku is supported in:

• United States
• Canada
• France
• United Kingdom
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Peru

Other locations are not supported.