Forum Discussion

LouF's avatar
LouF
Channel Surfer
2 years ago

The Roku Channel is temporarily unavailable on Samsung TV

On my Samsung QN90AA-50 using the Roku app, none of the on-demand content can be viewed. It shows the Spinning Circle of Serenity until it finally times out.

Most of the live streaming channels show a black screen with the program information and the transport bar (no sound either). Every now and then a commercial will show and then back to the black screen. A few streaming channels like This Old House Classic still work, but not the current This Old House channel or the Dateline channel.

I have deleted and re-installed the app twice with no change. Other streaming apps work fine (SamsungTV and Amazon).

The app worked fine a month or two ago when I last used it.

App availability
app playback
Channel unavailable
Playback

81 Replies

  • Jannacker's avatar
    Jannacker
    Newbie
    2 years ago

    I have the Roku Channel App on my Samsung TV and it has worked perfectly until just recently. Now, when I click on the app, it takes a long time (30 seconds or so) and then says Roku is unavailable and to try again later. We've been trying for 3 weeks. We uninstalled and reinstalled the app, but no change. Prime, Hulu, and Netflix all stream normally, just not Roku. Any ideas?

      • Northsouth's avatar
        Northsouth
        Reel Rookie
        2 years ago

        In Wisconsin, same TVs (two, one 2016 and one 2017 Samsung), same issues with Weathernation, started approx one week ago.    Other apps on TV work.  Can access ROKU free TV and Weathernation just fine on computer, so ISP/modem etc not the issue.   Resets/dowloads do nothing.   

        Just adding to the bodycount.

        Cheers

  • Will79's avatar
    Will79
    Reel Rookie
    2 years ago

    Check this out I have a Samsung model #un60ku6300  from 2016 same as "BigTom" only he's got the 70" I got the 60" but same tizen os same tv, also same issue!

    What's going on here!? Id say it's SAMSUNG but they haven't pushed an update on these tvs In a while and not planning to being the tvs age but it worked fine up til about a week ago! Every other app works flawlessly! What is up here!? I hope it gets fixed 

    Samsung tv model# un60ku6300fxza 

    Tizen operating system version

    1260

     

     

    • Kardav's avatar
      Kardav
      Channel Surfer
      2 years ago

      same message we get.  

      Try again.... but no go since Feb/March!

  • retired5's avatar
    retired5
    Reel Rookie
    2 years ago

    I have a Samsung Smart TV with ROKU Channel preloaded. When I click on Roku Channel, after a long pause I receive a message "The Roku Channel is temporarily unavailable. Please try again in a few minutes".

    I purchased this TV a few years ago and this is the first time that I  have tried to connect with the Roku Channel. Is there something that I need to do in setup to access Roku Channel? I have another TV that has fire TV and have no issue opening fire TV and viewing programs.

    • BigTom's avatar
      BigTom
      Binge Watcher
      2 years ago

      There are 4 or 5 other Samsung Smart TV users who are having the same problem as you.  In my case, the Roku channel app worked great for years but stopped working about a week ago. My other apps (Hulu, YouTube, Tizen, etc) work well and continue to work well. Based on Roku support Emails to me, Roku support has escalated the problem to Roku second-level support for a solution.

      Do a search of Roku channel and Samsung Smart TV to find other details.

    • retired5's avatar
      retired5
      Reel Rookie
      2 years ago

      After some research on the internet, I updated the software on my Samsung TV but that did not solve the problem. Seems like Samsung stopped supporting the Roku Channel on older TV's. I believe that I bought my Samsung 4K TV in 2015. The only way that I could get to the Roku Channel was to purchase a Roku Express 4k+ device. This connects to the TV using an HDMI cable that comes with the device. After installing the device, I an now able to access the  Roku Channel. Cost me $43 but solved the problem.

      • rblaust's avatar
        rblaust
        Channel Surfer
        2 years ago

        I'm in North Carolina and I'm having the same issue with my Samsung smart tv. I just get the message that the roku channel is temporarily not available. My roku tv works perfectly, as does the roku app on my Samsung Galaxy phone. This is very frustrating! 

    • mwisor's avatar
      mwisor
      Reel Rookie
      2 years ago

      I have had the same issue for over a week.  Never had a problem before.

  • ScottyMontigo's avatar
    ScottyMontigo
    Newbie
    2 years ago

    I own a Samsung UHD 3D TV and I've been watching Roku TV shows for years without any issues. Within the past couple of weeks, all I get is a message that says, "The Roku Channel is temporarily unavailable Please try again in a few minutes. So, I keep checking back and trying because the definition of "temporarily" means TEMPORARILY!! And, you missed the period after the word unavailable. Morons! I'm not buying a Roku device to get free TV. Roku Channel Free TV for you. It isn't free if you have to purchase a "Roku" device. That is all. March 19, 2024

  • Kardav's avatar
    Kardav
    Channel Surfer
    2 years ago

    Roku Channel is temporarily unavailable for over a week with reboot/unplug modem/TV + auto power turned off.

    Plex works fine. 

    Samsung TV

    • BigTom's avatar
      BigTom
      Binge Watcher
      2 years ago

      Me too.  Samsung Smart TV  model UN70KU6300 from 2016.  The Roku channel had worked fine for years but the Roku channel for the last week or so now says not available try again in a few minutes.  Rebooted the TV, reset the TV nothing worked.  YouTube, Hulu, etc works fine just a Roku problem. 

      My guess is the Tizenn browser is version 1.2 etc with no updates available.  Some Google query said Tizenn versions 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 are needed for the Roku channel to work.

      • Kardav's avatar
        Kardav
        Channel Surfer
        2 years ago

        Our model is UN32J5500. 2017.

        I didn't find any updates available per Samsung. TV says no new updates. Looks like it's the latest.  

        Just totally dead in the water with Roku. 

        I'm too cheap to buy a new TV just because Roku stopped working.  Way too many DVDs to go through as well as Plex before I'm that hard up. 🤣

    • RokuTakashi's avatar
      RokuTakashi
      Community Moderator
      2 years ago

      Hi, Community users.

      Thanks for posting the issue you've encountered here in the Roku Community.

      We appreciate you for bringing the issue you've encountered to our attention with The Roku Channel on Samsung TV. We want to assure you that we take all feedback seriously and have investigated the matter thoroughly. After reviewing the details you provided, we have forwarded the information to the appropriate Roku team for further review and resolution. Once more development has been acquired, we'll provide an update in this thread.

      We hope for your patience and understanding as we work on this.

      Best wishes,
      Kash

    • Kardav's avatar
      Kardav
      Channel Surfer
      2 years ago

      'Roku Channel is temporarily unavailable for over a week with reboot/unplug modem/TV + auto power turned off. 

      Continuous service unavailable but Plex works fine. 

      Samsung TV

  • renojim's avatar
    renojim
    Community Streaming Expert
    2 years ago

    I have a Samsung TV, but I've never tried its apps, but problems with The Roku Channel on Roku devices can be caused by using a VPN or ad/content blocker.  Not being in a supported region can also be a problem.  Do any of those apply?

    • hasse's avatar
      hasse
      Newbie
      2 years ago

      WoW!

      I have now tried all listed email addresses with no result!!! Do they exist???

       ( FYI, these are the listed email addresses that don't exist????: <support.roku.com>   <go.roku.com/express><roku.com/activationhelp>myroku.com support.roku.com 

      This is my message:

      This weekend we experienced an hours long power outage. Once power was restored we wanted to watch TV!
      Unfortunately, this became a nightmare!
       
      The TV, a smart SAMSUNG 65inch operated but would take no commands from the ROKU remote, only from the SAMSUNG  remote.
       
      Resetting the ROKU player has generated no result. I am able to get the ROKU front page up as well as the fishtank. 
       
      But, the ROKU channel display will not accept any commands from neither the ROKU nor the SAMSUNG remote. It's frozen! I just see, still, the ROKU first page with all the channel/programs. The fish in the fish tank are moving!
      .
      What's happened?  I don't have a clue!!
       
      Could you PLEASE take me through the steps needed to bring our TV back to where it was before the power outage. Thanks!

      :

      • renojim's avatar
        renojim
        Community Streaming Expert
        2 years ago

        hasse, you have a completely different problem.  I'd suggest you start a new topic.  By the way, https://support.roku.com definitely exists, but most people don't find it to be very useful.

    • LouF's avatar
      LouF
      Channel Surfer
      2 years ago

      Thanks for the reply.

      No VPN in use or content blocking on that connection at all. I can use the same connection with a desktop computer and the Roku web app works OK.

      This is from a USA location.

      Also, I forgot to mention I have tried both logged in with my account and not logged in at all to make sure it wasn't some sort of account problem.

      • renojim's avatar
        renojim
        Community Streaming Expert
        2 years ago

        LouF, the only other thing I could suggest to try is to reboot all of your network equipment - gateway/modem/router.  I would also reboot/restart the TV since that's a common "fix" for Roku devices.  I don't know if the TV's have a "restart" option, so if not, just unplug the power for several seconds.  Don't simply turn it off and on.  After that, I'm out of ideas.

    • BigTom's avatar
      BigTom
      Binge Watcher
      2 years ago

      Hi RenoJim,

      Assuming you live in Reno, NV, I live in Sparks, NV and I find your question interesting.  My problem is that the Roku Channel on Samsung Smart TV (NOT Roku device) stopped working a week ago after working well for years.  My other apps still work fine.  I do not use a VPN and use Spectrum for internet service.

      My Samsung Smart TV does allow me to block ads and I did turn on ad-blocking but I do not limit content in any way.  I am 75 and my wife is 74 so we don't care about seeing adult content. 

      We have received Emails from Roku saying they have elevated our problem to second-level Roku support.

      Good luck.

      • renojim's avatar
        renojim
        Community Streaming Expert
        2 years ago

        BigTom, yep (South Meadows).  I've been thinking of trying it on my Samsung TV (I won at R.C. Willey last year), but I haven't set up its "smart" features (oddly enough, because I don 't feel like agreeing to their legal terms).  Have you tried turning off the ad blocking?

        Here's a joke for you that I heard shortly after I moved to Reno 20 years ago:

        Reno, so close to Hades you can see Sparks!  🙂  Of course, I don't agree.

  • lonniegermany's avatar
    lonniegermany
    Newbie
    12 months ago

    Same issue but with an LG tv. No help since it stopped working in May. Frustrating. All other apps work fine except the Roku channels.