weaodel hialeigh pamaliah
Olympia Brackin
My dad purchased a Roku and brought it back here to the Philippines. I have set it all up but it seems I have very limited options. I was hoping to stream ESPN for live NFL games. Are there any channels you suggest I can get to stream live games?
Also, it would be great if Roku App would be allowed to work in our country. Had a hard time inputting my Netflix login details. Although up to now, it's just a black screen with the Netflix logo on the upper right corner. Is something wrong with it or this is normal?
Please be aware that channel availability/access on Roku devices will vary from region to region. A Roku device will work in any location, however, channels may not be available on your device in that location, based on each channel provider's discretion. For more information, you'd want to contact any specific channel/service provider to inquire further about whether they offer their channel/service on the Roku platform in your region.
In addition, it sounds like you may have created a Roku account that isn't located in your current region. If channels in your region are not available, it may indicate that your device is linked to an account that was created in a different region where that channel may not be offered by the channel provider. You'll want to make sure that you are using an internet connection located in the correct region when creating your account. You can check your IP address' reported location by visiting www.whatismyip.com - If you see an issue, you'll need to contact your ISP to help resolve any issue.
We would recommend creating a new Roku account in your region. For more information about how to create a new account, visit our Support page here: How do I create a Roku account? Once your new account is set up, try to perform a factory reset on your device and link it to your new account. For more information about how to perform a factory reset, visit our Support page here: How do I factory reset my Roku streaming device?
Channel availability/access on Roku devices will vary from region to region. A Roku device will work in any location, however, channels may not be available on your device in that location, based on each channel provider's discretion. For more information, you'd want to contact any specific channel/service provider to inquire further about whether they offer their channel/service on the Roku platform in your region.
I have a Roku Ultra that I bought in the US and brought home to the Philippines. I am able to get Netflix on it. I do notice that some of the shows that were available on Netflix in the US are not available here.
I notice on the Roku Channel that a lot of shows I try to play will not play. It tries for a second then goes back to the screen with the play button and there is no message explaining why it doesn't play. I'm guessing it's because I'm not in the US. But I wish it would tell me that and I wish it would not offer shows that it will not allow to play. They could just as easily check my location before they display the list of shows.
I am aware that content is regional. I will try to make a new account and see how that works. I hope it solves the issues of sowing me content that is not available and then refusing to play it. If that's the case then I would not need to get a message about why the content didn't play. It may take me a few days to find the time, but I will post my results back here.
But even if there is some problem with my account, the Roku channel could solve this issue. If they are looking at my account information to decide what to show me then at my location to decide if they will play what they show, they could improve that algorithm to be more consistent. I am a software engineer myself with 40+ years experience so I am sensitive to these software shortcomings. Also, since they are testing my location and not deciding to play the content, why don't they put up a message to say so? It's one extra step on their part but it would avoid confusion to customers and avoid customers retrying and avoid customers seeking technical support. Could you make this a feature request please?
PS: Specifically the Roku Channel. What are its regional restrictions? I am in the Philippines. I've read that it is only available in the US and Canada but some of it does work outside that region. Are the various content items in that channel individually restricted by region? For example, why can I play My Favorite Martian and Lost in Space but not the Star Trek First Contact movie? Do the various content items have different network speed requirements? It could also be that the old TV shows require less bandwidth and so are able to play but the newer movies need more than I have and so don't play. You can see why a message explaining why a show doesn't play would be helpful. There are at least two possible causes of shows not playing and I don't know which is affecting me. If I upgrade my internet speed would they start to work or will I have wasted my money upgrading?
As for app availability, Roku leaves that up to the developer. Netflix, for instance, is available everywhere. That's because Netflix decided to support a Roku app there. Disney+ is not. That's because Disney decided to not support a Roku app outside those 17 regions. That's not to say Disney is available in all 17 of those. I'm simply saying outside those 17, you don't bet Disney on Roku. If Disney makes it available, it will appear in the Channel Store there. But it's Disney's decision. Same for Amazon, and most other services.
I live in US I have DIRECTV and Xfinity (and ROKU) and have ZERO interest paying any more fees I also have a place in Philippines that going forward I will be spending more time in I want to replicate as closely as possible as cheaply as possible my channel choices in the Philippines as what I have in US (especially live sports) Is my best solution ROKU with VPN? Is that even possible? Is there a better solution?
@Dive-Barb DirecTV or DirecTV Stream? Either way both only work within the US. You also have Xfinity cable tv or just internet? Either way that is also restricted to within the US. None of this has anything to do with Roku. Whatever you have in the US cannot be used in the Philippines. No way around it.
Netflix has cracked down on the use of VPN's and other location hiders and the software will recognise when one is in use. Netflix will work abroad (I don't know about Hulu) but you won't see the same films and shows that you'll see in your home country due to licensing isues.
I had this same experience last year, but while we lived in Italy, Unblock-US worked. I also found that with any VPN (usually I use HideMyAss on my laptop and hook up to a TV using an HDMI cable) I could stream CBS and PBS.
If you have internet service at home, you can always set up a VPN at home (hire someone or have a tech-savvy friend do it). This is something I did myself and know how to do - I'm assuming you wouldn't. Yes, it would cost you a one-time fee if you have to pay someone, but there would be no monthly fee, and when you connect to it from anywhere you are connecting to your own home network. Netflix and Hulu aren't going to block you on that.
I have been able to use Netflix (via their mobile app) in every country I have visited, even third-world countries; never been blocked. They only catch is that you are limited to Netflix's own shows. The Hollywood studio movies don't show up in the choices.
Alan, For those of us who travel for many weeks, it can be a great pleasure to spend an evening in with a home cooked dinner and a movie. We rent apartments often and cook in about half the time. After an 8-to-10 hour day of exploring and discovery in a foreign language, having my feet up with a glass of wine and a movie hits the spot!
I usually keep my mouth shut when I hear the "You shouldn't be in your hotel room anyway!" thing. I'm not a night owl. When traveling I like to have dinner in or out, maybe go for a walk, and then relax in a hotel watching a movie or a couple TV shows I like.
Don't feel bad. I watch TV shows and movies while traveling abroad as well. If I'm on a train with beautiful scenery, I'll usually look out the window, but often the scenery is nothing special, so I'll sometimes watch something on my phone. If I get back to my hotel early enough in the evening I'll also watch something but usually I am getting back late enough that I just want to get to bed.
I think it should be "to each his/her own" in what they do during their down time. In my most recent trip, I was traveling for 7 months. I spent a total of 4 months in the U.K., Scotland, and Ireland, and 90 days spread between Germany, Hungary, Poland, Belgium and France. I rented apartments as my stays were generally a week or more with a few 2 or 3 nighters. I enjoyed having entertainment in the evenings after long days of being out or on the few occasions I was in "sight-see" overload mode. I did not have any fancy vpn or back door things, just used my travel laptop and my existing Netflix and Hulu accounts. As previously noted I was unable to use HBO Now.
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