While we knew it was coming, Roku has announced that the all-new Blockbuster on Demand service is now live on its video-streaming platform (US only), and will be available on the Roku Streaming Stick, Roku 2, Roku LT, and new Roku HD players (model 2500X).
While Roku is particularly well-known in the US, with Netflix, Amazon Instant and Hulu Plus all featuring prominently, it has also added the likes of BBC iPlayer and Now TV (BSkyB) to its UK media offering, after it was made available in Europe for the first time last January.
As for Blockbuster, well, it has been left engulfed in a cloud of dust in recent years, with Netflix & Co. streaming past it, if you can pardon the pun.
With Blockbuster on Demand, however, the former video-rental behemoth has previously attempted to shift with the times, serving up a multi-platform movie-streaming service for a fair few years, though it recently started removing support from set-top boxes (STBs), including Vudu, WDTV and Roku.
Blockbuster returns
As Android Police noted last month, however, Blockbuster on Demand was quietly relaunched, offering a revamped app for all devices through which movies can be rented.
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Indeed, it follows its traditional high street rental model rather than the subscription-based Netflix approach, but that’s fine. Titles have 1080p and 5.1-channel surround sound, and there are apps for PC, Mac, Android, Samsung Smart TVs and now Roku. No iOS support yet, we might add.
Roku’s Blockbuster on Demand channel lets you browse by new releases, most popular or genre, although there are curated collections too, such as Shakespeare on Film and I Heart New York.
The channel also provides a Watchlist to store flicks you want to catch up with later.
Blockbuster On Demand will only be available to US Roku users though, and will require software version 4.9 build 5060 or later. It can be found in the Movies & TV category of the Roku Channel Store.
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