Published today on the Roku Channel store, Roku owners now have a new way of accessing programs that are broadcast on NBC. Potentially ideal for homes that have cut the cord and receive poor reception with a HD antenna, the free NBC channel app will offer day-after-air full high definition episodes of new fall shows for anyone that installs the app. New fall shows would include dramas like Blindspot, Heroes Reborn and The Player as well as comedies like Truth Be Told.
For anyone that’s currently subscribed to premium cable or satellite service, you have the option of authenticating your premium subscription within the app. After authentication, you will have access to stream full episodes of returning shows such as The Blacklist, Law and Order: SVU, Grimm, and The Mysteries of Laura as well as a library of older content. In addition, NBC will make late night programming, like The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Live, available the following day as full episodes as well as clips.
The authentication option could be ideal for a Roku set-top box or streaming stick that’s positioned at a secondary television in a home, one that doesn’t have access to a cable box. Interestingly, it’s possible NBC’s app could cause more cancellations of Hulu. NBC was one of the early supporters of Hulu, similar to ABC, FOX and the CW. CBS was the lone hold-out, ultimately going in a completely different direction with a standalone, premium subscription app called CBS All Access.
Speaking about the launch of the new NBC app, Rob Hayes, executive vice president of NBC Entertainment Digital, said “We want our shows available where our viewers are watching content. As consumers shift to connected devices, we are committed to working with platform partners like Roku so our fans and audiences interested in entertainment can discover, engage with, and watch our shows.”
