Skip to main content

NBC launches new Roku app, new fall shows accessible to all

streaming tv
Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock
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. 

roku-fallon
Image used with permission by copyright holder

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, saidWe 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.”

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Flacy
By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…
Netflix launches new low-cost tier — here’s how to get it
Netflix app icon on Apple TV.

Netflix has launched its new low-cost subscription plan, Basic With Ads.

The new plan costs $7 a month, $3 less than the next cheapest plan, Basic, which costs $10 a month.

Read more
Netflix’s new ‘mystery box’ aims to help kids find new shows
Children watching TV.

Netflix has launched a new “mystery box” feature aimed at helping kids to find new shows to watch on its streaming service.

Much like the “play something” button that Netflix added to its service last year to help adults quickly find fresh content instead of wasting time endlessly scrolling, the new kids-focused feature diverts the little ones to new content that Netflix’s algorithms thinks they’ll enjoy.

Read more
Roku is aware of its OS 10.5 update breaking your streaming apps
Roku OS 10.5.

If you're struggling to stream video after the Roku OS 10.5 update, you're not alone, apparently. The leading streaming platform's user forums have been busy in the days following the major update, with all sorts of complaints of things being broken.

The complaints range from channel-specific — things like YouTube TV not working — to overall network connectivity problems to general malaise. It's not easy to troubleshoot from afar when you're dealing with multiple devices over multiple generations, but the general consensus over 20 pages of posts so far (as well as in the Roku subreddit) is that something is wrong.

Read more