Roku Enforces Porn Ban Through Strict Measures Against Private Channels
Turning Tables: Roku's Policy Shift on Private Channels
Roku is set to kick out private channels – that is, hidden and non-certified channels – from its platform by March 1, 2022. This policy shift includes popular adult content providers like Pornhub, AEBN, Adult Empire, Adult Time, Wicked, and Naughty America, as revealed by Protocol.
For years, these platforms utilized private channels as a means to bypass Roku's official channel store, offering their services directly to users. Officially listed channels require Roku's certification, but private channels have historically enabled the distribution of uncertified content, including materials the company disallows.
To address the challenges faced by developers, Roku is introducing an Independent Developer Kit (IDK) that lets developers code applications outside of streaming channels in their preferred programming language, creating games, apps, and utilities.
Roku is also rolling out a new beta channel feature, enabling developers to test their applications before they hit the public Channel Store. However, each beta channel will only accept 20 users with a 120-day testing period limit per developer.
The spokesperson for Roku shared their stance, stating, "We announced the launch of Beta Channels, a new feature that aligns with industry standards and offers a more dynamic and flexible environment for developers to test their channels prior to launching in our public channel store."
Though it's unclear what prompted the policy shift, past issues with piracy-facilitating, private channels led to a temporary sales ban for Roku in Mexico in 2017. To counteract this, Roku started displaying warning messages for users accessing unsuitable content through private channels.
Though this move might seem detrimental to adult content providers, smart TV platforms like Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Samsung Tizen OS allow users to sideload third-party apps, providing alternative routes for these providers to reach their audience. So, while Roku is closing one door, the cat – and the cat's content – will likely find another way in.
- Roku's policy shift on private channels, announced on March 1, 2022, aims to eliminate hidden and non-certified channels, including those from adult content providers like Pornhub, AEBN, Adult Empire, Adult Time, Wicked, and Naughty America.
- To bypass Roku's official channel store in the past, popular adult content providers used private channels to offer their services directly to users, a practice that enabled the distribution of uncertified content.
- In an effort to cater to developers, Roku is introducing the Independent Developer Kit (IDK), which allows developers to code applications outside of streaming channels, and a new beta channel feature for testing applications before they reach the public Channel Store.
- With Roku closing the door on private channels, alternative platforms like Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Samsung Tizen OS, which allow users to sideload third-party apps, could provide a new route for these adult content providers to reach their audience.
