Roku Shuts Down Private Channels, Including Porn Streaming Services
Roku, a leading streaming platform, has announced a significant policy change that will effectively eliminate private, non-certified channels from its platform starting March 1, 2022. This decision will impact a wide range of content providers, including those offering adult entertainment, who have long utilized private channels as a workaround to Roku’s official channel store certification process.
Private channels, also known as hidden channels, provided a way for users to manually add services that hadn’t undergone Roku’s rigorous certification process. This certification process serves as a gatekeeper, ensuring that content meets Roku’s standards before being made available to its users. The lack of certification for private channels meant they were often used for developer testing, but also as a means to distribute content that wouldn’t pass Roku’s official review, including pornography and other potentially objectionable material.
The policy shift is poised to impact several prominent adult content platforms, including Pornhub, which has heavily relied on private channels to reach Roku users. Other platforms facing removal include pay-per-view services like Adult Empire and AEBN, as well as subscription-based adult entertainment providers like Wicked, Adult Time, and Naughty America. These companies will need to find alternative methods to distribute their content to Roku users.
Recognizing the potential disruption for developers, Roku has introduced an Independent Developer Kit (IDK) designed to allow developers to test and create applications outside of the streaming channel ecosystem. The IDK will allow developers to utilize their preferred programming languages to build various types of applications, including games, utilities, and other interactive experiences.
In tandem with the IDK, Roku is launching a new beta channel feature, aiming to replicate the testing environment previously offered by private channels. Beta channels will allow developers to test their applications before they are submitted for inclusion in the official Roku Channel Store. Each beta channel will be limited to a maximum of 20 users, and developers will be limited to a maximum of two beta channels, each with a testing period of up to 120 days.
A Roku spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to providing a robust and industry-standard developer environment. "At our annual developer conference in October, 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," the spokesperson said. "With the launch of the Beta Channels feature, non-certified channels, which have previously been available to support development testing, are no longer necessary and will be removed by March of 2022."
While the company maintains that the decision to eliminate private channels is primarily driven by a desire for greater quality control and standardization, Roku has faced past challenges related to the content hosted on these channels. Notably, Roku sales were temporarily banned in Mexico in 2017 following a legal dispute over the company’s alleged failure to address piracy facilitated through private channels. Following its reinstatement in the Mexican market, Roku implemented measures to mitigate the risks associated with non-certified channels, including displaying warning messages to users accessing content via these channels, cautioning them about the potential for offensive or inappropriate material.
The long-term impact of this policy change on Roku’s user base and its relationships with content providers remains to be seen. While the company aims to provide a more secure and curated streaming experience, the elimination of private channels may alienate users who valued the ability to access a wider range of content, including adult entertainment.
However, the move doesn’t spell the end of access to adult content for determined viewers. Many smart TV platforms offer web browser capabilities, allowing users to access websites directly. Furthermore, competing streaming devices, such as Amazon’s Fire TV and Google’s Android TV, allow users to sideload Android applications from third-party sources, effectively replicating the functionality of Roku’s private channels.
This suggests that adult content providers, known for their adaptability, will likely find alternative avenues to distribute their content. They might need to adopt more creative strategies, but the existing infrastructure of other platforms offers pathways for them to continue reaching consumers.
The decision highlights the ongoing tension between providing an open platform and maintaining control over the content that is distributed through it. Roku’s move towards greater curation and standardization reflects a broader trend in the streaming industry, as companies seek to protect their brands and appeal to a wider audience. The company hopes to maintain the vast majority of its user base despite the content restrictions, and will have to rely on its user experience, strong device capabilities, and the breadth of offerings from its certified channels to keep users engaged on their platform. The hope is that their IDK tools will encourage developers to invest in creating certified channels through their more rigorous process, adding depth to Roku’s certified channel marketplace and helping retain user engagement.
