Already in a battle with Google to keep access to the YouTube app on its devices, Roku looks set to get rid of porn channels from the likes of Pornhub when it drops support for “non-certified” private channels that let content providers bypass Roku's content guidelines. Roku will replace the “non-certified” channels with beta channels that are limited to 20 users.
The move to beta channels comes with the release of Roku's new Independent Developer Kit (IDK) which is good news for testers but not so much for those operating channels showing adult content that didn't meet the content guidelines. Those operating private, uncertified channels have until March 1st, 2022 to figure out a way to continue showing content that doesn't meet Roku's criteria.
Having previously ignored the wild west that was the domain of the private channels, Roku's decision to switch to the beta channel format has more likely come about because of privacy and misinformation issues rather than protests about the presence of adult content, but it's going to affect them all the same.
The hard-core viewers of these private channels could well decide to switch streaming platforms in favor of Amazon's Fire TV Stick or Google's Android TV which offers more freedom to what users can view.
Via: Protocol
