USTVnow on Roku Review

I belong to the Cut the Cable Group on Facebook. Lately there's been a fair amount of chatter in the group about USTVnow, the streaming TV service intended for American citizens living abroad.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, north of Seattle and just a stone's throw from Canada. Recently I visited an American friend in Vancouver and took along my Roku 3 for the express purpose of trying out USTVnow on the device.

First, I went to to the USTVnow website and signed up for the "All Channels + DVR" service (I'll detail the service plans later in this article).

Next I installed the USTVnow private Roku channel, instructions for which are provided here.

Then I launched the Roku channel and linked it to my account, but, after executing this step, the channel dropped me back to the Roku home screen. Uh oh. After that, when I tried to launch the channel, it started momentarily but returned me to the Roku home screen before displaying any options.

Disappointed, and thinking that USTVnow might be a scam after all, I filed a support ticket asking for cancellation of service and a refund. I received a reply very quickly. In addition to immediately issuing me a refund, the CSR offered me a whopping 37.5% lifetime discount off the normal price for the top tier of service. So tempting, if only it worked on my Roku...

The following day I submitted a support ticket detailing the problems that I had with the Roku channel. I again received a very prompt reply, impressively so, this time informing me that my case would be submitted to the technical staff. Later in the day I was informed that the techs had made some changes, linked my Roku to my account for me, and that I should try again. And viola, the channel then worked!

There are some very impressive things about USTVnow service on Roku:

• The HD picture quality is quite good, not as good as you can get from an OTA antenna - macroblocking is evident - but it's probably good enough for most to enjoy watching live programming such as sports
• There is unlimited cloud DVR storage for recordings newer than 30 days, and you can create recurring recordings via the website
• The channels load really fast, faster than any other content that I watch on my Roku, including the content that I enjoy on Plex, which is hosted on my home network
• If your viewing habits are Roku-centric like mine, the convenience of having live TV available on the Roku is great

But far and away the most impressive thing about USTVnow on the Roku is the Guide view, which presents a standard electronic programming guide (EPG) grid to the user.

I've done some development for Roku, and I can tell you that it can be pretty darned challenging. The BASIC-based Brightscript programming language that serves as the Roku SDK is surprisingly non intuitive and not very well documented. And the examples may be from as long ago as 2008 when the SDK was first released. This is probably why most Roku channels still have the same iconic, blocky interface.

If you had asked me before my experience with USTVnow on Roku if a developer could create a functional grid-style EPG for a Roku channel, I would have confidently and unequivocally told you no. USTVnow's EPG guide grid implementation for Roku is downright impressive.

Other options for viewing content in addition to the Guide view are Live, which presents a scrolling poster-like view which will be very familiar to Roku users, Fav, for favorites, and DVR, which displays your recordings.

There are downsides to USTVnow too, mainly that not all channels are in HD, though I was told that USTVnow plans to add more HD feeds soon. Also, the PQ is not as good as you will find from flagship streaming services like Netflix, nor from more traditional TV infrastructures such as telecom, satellite or cable.

USTVnow has a free plan that allows you to watch the broadcast networks on a computer only and in low resolution only. However, a 45-day free trial period allows you to experience the channels in HD and on devices like Roku. I think DVR service is also included for the trial period.

The channels included in the free plan are:

• ABC HD
• CBS HD
• CW
• FOX HD
• NBC HD
• PBS

In case you're curious, USTVnow's broadcast network feeds come from the Harrisburg, PA area. This is probably good news if you're a Pittsburgh Steelers or Philadelphia Eagles fan (for my part, I bleed black and gold - Stillers!)

USTVnow has two paid tiers, one with DVR service and one without, priced at $39 and $29 per month, though each are discounted by $10 for the first three months.

The additional channels available under the paid plans are:

• A&E
• AMC
• Animal Planet
• Bravo
• Cartoon Network HD
• CNBC
• CNN HD
• Comedy Central
• Discovery
• ESPN HD
• Fox News HD
• FX HD
• History
• Lifetime
• MY TV
• National Geographic HD
• Nikelodeon
• Spike
• Syfy
• TBS HD
• TNT HD
• USA

I think that's a really good channel lineup. I probably watch more TV than most, and only three shows I watch wouldn't be available with this lineup, Mysteries at the Museum on Travel Channel, Penny Dreadful on Showtime and Salem on WGN America. However, I wouldn't watch the USTVnow channels that aren't offered in HD.

Under USTVnow's terms of service, you must be an American citizen living abroad to use the service. However, when signing up for USTVnow, you are only asked where you will be watching - there is no verification process. This is very curious because your geographic location can be determined from your device's IP address, and it's evident that USTVnow has the technical savvy to incorporate geographic validation checking. Now that I think about it, verifying that you're an American citizen would be much more onerous. Perhaps that's the sticky wicket...

In summary, if you're an American citizen living abroad, USTVnow is probably well worth the price, especially for enjoying live American sports. And if all the channels were in HD, USTVnow would be an absolutely killer offering.

Disc to Digital Part 3: That VUDU that You Do!

This is the final article in a series of three about converting one's movie and TV library from DVD and Blu-ray discs to computer-based files fit for streaming. Previously I wrote about ripping DVD and Blu-ray titles to digital files and setting up and customizing Plex, the media server.

There is another option that serves as either a supplement or substitute to ripping one's own library of discs: VUDU.

VUDU is a content provider and channel on devices like Roku. Similar to iTunes or Amazon Instant Video, one may rent or purchase movies or TV shows using VUDU. Where VUDU stands apart is in allowing one to convert one's discs to digital for a small fee.

One of the nice things about VUDU is that they have many catalog titles in HD that have never even been released on Blu-ray. It's a great way to extend the life of your video library, and for a reasonable price to boot.

Also, for the faint of heart, using the VUDU Disc to Digital service is much less intensive than ripping copies of one's own discs and then transcoding them so that they're suitable for streaming (just reading the latter part of this sentence may scare some).

One can either upgrade DVD discs to HD streams or convert DVD discs to SD streams and Blu-ray discs to HD streams. Upgrading costs as little as $2.50 per title (for 10 or more), and converting to a stream of the same resolution costs as little as $1.00 per title.

Streams may be downloaded to one's laptop or mobile device for viewing on the go.

One can convert discs at home using the free VUDU To Go application. The process is simple. First, on the In-Home Disc to Digital page, search for the title that you want to convert. If it appears in the results list, you're off to the races. (Depending on VUDU's content agreements, not all titles are available - but VUDU does frequently add more titles.)

Download and install the VUDU To Go desktop application.

Next, launch VUDU To Go.

Click on the Disc to Digital tab.

Insert the disc into your computer's disc drive. This authenticates that you own the disc and VUDU will find the title in its library.

Click on which version you'd like to own, HDX or SD. (In VUDU terminology, HD refers to 720p and HDX refers to 1080p. When you buy the HDX version, you also get the HD and SD versions.) The item is added to your cart.

Continue searching for and adding titles to your cart using the appropriate disc. When done, click on Proceed to Checkout and complete your order from there.

The next time that you access VUDU on your device the title or titles will be available to watch!

Tip: If you're converting a two-sided disc and the VUDU To Go application doesn't recognize the first side, flip it over and try again.

Discs may also be converted at any Walmart location (Walmart owns VUDU).

If you're a little leary about using VUDU To Go, know that you can convert your first disc for free.

Also, if you're new to VUDU, you can get 5 free HD movies to own from a selection of titles when you create a (free) account.

Related:
Disc to Digital Part 1: Rippin!
Disc to Digital Part 2: Setting Up and Customizing Plex

Disc to Digital Part 2: Setting Up and Customizing Plex

This is the second article in a series of three about converting one's movie and TV library from DVD and Blu-ray discs to computer-based files fit for streaming. Previously I posted about ripping video DVDs and Blu-rays to digital files. In this article I'll be writing about setting up and customizing Plex to enjoy streaming digital content to your TV.

I use Plex with a Roku 3. I describe it as Netflix, but only with the content that I love.

It's easy to get started with Plex, simply sign up for a free account and download the free Plex Media Server software. Plex runs in your web browser so the install is pretty small.

Once installed, I access Plex Media Server from the Windows System Tray.

Plex is organized as a series of libraries. I think of these libraries as genre folders, and organize my content on my computer in the same way.

To add a "library" or folder to Plex, click the plus symbol (+) in the upper left of the Plex Media Server window.

Select the type of media, such as Movies.

Name the library and then click Next.

Click Add Folder.

Browse to the folder and then click Add.

Click Add Library.

Plex scans the folder and downloads metadata and artwork automatically, just be sure to name your files simply as, in this case, the movie names.

How cool is that? I must say that this is the moment that I fell in love with Plex. I thought that I was going to have to load artwork and movie info myself. But no, Plex does it all automatically, and for free!

One of the nice things about Plex though is that it's very easy to customize. For instance, I want my movies Predator and Predators to have a similar artwork flavor, which they don't by default.

To change this, I can simply hover over the artwork for Predators and click the Edit tool.

I then click on Poster and select the artwork that I like. I can also upload new artwork here.

I repeat the process for Predator and end up with artwork that is more congruent between the two movies.

You may customize your library as little or as much as you like.

Over on the Roku client side, I simply added the free Roku Plex channel. When I launched it, it found my media server automatically and I then simply told it to connect.

Now whenever I add to or otherwise update my library on Plex Media Server on my PC, Plex on the Roku is automatically updated!

Playing the content on the Roku is smooth, just like using Netflix with a very fast Internet connection. It even keeps track of where you last stopped watching each title.

Related:
Disc to Digital Part 1: Rippin!
Disc to Digital Part 3: That VUDU that You Do!

Disc to Digital Part 1: Rippin!

This is the first article in a series of three about converting one's movie and TV library from DVD and Blu-ray discs to computer-based files fit for streaming.

About a decade ago I converted my CD music collection to MP3. It's been great to have my music collection portable and at hand to enjoy in a myriad of ways on multiple devices. I remember thinking at the time that it would be wonderful when movies could be handled in the same way.

Later, I became aware of a system called Kaleidescape that rips discs to digital copies. The big problem was that the system is cost-prohibitive, with the most basic implementation costing thousands of dollars.

A little while back I thought that there must be a more cost-effective way to convert my disc collection and enjoy them digitally, preferably with the Roku that I already owned. I did some research and settled on Plex. Plex is media streaming software. One of things that it enables you to do is to stream your content from a computer to your TV via a Roku over your wi-fi network. Best of all, both the media server software and the Roku client channel are free!

Once I found Plex, it only fell to me to settle on a process for converting my video DVDs and Blu-rays to digital files. I settled on a two part process, ripping the discs to MKV files and then transcoding them to MP4. Before I go into the details, some words about legality...

It is legal to create digital "backups" of discs that you have purchased. It is also legal to view these backups.

It is illegal to copy discs that you do not own, or to in any way distribute copies that you have created. Very substantial penalties will apply.

That being said, I use MakeMKV to rip my discs to digital files. The process is simple. First, insert the disc and then launch the application. Click on the drive image to scan the disc.

I only want the main feature so, after the scan completes, I uncheck everything except the largest file.

Then it's simply a matter of setting the output folder and clicking Make MKV. The process usually takes about 50-100% of the feature playing time.

MakeMKV is "free in Beta."

The resulting MKV file is rather large, 34 GB in this example. I then use Handbrake to transcode the file to MP4. This reduces the file size on the order of 75%. The process can take quite awhile though, up to 11 hours for a movie. I queue up the MKV files and let them run overnight or while I'm at work. I delete the large MKV files when processing is finished.

Handbrake has a lot of options and so can be very complicated to use. I simplify it to the extreme by just using the Apple TV 3 preset.

The output quality is FANTASTIC, indistinguishable from the source material to my eye, and I'm pretty picky.

Handbrake is free.

If you've been tallying the cost, you should already know that the sum cost for this solution using Plex, MakeMKV and Handbrake is $0!

Related:
Disc to Digital Part 2: Setting Up and Customizing Plex
Disc to Digital Part 3: That VUDU that You Do!