How To get your own TV station on Roku, FireTV, or Over-the-Air…Plus, how to get your Content distributed on our TV channels

June 2024 update! An informative Roku-Ramble for would be TV station operators…

I get email’s from different Ad companies every week, and most of them don’t even know how to put together the necessary code for Roku. It’s difficult to find the right partner for monetizing your channel, but I can get your there. Or maybe you’re not interested in Advertising or AVOD. I can help you put together a channel for Roku and FireTV. Let’s start there…

Putting together a channel from scratch is very time consuming and it can be expensive. The old “direct publisher” system on Roku was relatively easy, if you had a JSON feed that worked. But it’s gone, so we have to go back to the old SDK method. I get questions regarding how much it costs to create a channel, and almost every question comes around to “how do I make money on my TV channel.” So though I’d like to start at the obvious “get a library of video content…put it on a video host…and then build an SDK…”

Let’s start with the topic of monetization. AVOD is usually the way to go unless you pay for a solution that offers a subscription model, that’s a tough one, because are your Netflix?

Are you an organization that has a large group of followers (over 5,000) that would be willing to pay you for a monthly subscription? Likely not. If you are all those things then you don’t need me. But I’d like to think you do need me, so let’s talk about what it takes to do a Roku or FireTV channel if you’re an indie Publisher, or Film Studio, or Movie/TV distributor of some sort.

Firstly, it takes quite a large number of viewers before you will generate enough “views” to get Roku’s Ad System (RAF) and/or another Ad Service to play ads on your channel. Because in the end you need to generate enough Ad Revenue (money) to pay for your bandwidth, content licensing, etc.

Oh woops, did you ask what RAF is? That is the advertising system that Roku has you sign up for if (if) you plan to monetize your TV channel. You’ll need an additional Third Part Ad Server to really make any money, so either buck up and purchase an Ad Server and place you own, local ads or sponsors…OR partner with an Ad Server and prey that they deliver enough ads to make you money.

Regarding Amazon Fire TV — no problem, they don’t insist that you use their ADvert system like Roku’s RAF, but you’ll still need an AD Server.

Fire TV is a little bit of a challenge when it comes to make an indie channel. You’ll need to build an Android based SDK. Then you’ll place your AD Server into it, and of course your content. No matter what route you take when you’re a DIY or “independent” channel publisher, you’ll come across the New-Channel-Scenario of not having enough viewers to make any money via advertising. Let’s move on to some good news.

I have two good approaches for you for Roku:

First of all, I’m very passionate about this, so please excuse the Roku-Ramble!

1.) I partnered with someone who puts the whole package together but the thing is, it’s not super cheap. It’s less money than Amagi or Wurl, etc etc. So, that being said, I can refer you to my partner who does the Fast channel building for Roku and other platforms. Last I heard it is $550 a month for the service, which gives you the Video Hosting, the Advertising system, and an SDK and/or Live/Simulated Live streams.

The nice thing about this (option 1) package is that if (if) you have a nice library of content, then you have the potential-option of getting your channel broadcast on Over-the-Air (antenna) TV stations. Our broadcast reach is in 30 USA markets.

Option 2: You could buy one of my existing Roku channels, place your own SDK, and run VOD or Fast style content. To monetize via Adverts, you would need to add a Third Party Ad Service (and Roku’s AD Service aka RAF.) I can give you a list of Ad Agencies and others. The advantage to buying an existing channel is that you would get the existing user base.

Here’s why this is important: It can cost up to $18 per User-Add (user-acquisition) when you use Roku’s advertising system. You’ve probably seen the Ads on the Right-hand side of your Roku channel, werein you would click to watch a movie, and in the process it signs you up for the channel subscription. That’s expensive.

So, some of my smaller channels already have 200 ratings or so. And that means a built in viewer base can save you money. How do you know how many viewers there are? Well, Roku has stats, but the true way to know a Channels clout is via it’s Ratings.

How do Connected TV channel ratings work? It’s said that for every (1) Roku user “rating” – it equals about 200 actual people who have “added” your channel. But that’s being generous and I don’t believe it. I do however see that after the first 20 channel-ratings which is usually friends and developer-friends — then you can start to guesstimate the number of active users a channel has. Typically the representative number is 30-50 users per “rating.” This is pretty much the same on Amazon Fire TV. PS: I have over 6,500 ratings on my Movies Plus channel on Fire. Yep, it kicks booty!

To sum it all up, that’s how I value a channel. Others may say that is incorrect. But keep in mind that when you look at other channels out there and they only have 10 Ratings or so…then that indicates a very very small channel, and even though folks love to talk about how lucrative Roku “can be” — it’s a hard road. It’s a hard road because 20 users of so will never get you enough views to trigger any Ad system, including Roku’s RAF.. So you’ll never see any “ad income” until you have enough viewers.

That’s the rub, and that’s the truth and I know it’s not a great sales pitch. But, the fact is — you have to either buy an existing channel like one of mine, or you have to throw money at it in order to advertise and build up your viewer base. And this is for Roku as well as Fire TV. Fire TV has a user-acquisition model too, and it’s a little different than Roku’s because you pay by the click, not the “user-add.” In any event, you still would have to pay to drive people to add your channel to their device. (The exception is of course my option 2 which is for Roku only, and admit ably, an unusual approach.)

So, if you’re going it alone — the big question is — why would anyone want to add your little channel? Do you have kick-a*s content that’s unique, or are you yet another publisher who thinks people want to watch 60 year Public Domain films? If you license Hollywood content, it’s expensive, but if you have the cash to back your channel with Advertising that will drive the Roku/FireTV viewer to add your channel, then you have a good chance of making it.

(Licensing Movies and TV shows is serious bucks folks. Remember many a channel has failed. And many a platform has failed. And of course, NO, you’re not the only guy who thinks that their website would be a cool destination for watching videos, because ya see, a little site called Youtube already does that.) Uggh, side-bar finished.)

Moving on…It’s a tough road, but if you have the BUG like I do then you have your reasons for publishing a CTV channel. Again, you can forget all the hassles of starting from scratch by simply partnering with me, of course we’ll have to iron out the details, but it can be done. And I’m super easy to talk to. Contact me on FB if you’d like to talk about it more. (I admit this article is a bit of a ramble…but I did warn you 😉

PS again: On Roku and FireTV, I’m the developer “Apple Pie Films.” My niche channels that are available for buying and/or partnership are: ArtHouse Movies, Film Riot, The Screening Room.

Cheers, and I hope this helps.

How to get your content distributed on our Connected Television Platform (2024)…

NEW in 2024. We now feature videos on our front page, here and on the Metro site. We’re also inviting producers of Comedy to submit their programs for distribution.

MAIN SITE (if you’d rather not read this blog 😉

Okay, back to what’s new. Importantly for ACTORS and HOSTS; we are inviting you to shoot very short videos with your cell phone in your home-studio. Your video will be used to introduce video segments in our Television Magazines. Our “Magazines” are similar in format to America’s Funniest Home Videos and programs like “Dog Tales.”

Some of our programs (in pre-production) feature compilations of Metro Film Festival shorts and other shorts that we’ve picked up for Television syndication. You can watch some of these shorts on our Roku and Amazon Fire TV channels, and right on this page or our festival website. One of our favorites is “The Do’s and Don’ts of Doomsday Cult Dating” by Cheeky Moon.

Doomsday Cult Dating is a winner of the Metro Film Festival. It is slated to be part of our upcoming Television series. We’re looking for talented, fun-loving HOSTS to present a brief intro to short films like this. If you have a good-cell phone, imagine doing a video of yourself introducing the Doomsday short. What would you say? Maybe you would reference their IMDB page for information about the Director or the Actors. Or maybe you would say something impromptu about the film like “…I highly recommend meeting girls this way, after all it’s cheaper than online-dating, and you might even get some cool Cult swag or a T-shirt that says — I Met My Wife in a Cult…”

Anyway, that’s my stab at a funny remark, maybe I need to have another cup of coffee before writing this stuff — but you get the idea. Connect with me on Facebook.com/DeanLach if you interested.

Our newest Streaming partner is RlaxxTV. Based in Germany they stream on RlaxxTV and Whale Eco devices in Asia, Africa, and Europe.

About Movies Plus TV

Movies Plus TV is a Connected TV network that uses the Metro Film Festival to find indie content. Short indie films typically won’t generate any advertising revenue, so we do something unique: We License “Hollywood” content, movies like Tom Selleck in “Mr Baseball” and TV shows like Evening Shade with Marilu Henner.

We use Hollywood quality content in order to monetize and financially support our Streaming TV channels and affiliations with Broadcasters. This model works in the USA and abroad. Read more about how we use PRE-DISTRIBUTION to make indie-made films and TV-shows successful…

We started on Amazon FireTV’s Set-Top Boxes in 2015. We expanded into Roku a year later. Now we’re also on RlaxxTV, and we are affiliated with an Over-the-Air Broadcaster in 30 markets with a reach of over 40 million. OTA is great way to get a independently produced film/show exposed to the kind of people that pay for good content.

Roku and Amazon Fire TV…

These are all devices that stream content via an Internet Connection and a Television. Devices like this commonly employ Streaming TV Publishers like me who offer assorted TV and Movies programming. Most of the content is free and subsidized by Advertising. The “device” in question is usually a small electronic box or “stick,” and it plugs into the HDMI port on your TV. Cost is about $30. (Note that Roku and Fire make their own TV’s now, and they are affordable and very nice.)

Below is a snapshot of our presence on RlaxxTV.

Continued…

Did I mention we produce a Film Festival? It’s been happening for 7 seasons, and we’d love for you to visit the Fest online or at a Venue, but meanwhile below is a little video by one of our winners. It’s on our CTV channels too.

Get your film on TV via our Metro Film Festival, it’s very inexpensive. We also offer a Critique service for Feature films and long-form content.

We are more than a Connected TV Platform, we also distribute HLS (FAST) TV channels.

Are your a Content Producer or Publisher? If you have an HLS stream, join the ranks of professional, licensed content like NEWSnet (fresh, nonpolitical news) …

And you could be next to cool channels like DarkMatter (Sci-Fi and Thrillers) …

These and more great channels stream 24/7 on our Movies Plus TV network. Contact Dean via Curator@metrofilmfestival.com or chat with Dean on FB: Facebook.com/DeanLach or Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dean_Lachiusa

More details about our search for TV Pilots and COMEDY content:

Recently distributors in Asia mentioned to me that they could not air my Horror/Thriller content because of Age-Restrictions.

I don’t want to lose these broadcast regions, so I took a good look at my library of content in order to find movies and TV-shows that would be appropriate for the Asian television audience. Aside from my catalog of Metro Film Festival content, I also have a large catalog of Comedy.

This is where you’ll see an opportunity to stream some great content, new and old on my new channel, called “Movies Plus Comedy.” If you’re a Producer, Director, or acting-talent, please make note of this opportunity. I can stream your content.

Make a show, shoot a segment…use your imagination. There’s really only one important caveat — keep it clean.

That means, no words like “ass” etc. You may be saying, oh brother is this strict or what? Sorry folks, but we have to keep our content very very clean. For our presence on RlaxxTV, we license Yes Dear – it’s very funny. And Evening Shade with Burt Reynolds and Marilu Henner is also a favorite.

Yes Dear stars Anthony Clark Liza Snyder, Jean Louisa Kelly. We also stream some very cool retro films with Cheech Marin, musician Adam Ant, and Debbie Harry (of Blondie.)

Below are Indie Films that are currently streaming on our CTV channels, but not our Over-the-Air partners. Why? Because these two short films may be a tad…adult in nature. And our OTA partners cannot air content that could get them charged with a $10,000 FCC fine. So when it comes to content with adult language and situations, we stream on our FireTV and Roku channels only.
Here’s the Metro Film Festival winner, an indie film that is much like a Tarantino homage. Director Chris Hall calls it “This Day Sucks.”

Below is another of our Favorites, the Nollywood short film Thriller “Near Miss” available here, and of course on our Movies Plus Roku and FireTV channels.

Watch on our Connected Roku TV Channel…

Movies Plus on Roku TV, a professional gallery of film and television, it’s LIVE and VOD — all FREE.

Watch on our Connected Fire TV Channel…

Movies Plus on Amazon Fire TV, since 2015 with tons of FREE LIVE and VOD movies of all genres

The Metro Film Festival…

Metro Film Festival Information by Apple Pie Films, LLC. Or jump right to our Fest entry page on Film Freeway.

Dean’s experimental films…

“Cosmic Pizza” (feature film)

A group of spaced-out friends pretend to be Aliens from planet Zarconite. They record all their exploits, but when they share their videos they find that some people actually think it’s for real. This is a light comedy, not a horror, but it’s just experimentally weird enough to be distributed by Troma. Watch on TromaNow or online here.

Lights, Camera, Aliens (feature film)

A television cameraman tells the story of a woman who produces a TV show about Space-Aliens who use a type of mind control called “Cosmic Con-shuss-ness.” This is a light comedy, not a horror, but it’s just experimentally weird enough to be distributed by Troma. Watch the feature film on the TromaNow App or watch online here.

About these movies

That’s me wearing a cast on my arm. It’s a long story that resulted in the production of two very strange movies. The cinematography features the beautiful Arizona Desert, including Apache Junction, Papago Red Rock Park, and Phoenix’s “Alice in Wonderland” teapot (our Spaceship.)

Have a #FanTOXIC day