Roku, the streaming video player, is adding the ability to see Facebook videos and pictures right on your TV. There are already several channels you can see on Roku, and Facebook Photos has been one of them. Now the channel is getting a big upgrade and it’s another example of internet video coming to the living room.
Facebook Photos & Videos enables Roku users to watch most videos uploaded directly to Facebook. It also presents YouTube videos shared on Facebook. It’s the Facebook multimedia experience, and you don’t need a computer to participate.
What does that mean? This is an early step toward what will almost certainly be expanded Facebook Channels on many internet TV services. The partnership with Roku is likely a first step in building more Facebook channels, and they don’t need a cable or satellite deal to make it happen. Choosing the Facebook Photos & Videos channel brings up a familiar-but-tweaked interface showing user choices:
In its blog, Roku notes some of the new features: There will be support for multiple users (no more logging off and logging on for a different user. You can still see the comments on pictures and “Like” a photo, by using your remote. And it organizes your friends into a grid for easier scanning.
On Roku, you can already watch channels such as Netflix, Amazon Video and Hulu Plus. Now, with Facebook Photos and Videos, users have a deeply personalized experience. Notes Roku. as more people upload to Facebook in HD, the video quality is going to be good quality. Roku is positioning itself not just as an adjunct to cable and satellite, but as a one-stop service. It has a way to go with its channel offerings, but by adding non-conventional channels it is going to tempt a lot of people who are “cutting the cable.”
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