(SEE IMPORTANT ADDENDUM BELOW!!! AT “IMPORTANT UPDATE!”)
Yeeeesss! I have the secret code to add YouTube to your Roku box! (Don’t have a Roku box, you say!?!?! Then click on the Roku Advert here on the Blog and go get one!!!)
Here’s “The Skinny!”
NOTE: This is a secret code, kinda like an “Easter Egg” in games… no promises made with it! It falls under the “Private or Beta Channel” type on Roku.
1) On your computer, visit this link:
https://owner.roku.com/Account/ChannelCode/
2) Log into your Roku account
3) Enter the “secret code” for YouTube, which is: B8VVK
4) On your Roku, enter and exit the Channel Store to refresh your dashboard apps!
Mu-ha-ha! You now have YouTube!
AND, here are more “secret channel” codes! At this link: Roku Channel Database
IMPORTANT UPDATE!!! This code no longer works to add the YouTube Roku channel! If you did successfully add it, it still will work, but no more may be added. YouTube asked that the private channel be “pulled.” However, a new channel should be made available soon. In the meantime, if you install the PLEX channel from the Roku Channel Catalog, and add the PLEX add-on in Firefox, you can mark a YouTube video with “Plex-It!” and then it will show up in your Roku PLEX queue. This is a workaround! PLEX is a very useful, and FREE option to stream you local videos and other media via a PLEX server on your local LAN as well!
IMPORTANT UPDATE!!!
The new YouTube access channel is called “VideoBuzz“… the code word is “VideoBuzz.”
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By Chris Finley on Nov 9, 2011 | Reply
B8VVK code for You Tube on ROKU does not work.
Message stes “The channel code provided is not associated with a valid channel”
By DrBill on Nov 9, 2011 | Reply
Yep, turns out Google requested they drop it, but a new, valid one is in the works:
http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2011-09/roku-confirms-official-youtube-channel-under-development/
By Dave on Mar 24, 2012 | Reply
I figured out a workaround until Roku gets an official YouTube channels. You’d put YouTube videos links into Facebook and then view the video from Roku’s Facebook channel. Create a whole playlist!
http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2012-03/youtube-on-roku-via-facebook/
By Mark on Oct 6, 2012 | Reply
B8VVK code for You Tube on ROKU does not work.
Message stes “The channel code provided is not associated with a valid channel
By DrBill on Oct 6, 2012 | Reply
Read the whole comment string… this code no longer works. A new one may come out soon.
By G. M on Oct 12, 2012 | Reply
Does any one know how I can add ARY & GEO channels to ROKU
By DrBill on Oct 29, 2012 | Reply
Ben at mkvxstream.com sent in this note:
Hi Dr. Bill,
In reference to your post there is now a nice working 3rd party solution to watch YouTube videos on Roku with a new Roku channel (private) “channel code” VideoBuzz
http://www.drbill.tv/2011/02/14/the-roku-box-secret-code/
This has replaced the old RateRix channel which offered a limited workaround.
We recently added your channel to our list and would really appreciate a mention of our website mkvxstream.com and our large Roku Channel list on your site.
Thanks,
Ben
By D.S. on Jan 3, 2013 | Reply
Is there a way I can add “TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES”?? Also, is there a way I can add the new “antennae tv channels, such as “KTLA 5.2″? Thank you very much. D.
By DrBill on Jan 9, 2013 | Reply
Turner Classic Movies channel is not available, but two similar ones can be added with these codes: “cinamagic” and “pubdhub”
Full broadcast TV channels are not on the Roku, but some have news on demand, and excerpts of local programming.
By engineer on Feb 2, 2013 | Reply
how can i add discover, history, travel channels to my roku?
By MiMo WiLei on Feb 4, 2013 | Reply
Can I get http://www.alluc.org to play on my Roku?
By DrBill on Feb 6, 2013 | Reply
You may only add channels to your Roku that exist as Roku channels. There is no “magic” to add a channel that is not set up, authorized, and coded for the Roku device.
By engineer on Feb 7, 2013 | Reply
Dr.Bill, thank you for the reply.. I have a roku 2xs.. but i’m wondering what’s the best device in the market? Some people say it’s “apple TV 2nd”, some people say it’s “jynxbox ultra hd”.. what do u think?
By DrBill on Feb 7, 2013 | Reply
The Jynxbox is definitely more expensive, but the technical features are pretty awesome! However, for me, the ease of getting the programming is still what makes the cheaper Roku a better deal. With boxes like the Jynxbox or Western Digital you have to individually find and specifically program each channel’s RSS feed, assuming you can find that information… on the Roku, you just add it from the Channel store, or with a code word for private channels, and all the “back end” stuff is done for you.
By jerm65355 on Apr 15, 2013 | Reply
Video buzz channel will be going of air April 17th..? Now where can I get You Tube at on my Roku?
By DrBill on May 14, 2013 | Reply
Good question. Sadly, I haven’t been able to find anything on that. I will keep searching.
By David L on May 16, 2013 | Reply
Vudeo Buzz is now myVideo Buzz at this link http://www.myvideobuzz.in/ it does work, I set mine up this evening.
By DrBill on May 17, 2013 | Reply
Good find! One caveat. When I went to set it up, it said it was going to “overwrite” my developer code on my Roku. This won’t matter unless you are a Roku developer (as I am). Also, I suspect that they are doing this because Roku MAY (just a theory) be in negotiations with the real YouTube about a channel. So, I will wait. But, for most folks, this will work fine.