Roku YouTube Channel Officially Added

Roku has added YouTube access to all of its current-gen set-top boxes, with the new YouTube channel working any any Roku launched after July 2011. The much-demanded streaming support will mean that users can finally retire the unofficial YouTube channels they've been forced to turn to in order to get Google's service on their TV.

As well as supporting high-definition playback, the channel can handle playlists and search as well.

However, if your smartphone or tablet are on the same WiFi network as your Roku box is, you can do the searching on there and then merely share playback on the TV. A casting icon appears when that's supported, pushing the stream from the phone to the Roku instead.

It's a system we've seen work well with Google's own Chromecast streaming dongle.

The YouTube channel for Roku is available to install now. It's compatible with the Roku LT, Roku 1, Roku 2, Roku 2 HD, Roku 2 XD, Roku 2XS, Roku 3, the Roku Streaming Stick (both HDMI and Roku Ready versions), and finally the Roku HD model #2500.