James R | On 05, Mar 2014

Roku has announced that its Streaming Stick will be released in the UK in April 2014.

The stick plugs directly into your TV’s HDMI port and enables the streaming of YouTube, HD Netflix and NOW without the need of a set-top box. Indeed, the Roku box has been a popular option for viewers keen to access VOD services without buying a new Smart TV – so much so that even Sky has adapted a Roku box for its own cheaper NOW Box, which gives viewers access to NOW, but with restrictions on non-Sky services such as Netflix.

Now, Roku has scaled down the box into a simple USB stick – the same approach taken by Google, who launched their Chromecast last month. Google’s stick, which (unlike the Roku) does not come with a remote but uses your mobile device as a controller, includes apps such as HBO Go, YouTube, Hulu Plus and Netflix. If that sounds like a US-friendly line-up of apps, you’d be right: Chromecast has no release date yet for the UK.

So while Chromecast appears to boast an impressive array of apps Roku’s Steaming Stick has taken strong leap ahead of its competition by announcing an actual UK release date of next month. Roku says the stick’s line-up will include “more than 750 channels” streaming at up to 1080p HD, including everything from Netflix to games and even social networks.

The stick will cost approximately £49.99.

We’ll bring you a more detailed comparison of the available Smart TV devices when the Streaming Stick arrives next month.

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