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Roku Channel Store Submission

Submit your channel to reach millions of Roku users.

Don't Be Intimidated

This section looks more complicated than it really is for non-technical users — we just want to give you as much context as possible. If you get stuck, reach out to [email protected] and we'll help you through it.

Important Disclaimer

CastConductor is independent from Roku, Inc. We do not guarantee app approval by Roku. Roku has its own approval process and timeline which is completely outside our control.

Before You Submit

Checklist

  • Thoroughly tested via sideloading
  • All content loads correctly
  • Video playback works smoothly
  • Navigation is intuitive
  • No crashes or errors
  • Appropriate content (follows Roku policies)
  • You own all content or have proper licensing rights (see below)

Content Ownership & Licensing

You are solely responsible for ensuring that all content in your channel:

  • Is original content you created, OR
  • Is properly licensed for distribution on streaming platforms, OR
  • Is in the public domain

Copyright Disclaimer

CastConductor provides the tools to build and distribute your Roku channel. You are fully responsible for the content you publish. We are not liable for any copyright infringement, licensing violations, or legal claims arising from your content. Distributing copyrighted material without authorization may result in channel removal by Roku and potential legal action.

Roku Requirements

Roku has specific requirements for Channel Store apps:

  • Content Policy: No adult content, excessive violence, hate speech, or illegal material
  • Intellectual Property: Per Roku's Distribution Agreement, you must own or have valid licenses for all content. Roku may remove channels that infringe copyrights or violate third-party rights. See also: Claimed Copyright Infringement Procedures
  • Quality: App must be stable and performant
  • Branding: Proper logos and descriptions
  • Privacy: Clear privacy policy if collecting data (you can use a WordPress plugin to generate privacy policy and terms if you don't already have them)

Step 1: Create Roku Developer Account

  1. Go to developer.roku.com/develop
  2. Scroll down and click Enroll
  3. Complete the enrollment form
  4. Verify your email

Step 2: Prepare Assets

You'll need:

Asset Size Format Submit to:
Screenshots 1920x1080 PNG/JPG (3-6 recommended) Roku App Store
Description 1500 chars max Text Roku App Store

Step 3: Create Channel

  1. Log in to developer.roku.com
  2. Go to Developer Dashboard
  3. Click Add Channel
  4. Choose Public (for Channel Store listing)
  5. Fill in channel details:
  6. Name
  7. Description
  8. Category
  9. Languages

Step 4: Generate Signing Key & Package Your App

Before uploading to the Channel Store, you must generate a signing key and create an encrypted package.

Generate Your Signing Key (One-Time Per App)

The signing key is created via a Telnet connection to your Roku device.

  1. Open Terminal
  2. Connect to your Roku: telnet [YOUR_ROKU_IP] 8080
  3. Type genkey and press Enter
  4. Wait for the process to complete (may take a minute)
  5. Save the Developer ID and Password — you'll need these for all future updates
  1. Download and install PuTTY
  2. Open PuTTY and enter:
    • Host: [YOUR_ROKU_IP]
    • Port: 8080
    • Connection type: Telnet
  3. Click Open
  4. Type genkey and press Enter
  5. Wait for the process to complete
  6. Save the Developer ID and Password — you'll need these for all future updates

Keep Your Key Safe

Your signing key is stored on your Roku device. If you factory reset your Roku or lose the password, you'll need to generate a new key and submit your channel as a brand new app. Store your Developer ID and password somewhere safe!

One Key Per App

Generate a new key for each separate app you create. Only reuse a key if you want multiple apps to share registry data on user devices.

Create Signed Package

  1. Sideload your app .zip from the Toaster (if not already installed)
  2. In your browser, go to http://[YOUR_ROKU_IP]
  3. Click Packager in the top menu
  4. Verify the Dev ID matches the one from your genkey output
  5. Enter an App Name/Version and the Password from genkey
  6. Click Package
  7. Click the purple download link to save your .pkg file

ZIP vs PKG

The .zip from Toaster is for sideloading and testing. The .pkg from the Packager is the encrypted, signed package required for Channel Store submission.

Step 5: Upload Package

  1. In your channel dashboard, go to Package Management
  2. Click Upload Package
  3. Select your signed .pkg file (not the .zip)
  4. Wait for package processing

Step 6: Submit for Review

  1. Complete all required fields
  2. Upload all required assets
  3. Review everything carefully
  4. Click Submit for Publishing

Step 7: Monetization Setup (If Using Ads)

If your channel displays video ads (including RAF - Roku Advertising Framework), Roku requires additional monetization configuration during submission.

Required for Ad-Supported Channels

You must set up an app-ads.txt file on your website before completing the monetization section. This is an IAB standard that Roku enforces.

What You'll Need

Field Description
Developer URL Your website root domain (e.g., https://yourstation.com)
app-ads.txt A file at https://yourstation.com/app-ads.txt declaring authorized ad sellers

Quick Setup

For most CastConductor users (RAF-only, no third-party ad networks), create a file at your domain root with:

# Your Channel Name - Roku Channel
# This channel does not authorize third-party programmatic ad sellers
# All advertising is served directly via Roku Advertising Framework (RAF)

Complete app-ads.txt Setup Guide

Review Timeline

Stage Typical Time
Submission Immediate
Automated Testing 1-2 days
Manual Review 1-2 weeks
Approval/Feedback 2-4 weeks total

Timeline Varies

Review times vary based on Roku's current queue. Holiday periods may take longer.

Common Rejection Reasons

Reason Solution
Crashes Test thoroughly before submitting
Slow loading Optimize content and images
Missing assets Ensure all required images are uploaded
Content policy Review Roku's content guidelines
Broken links Verify all URLs work

After Approval

Once approved:

  1. Your channel goes live in the Channel Store
  2. Users can search and install it
  3. You'll see analytics in the Roku dashboard
  4. Continue updating content via WordPress

Updating Your Channel

Content updates sync automatically from WordPress — no resubmission required! This includes:

  • New Content Blocks and Scenes
  • Video and image changes
  • Branding updates
  • Navigation and layout changes

No Repackaging Needed

Your Roku app pulls content directly from your WordPress site. Make changes in WordPress and they'll appear on your channel automatically.

Future Feature Upgrades

When we release new CastConductor features that require app changes, we'll notify you with instructions to repackage and resubmit your app.

Support

If your app is rejected, review Roku's feedback carefully. Most issues are fixable. Contact [email protected] if you need help.