Roku now offering WealthTV 3D programming

Last month, WealthTV became the first high definition national cable network to be delivered over-the-top to Roku users, giving them a "cable-like" watching experience. This month, it says, it will deliver several of its original 3D titles via the Roku streaming player. It's another first for both companies, marking the first deployment of broadcast quality 3D programming delivered over the top.

Titles available will include: Wonders of the World - Statue of Liberty, The Enchanted Hill - Inside Hearst Castle, and Wheel on Wheels - The Classic Benz.

The 3D content is available via its existing service on Roku, which also features WealthTV's 24/7 live feed and more than 30 video on demand titles. Subscribers pay $2.99 per month. WealthTV launched its high definition programming services in June of 2004, its first deployment of 3D content was in July of 2010.

WealthTV may be the first cable channel to jump to streaming distribution, but it's not the only one considering a non-traditional delivery route. Reports say Roku is in talks with several other channels; Internet cable operator iviTV late last year said it, too, had held discussions with a number of channels looking for alternatives to traditional cable.

"With Roku surpassing one million units sold last year and with Roku customers averaging over 11 hours of programming on Roku a week, it's logical for national programming services to make their content lineup available to our growing user base," said Anthony Wood, founder and CEO of Roku.

WealthTV's test of Roku's ability to deliver it to more viewers may pave the way for other channels to test the waters as well, especially with increasing consumer desire for a la carte content offerings. WealthTV's linear programming feed to Roku will also include commercials.

WealthTV currently has a reach of about 11 million homes.

Roku also recently announced it is offering its US customers the chance to stream Al Jazeera TV. The Qatar-based broadcaster was recently praised for its coverage of the ongoing unrest in Egypt.

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