UPDATE (December 6, 2011): After releasing the standalone NBC News channel, Roku has pulled all NBC content off of the Roku Newscaster channel. Full-length NBC shows can still be found on Mediafly OnAir.
If you're looking for news, the Roku Newscaster channel has it. Network news, cable news, financial news, tech news, sports news, public radio, government… 12 categories in all. In this series of articles, I will run down the shows on each sub-channel. First up: NBC, CNBC, and MSNBC.
The NBC channel brings you ten shows from the NBC family of channels, which includes CNBC and MSNBC. These shows cover daily news, political analysis, and financial advice. All of the shows are video, with the exception of Hardball, which is audio only. Most of the shows offer only the most-recent episode; archives of past shows are available only for Mad Money and Suze Orman. (Clicking on the show title below will open a new browser window with the show's page on the network's website.)
The Rachel Maddow Show - Full episodes of MSNBC's primetime news show that looks at "politics, pop culture, and all the day's top stories."
Hardball with Chris Matthews - Daily highlights from the show that airs weekdays at 7:00 pm Eastern Time on MSNBC. The full show is one hour, but the current Roku offering is only 11 minutes.
Countdown with Keith Olbermann - This hour-long show airs every weekday at 8:00 pm Eastern Time on MSNBC. Five news stories are covered by Olbermann, who offers his own fast-paced commentary on the stories.
NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams - A video podcast of the evening broadcast, updated daily.
Meet the Press - A Sunday morning news show hosted by David Gregory, featuring interviews with world leaders on topics that include politics, foreign policy, economics, and other newsmakers.
Today - The first hour (which is closer to 35 minutes on the Roku podcast because commercials and local news are not included) of the daily morning show hosted by Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira, and featuring Ann Curry and Al Roker. Updated after 11:00 am Eastern Time daily.
Morning Joe - A roughly half-hour excerpt from the beginning of the daily news show that airs on MSNBC every weekday from 6:00 am to 9:00 am Eastern Time. Hosts and guests discuss the latest news and politics.
Mad Money - Jim Cramer provides a unique look at investments and the stock market, offering insights into a wide range of stocks and taking calls from viewers. Airs every weekday on CNBC. The current show is available along with the four previous episodes.
The Suze Orman Show - Called "the high priestess of personal finance" by Forbes, which named her one of its 100 Most Powerful Women in the World of 2010, Orman delivers financial advice aimed at women. The Suze Orman Show airs every Saturday on CNBC, and the 12 most-recent episodes are available on Roku.
Your Business - Host JJ Ramberg profiles small business owners and offers advice and tips to entrepreneurs in this weekly show, now in its fourth season on MSNBC.
If these shows don't give you your fill of news and information, then check back here for my next installment when I will cover the shows on CBS. Subscribe to the free RokuGuide Newsletter to be notified when the next installment is posted.
