MediaBlaster Blog
Build, launch, and grow your streaming platform
Practical guides for creating content, building streaming apps, and growing an audience you control.
Roku Deep Linking in 2026: The Complete Implementation and Testing Guide
Deep linking sounds simple. Roku sends your app a contentId and mediaType. Your app finds that content and starts playing it. That description is technically correct, but it…
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Actionable advice for creators, media companies, and streaming entrepreneurs.
We Took a Roku Channel Through Certification in 2026: What Failed, What We Fixed, and What We Learned
Publishing a private or beta Roku app is relatively easy. Publishing that app in the public Roku Streaming Store is a different process. In July 2026, we took the MediaBlaster…
Build Notes: Making Roku Apps Easier for Non-Developers
The hardest part of making Roku apps easier for non-developers is not hiding every technical detail. It is turning the repeatable parts—content, artwork, m
How Much Content Do You Need Before Launching a Roku Channel?
There is no universal minimum number of videos for a Roku launch, but there is a practical minimum experience. The app should feel intentional, not empty,
Must-Have Admin and Backend Features for Managing a Video App
A video app backend needs more than upload fields. The must-have features are metadata, artwork management, publish status, categories, playback URLs, feed
How to Explain the Value of a Roku App to a Client Who Only Knows Websites
The simplest way to explain a Roku app to a website-first client is to frame it as owned distribution for the living room. A website is where people click;
How to Build a Custom Roku TV App Using WordPress (No Coding Required)
Nearly a decade ago, I published a video showing how to build a Roku channel in about 15 minutes. It became the most popular tutorial on our channel, accumulating over 41,000…
The Best Way to Handle Trailers, Previews, and Featured Content
Trailers and featured rows are not decoration; they are merchandising tools. A VOD app should use previews to reduce hesitation, explain unfamiliar content
Should Creators Charge Subscriptions, Run Ads, or Keep Their App Free?
Creators should choose monetization based on audience intent, content cadence, and perceived value. Subscriptions work when viewers expect ongoing value, a
How Important Is Search Inside a Roku or Smart TV App?
Search matters more as the catalog grows, but it is not a substitute for clear browsing. For small libraries, categories and featured rows may carry the ex
What Should Go on the Home Screen of a VOD App?
A VOD app home screen should answer three questions fast: what is new, what is worth watching now, and how do I browse the library? Good home screens use a
How Local Media Companies Should Use Smart TV Apps
Local media companies can use Smart TV apps to turn fragmented video archives into a lean owned channel for shows, town coverage, sports, interviews, and e
One Niche Roku Channel or a Network of Smaller Channels?
One strong niche Roku channel is usually easier to launch, maintain, and explain than a network of small channels. A network can work later, but only when
The Biggest Mistakes People Make When Planning an OTT App
Most OTT planning mistakes happen before development starts. Teams underestimate content operations, metadata, artwork, review requirements, hosting costs,
How to Organize a Video Library When You Have Hundreds of Videos
A large video library needs a content model before it needs a prettier interface. Categories, series, seasons, tags, featured rows, and search all work bes
What Makes a Roku Channel Feel Professional Instead of Homemade?
A Roku channel feels professional when navigation, artwork, playback, metadata, and content organization all behave predictably from ten feet away. Viewers
Should Indie Creators Launch on Roku First, or Start With Web and Mobile?
Roku can be a strong first TV platform for creators who already have a video library, but web and mobile are often better for early audience validation. Th
What’s the Difference Between AVOD, SVOD, and TVOD for Smart TV Apps?
AVOD uses ads, SVOD uses subscriptions, and TVOD charges per rental or purchase. For most independent Smart TV apps, the right model depends less on what s
From Scratch to Streaming: Master WordPress VOD with Our New Free Course
Let’s be completely candid for a second: running an independent video-on-demand (VOD) platform is usually a financial nightmare. If you look at mainstream all-in-one SaaS…
Generative AI Content Creation: Build a Scalable Content Engine for Your Business
Generative AI content creation helps businesses scale blog posts, podcasts, and videos faster. Discover how MediaBlaster builds custom done-for-you content engines.
Done-for-You Content Systems: Build an Automated Content Engine for Your Business
What if your company could publish blog posts, launch podcasts, and produce video content without building an internal content machine from scratch? That’s exactly what our…
Top Tools for AI Content Creation in 2026
The content creation landscape has shifted dramatically. These three tools are leading the charge. The AI content creation space is exploding—and honestly, it’s getting hard to…
The AI Content Revolution: Why Smart Creators Are Embracing Artificial Intelligence
The truth? AI isn’t replacing content creators—it’s empowering them. There’s a lingering suspicion in content creation circles that using AI is somehow “cheating.” That the…
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