Roku Direct Publisher Tips

IMPORTANT: Roku has announced that as of July 12, 2023, developers will no longer be able to create Direct Publisher apps. On January 12, 2024, all Direct Publisher apps will be removed from the Roku Streaming Store. All new Roku apps must be built using the Custom SDK publishing method.

The Direct Publisher publishing method allows you to build a Roku app that has a grid-style layout. Here's the basic appearance of a Direct Publisher Roku app:

Example Direct Publisher Layout

Tip #1 - Consider using the Custom SDK publishing method instead of Direct Publisher. A grid-style Custom SDK app can be designed to look almost the same as a Direct Publisher app, has many more options and features, and is extremely quick and easy to build when using Instant TV Channel. The Instant TV Channel Help Library has an article about Using Roku Grid Screens with Instant TV Channel that contains additional information.

Tip #2 - If you make any changes on the Content page of a Direct Publisher app, like adding a new video or category, you must regenerate your feed file by clicking the app's Feed icon on the App page. To make the changes appear immediately in your app, you also need to click the Refresh Now button on the "Feed Status" page in your Roku Developer Account, otherwise it might take 12 to 24 hours for the changes to appear.

Tip #3 - Vimeo can be used to host your videos, and can simplify Direct Publisher app creation and maintenance. Individual Vimeo videos and entire Vimeo albums can be added using a single numeric URL. The Instant TV Channel Help Library has an article about Using Vimeo with Instant TV Channel that contains additional information.

Tip #4 - You can create a Direct Publisher app from an existing public or non-certified ("private") Custom SDK app in your Instant TV Channel account. You can test the Direct Publisher version of your app before replacing or converting any already existing Custom SDK apps. Just build a new Direct Publisher app in your Roku Developer Account, and use the feed URL from the existing app There is no additional cost to have separate Custom SDK and Direct Publisher versions of the same app.

Tip #5 - The "Device Preview" link on the "Preview and Publish" page in your Roku Developer Account allows you to distribute your Direct Publisher Roku app as a private Roku app. You can share the "Device Preview" link with anyone in order to allow them to install your Direct Publisher app.

Tip #6 - When making the 400x90 logo for your Direct Publisher app, use transparency and save the image in PNG format so that the logo blends smoothly into the background color. Or if you don't have tools to make a transparent PNG image, make sure that the background color around the outer edges of the image is the same as the background color that you specify on the "Branding" page in your Roku Developer Account.

Tip #7 - If you are monetizing your Direct Publisher app, and you are not using a dedicated ad server, then you can only use a single VAST ad provider in a Direct Publisher app. If you are providing your own VAST tag, it is specified on the Roku "Monetization" page. If you are using video ads from the "Roku Audience Network" or an arrangement where Roku delivers video ads to your app, then the ad setup will be easier and you will usually not need to use a VAST tag. Please contact Roku at for more information about configuring video advertisements in your Direct Publisher app.

Tip #8 - Roku currently enforces a 40 item limit per category or grid row. Any videos in the feed beyond the first 40 in a category are ignored. Internally, Instant TV Channel uses Roku "playlist" objects to construct the categories or grid rows in the feed.

Tip #9 - If your Instant TV Channel account is using the default "Basic" developer mode, all of your Direct Publisher content will either have a Content Type of "short form video", or a Content Type of "episode" if the content is located in a Series folder. In order to use Content Types of "movie" or "tv special", you must change your developer mode to "Advanced" on the Instant TV Channel "Account" page.

Tip #10 - The "Free" and "Unlimited" Direct Publisher app types include a short video advertisement for Instant TV Channel in one or more of the categories or grid rows. When upgraded to a "Commercial" type, the Instant TV Channel advertisements are removed as soon as you re-generate the feed file and click the Refresh Now button on the "Feed Status" page in your Roku Developer Account.

The Roku Developer Forum is a useful resource for developers of Direct Publisher apps, and is a great place to ask questions.

Want to know more about how to build a Direct Publisher Roku app? Check out this Direct Publisher Walk-Through for all of the details.