http://support.roku.com/entries/221067- ... w-channels

Do I have to update the software on my Roku player to see new channels?

Roku Support
posted this on Jul-22 16:11


From Channel Packaging and Publishing PDF -=- v2.8
With the v2.6 release of the SDK, we have also added versioning support to the Channel Store. This versioning support enables the developer to specify the minimum firmware and hardware dependencies for each package version submitted. The Channel Store versioning support will only display channels to end users’ Roku boxes that meet the developer specified minimum firmware version and hardware dependencies
More correct answer - depends on the channel package
If the minimum firmware listed for the master channel list is higher than the firmware on the end user ROKU box, developers have these three choices available, otherwise it doesn't show up at all as an option based on the documentation available
5.0 Common Scenarios 24
5.1 New channel version requires new firmware; leave old channel version on old firmware and only upgrade channel on new firmware boxes. 24
5.2 New channel version requires new firmware; force users to upgrade firmware in order to run 24
5.3 New channel version has different behavior throughout your application based on the detected firmware it is running on.