Rockbot TV Channels are video streams — covering news, sports, lifestyle, and entertainment — that you can schedule or play on-demand across your business's TVs. Channels are curated for business settings, brand-safe, and appropriate for public venues.
Requirements
To browse and schedule TV Channels, you need the TV role or higher assigned to your account. The table below summarizes what each role can do:
| Role | What they can do with TV Channels |
|---|---|
| TV Role | Create or edit schedules, apply or override schedules, and change channels. |
| Display Playback Role | Control display interactions (start/stop/pause), volume, device selection, and display settings. Granted automatically to users with the TV or Marketing role. |
Not sure what role you have? Check your Account Admin page. Need more access? Contact your administrator. For the full permissions breakdown, see TV Permissions.
Standard Channels vs. Live Channels
Rockbot TV offers two types of channels. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right content for your location:
| Standard Channels | Live Channels | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Curated, scheduled content that plays like a TV network | A continuous live stream, like traditional cable TV |
| Offline backup (caching) | ✓ Yes — segments are cached locally on your player | ✗ No — requires a live internet connection |
| Best for | Most business settings, especially where Wi-Fi can be inconsistent | Locations with a strong, reliable internet connection |
Recommendation: In most cases, Standard Channels are the better choice for businesses. Locally cached content keeps your TVs running even if your internet connection is temporarily interrupted.
Browsing and Filtering Channels
You can find and filter channels from the TV Channels browser in your Rockbot Dashboard. Use the filters to sort by:
- Channel type (Standard or Live)
- Genre (News, Sports, Lifestyle, Entertainment, and more)
- Want to see the full lineup? View the TV Channel Guide.
Note: If your organization has enabled Approved Channels, you may only see a restricted set of channels.
Bandwidth and Playback Performance
Live TV streams require a consistent internet connection. If your connection is slow or interrupted, you may notice buffering or playback issues — especially on Live Channels.
Common Causes of Bandwidth Problems
- Weak Wi-Fi signal — Physical distance between your player and router, or a firewall blocking the signal, can reduce connection quality.
- Shared network — If customers are using the same Wi-Fi as your Rockbot player, that shared traffic can reduce available bandwidth for streaming.
- ISP limitations — Internet speeds vary by provider and plan. Streaming multiple things at once can push against your plan's limits.
Rockbot automatically monitors available bandwidth and adjusts playback to optimize performance. If bandwidth issues are a recurring problem, Standard Channels are the better option — they're built for environments where connectivity can be unpredictable.
What Happens During an Outage
If your player goes offline, Rockbot TV falls back to locally cached segments and keeps playing. If you notice your TVs repeating the same short clips, it's a sign your player has lost its connection and is playing from cached content. Normal streaming resumes automatically once your connection is restored.
Still Need Help?
If you're seeing persistent playback issues or can't access channels you expect to see, our support team can help. Contact Rockbot Support →