How It Works — StreamSpindle & SpindleCast

Install your Roku beta channel

Your channel is in private beta. Use this access code to preview it on any Roku device.

CD55P9L

On your Roku remote, press Home

Go to Streaming Channels → Search Channels

You can also go to my.roku.com/add on your computer and enter the code

Type or paste the access code above and select Add Channel

The StreamSpindle beta channel will appear in your channel list

1 — Create your account

Go to streamspindle.com and choose your plan

Select Starter ($49/mo) for up to 50 artists, or Label ($89/mo) for unlimited artists, DDEX auto-ingestion, and per-track royalty breakdown. Both include a 90-day free trial.

Enter your label details and create a password

Use your label's primary email address — this becomes your admin account. If someone leaves your team later, you can update the email via account settings.

Verify your email

A 5-digit code is sent to your email. Enter it to confirm your account. Codes expire in 10 minutes — use Resend code if needed.

Complete checkout

Enter a credit or debit card. No charge for 90 days. You can cancel anytime before the trial ends. After checkout you'll land on your label dashboard.

2 — Set up your channel

Go to My Channel → Channel Settings

Set your channel name, tagline, and category. This is what Roku viewers see when browsing your channel. Keep the name concise — it displays at the top of your channel on TV.

Choose a channel layout

Pick from Home Rows (hero + scrolling rows), Poster Grid, Category Browse, Artist View, or Search First. Home Rows is recommended for most labels — it shows featured content prominently.

Upload your channel logo and banner

Logo: 400×400px square JPG or PNG. Banner: 2560×1440px JPG. These appear on your Roku channel home screen. High-resolution files look best on 4K Roku devices.

Set your content rating

Choose General, Teen (PG-13), or Mature (17+). This is required by Roku and affects parental controls. If any content is directed at children under 13, toggle Made for Kids — this enables COPPA compliance mode.

Enable monetization

SVOD (subscription) is on by default — viewers pay $9.99/mo and you keep 70%. Toggle AVOD to also allow free viewers supported by ads — you keep 65% of ad revenue. Not available for Mature-rated channels without prior approval.

3 — Upload your catalog

Go to Upload and add your first track or video

Supported formats: MP4, MOV, MP3, M4A. Max file size 2GB per file. Fill in title, artist, album, genre, and ISRC if available — this populates your Roku channel metadata.

Add artists under the Artists tab

Create artist profiles and link them to uploaded tracks. Artists appear as browsable entities on your channel. Starter plan: up to 50 artists. Label plan: unlimited.

Organize with Playlists and Categories

Playlists group tracks for a listening experience. Categories create browsable sections on your channel (e.g. "New Releases", "Jazz", "Live Sessions"). Deploy both to make your Roku channel feel fully organized.

Set territory rights

Control which of the four Roku territories your content is available in: 🇺🇸 US · 🇨🇦 CA · 🇬🇧 GB · 🇲🇽 MX. If a track isn't licensed for a territory, restrict it here before going live.

4 — Test on Roku

Install the beta channel using code CD55P9L

See the install instructions at the top of this page. Once installed, open the StreamSpindle channel on your Roku and navigate to your label.

Beta period: During beta, all labels share the StreamSpindle channel. Your dedicated branded channel is created when we exit beta. The code expires July 28, 2026.

Check your content appears correctly

Verify your artwork, track titles, and metadata look right on a TV screen. Check that videos play in full quality and audio tracks play without interruption. Test on both WiFi and wired if possible.

Test the subscription flow

On Roku, tap Subscribe on your channel to test the Roku Pay checkout flow. Use a Roku test account to avoid real charges. Confirm subscription status shows as active in your dashboard.

5 — Going live

Your channel goes live automatically

During beta, your content is accessible immediately after upload via the beta access code. Full public Roku Channel Store listing happens when we exit beta and your channel is certified by Roku.

Add team members if needed

Go to Team in your dashboard sidebar. Add employees who need access to manage content. Employees can upload, manage catalog, and configure the channel but cannot access billing.

Monitor with Analytics

Track streams, subscribers, and revenue by territory in the Analytics tab. Royalty reports are generated monthly and available in the Royalties tab for Label plan subscribers.

Dashboard status reference

Status	What it means	Action needed
Live	Content is published and visible on Roku	None — monitor analytics
Draft	Uploaded but not yet published	Review and publish from the Catalog tab
Processing	File is being encoded for Roku delivery	Wait — usually completes within 15 minutes
Trialing	Your 90-day free trial is active	Nothing — no charge until day 90
Active	Paid subscription is live	None
Past Due	Payment failed — 7-day grace period	Update payment method in Billing tab

Frequently asked questions

How long until my content appears on Roku after uploading? ▾

Content typically appears within 5–15 minutes of uploading. Channel settings and artwork changes appear within 5 minutes. If content hasn't appeared after 30 minutes, contact support.

Can I upload music videos and audio tracks? ▾

Yes — both video (MP4, MOV) and audio (MP3, M4A) are supported. Videos display with the full Roku video player. Audio tracks display with your channel artwork as a background. Max 2GB per file.

What happens to my content if I cancel? ▾

Your content is removed from the Roku channel when your subscription ends. Your account data, uploads, and settings are retained for 30 days after cancellation in case you reactivate. After 30 days, data is permanently deleted.

Do I need to own the music rights to upload? ▾

Yes. By uploading, you warrant that you own or control the master recording rights to all content. StreamSpindle does not evaluate rights — you are solely responsible. See §5 of the Terms of Service for details.

How do I get paid? ▾

Revenue from viewer subscriptions and ad plays is reported in your dashboard monthly. Payouts are processed separately — contact support to set up ACH or wire transfer. StreamSpindle keeps 30% of SVOD revenue and 35% of AVOD revenue after Roku's 20% platform fee.

Can I restrict content to specific countries? ▾

Yes. Use the Territory Rights section in your Catalog to enable or disable content per territory: US, CA, GB, MX. By default, content is available in all four territories.

Install your Roku beta channel

Your SpindleCast channel is in private beta. Use this code to preview it on any Roku device.

CD55P9L

On your Roku remote, press Home

Go to Streaming Channels → Search Channels

Or visit my.roku.com/add on your computer and enter the code

Enter the code above and select Add Channel

Find your podcast channel in the SpindleCast section

1 — Create your account

Go to podcast.streamspindle.com and choose your plan

Select Starter ($39/mo) for up to 50 episodes, or Studio ($69/mo) for unlimited episodes, series management, and advanced analytics. Both include a 90-day free trial.

Enter your show name and create a password

Use your primary email address — this becomes your admin account. If a co-host or producer needs access, you can add them as an employee from the Team tab later.

Verify your email

A 5-digit code is sent to your email. Enter it to confirm your account. Codes expire in 10 minutes.

Complete checkout

Enter your card details. No charge for 90 days. Cancel anytime. After checkout you land directly on your SpindleCast dashboard.

2 — Connect your RSS feed

Go to RSS Import in your dashboard

Paste your podcast RSS feed URL. Works with Buzzsprout, Anchor, Podbean, Spotify for Podcasters, Transistor, Captivate, and any host that generates a standard RSS feed.

Where to find your RSS URL: In Buzzsprout — Settings → Directories → Copy RSS feed URL. In Anchor — Dashboard → Settings → Distribution → RSS feed URL. In Podbean — Dashboard → Feed → RSS Feed URL.

Click Import Feed and review your episodes

SpindleCast fetches all existing episodes — titles, descriptions, artwork, and durations. Review the preview and click Import All Episodes. Episodes appear in your Roku channel within 30 minutes.

New episodes sync automatically

Once your RSS feed is connected, new episodes you publish appear on your Roku channel automatically within 30 minutes — no re-uploading, no manual entry. Your existing hosting and publishing workflow stays exactly the same.

3 — Set up your channel

Go to My Channel and set your channel identity

Set your channel name, tagline, host name, and category. These appear to Roku viewers browsing for podcasts to watch.

Choose a Roku layout

Pick from Latest First (newest episodes at top), Series View (grouped by season), Featured + Latest (pinned hero episode), or Curated Playlist (host-selected Start Here set). The preview on the right updates live as you pick.

Upload artwork

Your RSS artwork is imported automatically. For best results on Roku, also upload a 16:9 episode thumbnail (1920×1080px) and a channel banner (2560×1440px). Square podcast artwork displays fine but may letterbox in some Roku layouts.

Set your content rating

Choose General, Teen (PG-13), or Mature (17+). Most podcasts fall under Teen. If your show discusses explicit topics, select Mature — Roku will enforce an age gate. If your show is directed at children, toggle Made for Kids.

Enable monetization

SVOD lets viewers subscribe for $9.99/mo — you keep 70%. Toggle AVOD to allow free viewing with ads — you keep 65%. You can run both simultaneously. AVOD is the recommended starting point to maximize reach while building a subscriber base.

4 — Test on Roku

Install the beta channel using code CD55P9L

See the install instructions at the top of this page. Once installed, find your show in the SpindleCast channel.

Beta period: During beta, all podcasts share the SpindleCast channel. Your dedicated branded channel is created when we exit beta. Code expires July 28, 2026.

Check your episodes play correctly

Verify episode titles, descriptions, and artwork display correctly on a TV screen. Play several episodes through to confirm audio quality and no buffering. Test on both WiFi and wired if possible.

Publish a new episode and confirm it syncs

Publish a new episode on your existing podcast host. Wait up to 30 minutes, then check your SpindleCast dashboard — the episode should appear automatically. This confirms your RSS sync is working end-to-end.

5 — Going live

Your channel goes live during beta via access code

Anyone with code CD55P9L can access your channel during beta. Public Roku Channel Store listing happens when we exit beta and your channel is certified by Roku.

Add co-hosts or producers as team members

Go to Team in your dashboard. Add anyone who needs access to manage episodes or channel settings. Employees cannot access billing.

Monitor plays and revenue

Track plays, watch time, completion rate, and subscriber count in the Analytics tab. Revenue from subscriptions and ads appears in the Billing tab monthly.

Dashboard status reference

Status	What it means	Action needed
Live	Episode is published and visible on Roku	None — monitor analytics
Draft	Episode added but not yet published	Review and publish from Episodes tab
RSS Connected	Feed is active and auto-syncing	None — new episodes auto-appear
Trialing	Your 90-day free trial is active	Nothing — no charge until day 90
Active	Paid subscription is live	None
Past Due	Payment failed — 7-day grace period	Update payment method in Billing tab

Frequently asked questions

Does SpindleCast replace my existing podcast host? ▾

No. SpindleCast distributes your podcast to Roku — it does not replace Buzzsprout, Anchor, Podbean, or wherever you currently host. You keep publishing exactly as you do now. SpindleCast reads your RSS feed and puts your episodes on Roku automatically.

How long does it take for a new episode to appear on Roku? ▾

Up to 30 minutes after you publish on your podcast host. SpindleCast checks your RSS feed regularly and imports new episodes as they appear. If an episode hasn't shown up after an hour, go to RSS Import and click Sync Now.

Can I use music in my podcast episodes? ▾

Yes, but you are responsible for having the rights to any music you use. SpindleCast does not evaluate fair use claims. If a rights holder submits a takedown notice, we act on it. Brief clips used for commentary may qualify as fair use, but you assume the legal risk. See §8 of the Terms of Service.

My RSS feed is private / password protected. What do I do? ▾

Private feeds require authentication tokens. Contact support at [email protected] and we'll set up authenticated RSS access for your account. Most major hosts (Buzzsprout, Podbean) have a public feed option even for paid accounts — check your settings first.

What artwork format does Roku prefer? ▾

Roku displays content best in 16:9 widescreen format. Your square podcast artwork (1:1) imports fine but may letterbox in row layouts. For the best experience, upload a custom 1920×1080 episode thumbnail in the My Channel tab. This is used as the default visual when episodes don't have individual artwork.

What happens if I cancel my SpindleCast subscription? ▾

Your podcast channel is removed from Roku when your subscription ends. Your account data and RSS settings are retained for 30 days. Your original podcast on Buzzsprout, Anchor, or wherever you host is not affected — SpindleCast only manages the Roku distribution.

Still have questions?

We're happy to walk you through setup over email or video call.

[email protected]

How to set up, test, and go live on Roku.

Still have questions?