Last year, Cord Cutters News reported that Pluto TV was making improvements to its user interface. When users hit the OK button on a Roku remote when watching a channel, it pulled up a channel guide button. Hovering over that brought up a new menu to find other channels as you watch your current channel.
Pluto TV described the feature as a Mini-Channel Guide, and shared this description:
- This new experience on the Pluto TV UI allows viewers to browse channels while continuing to watch the content they love in full-screen
- Mini-Channel Guide showcases what’s currently playing on other channels in addition to what’s playing on the channel users are watching now, including prominent episode details
- Mini-Channel Guide is rolling out now on Roku first in the U.S.
Now, some users are noticing another update that could be an extension of that new feature. Some users, specifically those using Roku devices, have noticed over the past week that when they press the down arrow on the Roku remote while watching content on Pluto TV, two suggestion bars pop up – one with content that has been favorited by the user and one with featured content.
If this is a feature that Pluto TV keeps, it could make it easier for users of the free streaming service to continue finding new-to-them content, along with quickly navigating to their favorite channels without going back to the home screen.
No official announcement about a new guide feature has been made, and Pluto TV has not confirmed that the feature is permanent or will be made available to all users.