What is Allblk? Here's everything you need to know about the streaming service

It appears that streaming services are replacing niche cable TV channels as alternative programming for not just televisions, but mobile devices as well. Once such niche service is the recently renamed Allblk (formerly Urban Movie Channel). The service has been around for a few years but has slowly gained a loyal following. Allblk has also expanded its original content library to include many exclusive series and movies.

Read more: Best streaming services

Here’s what you need to know about Allblk and whether or not you should check it out for yourself. You can sign up for the service at the link below:

What is Allblk?

Allblk is a premium streaming service made primarily for an African-American audience. It was originally launched in 2014 as the Urban Movie Channel by RLJ Entertainment and was founded by Robert L. Johnson, who previously created the BET cable channel. In 2018, AMC Networks acquired RLJ Entertainment, including the Urban Movie Channel. In January 2021, the name of the service was changed to Allblk.

Where is Allblk available?

At the moment, Allblk is available in the US as a standalone online service and as an add-on for several cable, satellite, and online services. Allblk also available in Canada as an add-on channel via Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

How much does the service cost?

Allblk costs $4.99 a month, or you can also purchase an annual subscription for $49.99

Can I watch Allblk for free?

Yes, Allblk offers a seven-day free trial where you can access all of its content with no restrictions. You can cancel your trial before the end of the seven days to avoid being charged.

Is Allblk worth it?

African-American audiences will find a lot to watch on the service. From recent drama and action movies to documentaries, to filmed stage plays and more, there should be something for every taste. The fact that Allblk’s price is very low at just $4.99 a month should be a big incentive to watch the content. Allblk is growing its original content with a number of exclusive TV dramas, comedies, and reality series. The only thing this service lacks is content made for younger kids.

What platforms and devices are available for Allblk?

Allblk apps for Android and iOS mobile devices are available to download. You can also get the app for the Apple TV set-top box. Allblk is also available for Roku streaming sticks, set-top boxes, and TVs that have the Roku OS installed. Amazon Fire TV-based sticks, set-top boxes, and TVs have their own separate app for the service. It’s also available for Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Roku customers via their Channels selection.

In addition, you can watch Allblk on your PC via a web browser at allblk.tv. You can cast the iOS and Android apps to your AirPlay and/or Chromecast-supported TV. At the moment, there doesn’t appear to be a dedicated Android TV app for Allblk.

Allblk can also be accessed as an add-on for Sling TV and YouTube TV. It’s available as an add-on for the Dish satellite TV service. Finally, Cox, Comcast, and Spectrum cable TV subscribers can watch content from the service on demand.

Other features

Allblk isn’t all that feature-rich in the tech departments. There’s no support for watching content in 4K, and there’s no support for downloading content to the service’s mobile apps for offline viewing. The user interface shows a list of the currently featured movies and TV shows, with an emphasis on its original content. You can browse through a number of different content categories, including stage plays, original series, and more.

There are no parental controls, but Allblk also has content that’s mostly for older teenagers and adults so they’re really not needed.

Read more: BET Plus: Everything we know about the streaming service

What can I watch on the service?

Allblk not only features hundreds of recent movies and TV shows from a variety of studios, it’s also the home for a growing number of exclusive original movies and shows only available on the streaming service. Here’s a look at some of the exclusive shows available on Allblk.

Allblk – Exclusive original TV shows

• A House Divided – A soap opera about the rich Sanders family dealing with lots of secrets, betrayal, and more. You can watch three seasons of the show, and a fourth is in the works.
• Double Cross – A drama with a brother and sister who fight crime as vigilantes known as the “Wonder Twins”. Two seasons are available now, and a third is coming in 2022.
• For the Love of Jason – A dramedy that focuses on the title character Jason and his dating life.
• Covenant – An anthology series that reimagines classic stories from the Bible in the modern-day world.
• Lace – A legal drama about a female lawyer who defends rich clients in LA.
• Beyond Ed Buck – A docuseries about the deaths of two gay black men in Hollywood, California at the hands of Ed Buck, a white businessman who had major Democratic political ties.

The service will also be adding some  more original shows in the coming months, including:

• À La Carte – A woman falls in love with a married man in this dramedy.
• Send Help – An actor who is riding high on the success of his TV show has to deal with a family tragedy.
• Snap – An anthology-style genre show about a supernatural being that affects the life of a different person in each episode.

Allblk alternatives

There are a couple of streaming services that offer programming similar to Allblk. Let’s check them out now:

BET Plus

BET Plus is the more recently launched rival to Allblk. It has the advantage of being able to access a large amount of content from its parent company ViacomCBS to get access to a variety of library content. It also has a partnership with movie and TV maker Tyler Perry, who has launched both classic and original series for the service.

Netflix

Netflix has been adding a number of original series and movies tailored for Black audiences. That includes the acclaimed Spike Lee film Da 5 Bloods, along with more recent films like The Harder They Fall, and the Colin Kaepernick docudrama limited series Colin in Black and White.

Other FAQs

Q: How many people can stream at the same time on Allblk?
A: There doesn’t appear to be a limit for how many users can stream on one account at the moment.

Q: Can the service be shared with friends and family?
A: Yes. The service can be shared without worrying about interrupted streams.

Q: Does Allblk offer streams in 4K?
A: At the moment, there’s no content with 4K support on the service.

Q: Does Allblk have a free plan?
A: Currently the service doesn’t have a free plan, but it does have a 7-day free trial.

Q: Does the service feature advertisements?
A: Allblk doesn’t feature ads.

Q: Does the service work with a VPN?
A: Although it’s not officially supported, many VPN services work with Allblk. Learn more about the best VPN services.

Q: Can I download shows from the service and watch them offline?
A: At the moment, Allblk doesn’t support downloads for offline viewing.

That’s everything you need to know about Allblk. We’ll update this post as more information about this streaming service is announced.