What TV Channels Come with Roku?
As many American households feel oversaturated with subscription services, more are turning to free video-streaming providers. Roku is one of the biggest players in the free video-on-demand game. Here’s what to look for.
What is Roku, and What’s Its Appeal?
Roku came to fame by revolutionizing the television ecosystem with its own TV operating system and streaming devices. Roku was developed to compile all sorts of streaming providers’ content into one unified dashboard. Streaming giants like Netflix, Hulu, SHOWTIME, STARZ, Disney+, and the like, can all be integrated into the Roku platform as “channels”.
Before 2017, you could only use Roku on Roku devices, but now The Roku Channel allows you to watch on any device connected to the internet. Plus, it features its own library of original programs.
So, if you’ve ever felt a bit of frustration while trying to connect the dots and match up broadcasts to their providers, Roku puts an end to all this so you can find titles faster! With Roku, you’ll always know which subscriptions you need and which ones you don’t. Not having to jump back and forth between interfaces, and being able to manage your subscriptions in one place, may just be the push you need to start using Roku.
What’s On The Roku Channel
Not surprisingly, because Roku has been in the television game for a while, they’ve partnered with upwards of 45 distributors, granting access to 350+ live channels, 100+ local channels, and 1000s of streaming apps. The current tally of things to watch is around 80,000. If that makes you anxious, don’t worry! Roku is pretty organized, grouping titles and channels into 50+ available categories such as “comedy,” “food & home,” “sports,” and more.
Live TV Channels
Roku gives access to more than 350 live TV channels. Since it’s free, many users wonder, what’s the catch?
Most of these channels are available through ad-supported contracts. You will see commercials, and some high-demand programs will not be available for free.
The best live TV programs to watch on your Roku device are:
- News, including ABC, NBC, Fox, and Reuters
- Movies, including Hallmark, Lifetime, and Cinevault
- Classic game shows
- Spanish-language programming
Adding Channels
This is where it gets a little confusing. You can also add “channels” to your Roku device, which aren’t TV channels in the traditional sense. These are basically apps of other streaming services or content providers. If you head over to Roku’s Channel Store, you’ll get a comprehensive list of every app you can add as a channel to your Roku.
You’ll find traditional channels you’re already used to, such as MTV, TNT, CBS, The CW, FOX, ESPN, and Lifetime. Popular streaming services like Prime Video, Apple TV, Tubi, Peacock, and Crackle are on the list too. But you’ll also have access to unconventional listings like gaming apps to brush up on online casino games or faith-based listings if you’re on a spiritual awakening journey and yearn for guidance.
Keep in mind that some of these additional channels are subscription-based.
Premium Subscriptions on The Roku Channel
A unique feature of Roku devices is the ability to add premium subscriptions to The Roku Channel app. For instance, if you already subscribe to HBO Max, you can use those login credentials to access your HBO programs on The Roku Channel app.
In other words, you don’t need to exit the Roku app and open HBO Max just to switch shows. Roku makes it easy to move between programs without excessive navigation on your TV. At the time of this writing, there are more than 30 premium channels available through The Roku Channel app, so the permutations of entertainment selections are endless.
In Closing
The quick answer to what channels come with Roku is, nearly any channel you want! Hundreds of live TV channels and the ability to customize premium add-ons make Roku devices highly versatile and some of the best options available for at-home streaming.