Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

Roku targets free streaming, adds 100+ live TV channels

Nick Woodard
By

Roku announced it is expanding its free/linear lineup on The Roku Channel to more than 100 available channels in the United States. To help navigate through the new sea of content, the company also introduced a new Live TV Channel Guide aimed at making browsing through the substantial catalog ad as simple as possible.

The new channels launched Tuesday, June 2 while the Live TV Channel Guide — which essentially looks and functions similar to cable TV guides that many Comcast and Dish customers may have grown accustomed to — is expected to roll out in the U.S. over the coming weeks. The Roku Channel is available on all Roku streaming devices and TVs with built-in Roku, as well as Samsung TVs and the Roku mobile app.

The Roku Channel
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The 100 channels of free content sound impressive, especially for those who have recently cut the cord and may be missing the options that cable TV provides, but quality matters, too. The good news is that, while it’s not quite premium content, the Roku Channel seems to have gathered some interesting channels across different genres.

Recommended Videos

For news, you can navigate between channels like ABC News Live, NowThis, Reuters, or USA Today. Sports networks include Fubo Sports Network, Outside TV, and Adventure Sports Network powered by Xumo.

Related

Channels like Redbox Free Movies stick out among the movies and TV options, with Kidz Bop TV and Teletubbies highlighting the children-friendly channels. The Roku Channel loads up lifestyle fans with plenty of options, too, with the Bob Ross Channel, Glamour, GQ, Vanity Fair, and Vogue among the most notable selections.

The Roku Channel
Image used with permission by copyright holder

There are several Spanish-language channels, including AFV Español and Love Nature Español.

Unfortunately, mainstream channels along the lines of ESPN or TNT don’t come into play here. However, the content is free, and there is a lot of it. So while the content may not be as familiar as some might hope, you likely won’t have an issue finding something to watch among The Roku Channel’s 100-plus offerings.

Roku isn’t the only name in the free live TV streaming game — far from it. Services like Crackle and Pluto TV stand out, though there are enough legitimate options available that we’ve done the job of rounding up the best of them.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Nick Woodard
Nick Woodard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
  As an A/V Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Nick Woodard covers topics that include 4K HDR TVs, headphones…
Roku TV turns 10, celebrates with new Pro Series mini-LED sets
The Roku Pro Series television seen in a press image.

Streaming platform Roku today announced a trio of new Roku TVs that it hopes will elevate its standing in the smart TV market, which until now has mostly been in the affordable-but-not-outstanding range.

While technical specs are still sparse on the new 55-, 65-, and 75-inch televisions, we do have the obvious inclusion of 4K resolution and a mini-LED system to control the local dimming zones. This isn’t the first time Roku TVs have featured mini-LED tech — that stretches back to the 8-Series sets from 2019, as part of its partnership with TCL.

Read more
PBS Food brings its free streaming channel to Amazon, Roku
A graphic showing the PBS Food logo.

PBS isn’t exactly synonymous with advertising (those lines have definitely blurred over the years, however). But it’s also not ignoring the ridiculously large space that is free ad-supported television and today announced that PBS Food is available on Amazon Freevee, Plex, and Roku.

It’ll be a familiar experience as it’s an extension of the existing PBS Food brand and will include shows like Mind of a Chef, The French Chef with Julia Child, Eating In With Lidia, I’ll Have What Phil’s Having, Jacques Pépin: Heart & Soul, Essential Pépin, and Simply Ming, among others.

Read more
Sharp’s promised Roku OLED TV is now available and deeply discounted
Sharp Roku TV OLED 4K UHD.

In January 2023, Sharp surprised many observers by announcing its return to the North American TV market -- and then surprised us again by saying it intended to launch the first OLED TV powered by Roku. True to its word, you can now buy the Sharp Roku TV OLED 4K Ultra HD in 55- and 65-inch screen sizes, each of which has already been discounted for Black Friday sales.

Normally $1,900 for the 55-inch model and $2,500 for the 65-inch screen size (very similar prices to what LG asks for its 55- and 65-inch LG C3 OLED), the new Sharp OLED TVs are now $1,500 and $2,000, respectively.

Read more