I just purchased a Roku TV and am surprised that the C-Span channels are not available in Pineville NC.At my previous location (Silver Spring MD) on our previous Roku tv they were. I would like to make the suggestion that C-Span, C-Span 2, and C-Span 3 be made available here. The C-Span channels provide live coverage of the United States Congress both House and Senate. To be able to watch the actual proceedings is a wonderful privilege for anyone involved in our country. Respectfully submitted for your consideration. Josep Simpson

It surely would be a good idea for Roku to contact c-span and suggest that they write an app or request that Roku write an app for C-SPAN.

In most cases, it is dependent upon the owner of the channel/content to make an app for Roku or you may need access to a service that provides C-span as part of its package for viewing, such as a cable or satellite provider. Roku does not have control over content that it doesn't own. You could also try watching C-span on its youtube channel. Youtube.com/cspan or cspan.org and mirror/cast the show to your screen.

It is critical that all C-SPAN channels be available throughout the country.

Hi, thewheel1975 Thanks for posting here in the Roku Community. We appreciate you for sharing your interest in adding the CSPAN Channels to the Roku platform. It is a good start to contact the channel developer of the CSPAN Channels and let them know that you'd like to stream their app on Roku. Once acknowledged by their team, they can develop an app for Roku. For more information, you can contact them at CSPAN Contact Support We hope this helps! Thanks,The Roku Community Team.

Adding C-SPAN app on Roku | Roku Community

25 Replies

Strega2
Roku Guru
3 days ago
That's great that there are at least 2 ways to watch it on Roku now. As for "providers", when you see a cable channels speak of providers, they generally mean cable TV companies, satellite TV etc. - companies you pay a monthly bill to that pass a fraction on to each channel. But with YouTube TV, Hulu + Live, Sling etc. you now have what they call "providers" on streaming devices.
If they want to be directly on a streaming device like Roku, they can just create an app like everyone else. From what I hear, the successful business model for streaming involves having a vast back catalog that people will watch over and over. Topical ephemeral stuff seems to have trouble breaking even. So far at least. But perhaps if that DireTV MyNew takes off, then there will be more attempts.
Rock-em
Channel Surfer
3 days ago
Since September 2025, C-SPAN is supposedly available on the Hulu + Live TV app, which is definitely NOT a cable company! Now what's the latest excuse, Roku, for not including it in your line-up?
- atc98092
  Community Streaming Expert
  3 days ago
  That's because Hulu (owned by ABC) decided to add it to their lineup. Hulu+Live TV is just another "cable" provider, same as YouTube TV, Fubo TV, Sling TV, and a few others. Yes, their medium is online streaming, not providing the content via cable or satellite. But they're still acting just like a cable company, so that's how they can acquire C-SPAN.
Strega2
Roku Guru
3 days ago
Roku may have to take a class on being nefarious because it looks like you can get C-SPAN, along, with CNBC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and others on your Roku via the DirecTV MyNews package.
https://www.directv.com/genre-packs/mynews/
Rock-em
Channel Surfer
3 days ago
That's a lot of bull. It's entirely up to Roku to add C-SPAN, but for some nefarious reason they don't care to do so. However, they are not the only provider to stifle C-SPAN.
- atc98092
  Community Streaming Expert
  3 days ago
  Not at all. Roku does not provide apps for other services. They literally cannot create apps for other providers because they don’t have access to the necessary information. And since C Span was created and is owned by the cable companies, they aren’t going to make that available to competitors
Nancy0614
Channel Surfer
5 months ago
I agree. Please add C-SPAN. I contacted them and they said Roku had to initiate adding the channel. So my question is why hasn’t Roku added this channel?? What is the reason for not adding it?? It’s a vital channel for people to be able to keep up with congressional hearings and hear firsthand what is happening in Washington. If I subscribed to Comcast, or satellite television I could watch this channel. It’s ridiculous that Roku hasn’t added it.
- atc98092
  Community Streaming Expert
  5 months ago
  Nancy0614they didn’t tell you correct information. Roku doesn’t initiate the creation of an app for other providers. It’s up to the providers to offer an app for their service. As previously mentioned, the reason you would have access with a cable provider is because the cable providers finance C-SPAN, so of course they offer it.
PriusKing1
Newbie
7 months ago
With everything that is going on in the capital today I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to view coverage via the CSPAN channels. Please consider adding CSPAN. Thanks.
- denhow
  Roku Guru
  7 months ago
  C-SPAN is funded by the cable and satellite industries. That's the "C-S" in its name. I could be wrong, but I doubt that they would ever allow a free streaming app.
  A "C-SPAN Now" type app requring cable provider authentication might be possibe though.
Korrky
Newbie
7 months ago
It is critical that all C-SPAN channels be available throughout the country.
- atc98092
  Community Streaming Expert
  7 months ago
  You need to talk to C-Span and ask them to offer an app on the Roku platform. Roku themselves have no "in" with providers to convince them to create an app. Only the end users (that's you) have the potential clout to persuade a provider to create an app for the Roku.
- RokuTakashi
  Community Moderator
  7 months ago
  Hi, Korrky
  
  Welcome!
  
  I understand your interest in the availability of CSPAN channels on the Roku platform.
  
  The availability of channels on the Roku platform is managed by their respective providers.
  
  For more information, you can reach out to their support team at CSPAN Contact Support
  
  Hope this information helps, and keep us posted if you have further questions or clarifications.
  
  Thanks,
  Roku Community Team.
  - Nancy0614
    Channel Surfer
    5 months ago
    I contacted them and this was their response:
    ”I would suggest letting Roku know that their viewers are interested in getting C-SPAN programming to help make sure they are coming to the table eager to offer our channels.
    We are working with the various streaming services to expand our platform, but that of course takes time and lots of legal discussions.”
Christinescreen
Newbie
9 months ago
Yes I need c span please!
JWS9518
Roku Guru
10 months ago
In most cases, it is dependent upon the owner of the channel/content to make an app for Roku or you may need access to a service that provides C-span as part of its package for viewing, such as a cable or satellite provider. Roku does not have control over content that it doesn't own.
You could also try watching C-span on its youtube channel. Youtube.com/cspan or cspan.org and mirror/cast the show to your screen.
- fyath1
  Channel Surfer
  5 months ago
  You can find Cspan by doing search on Roku home screen. You will have to scroll to find it, it will take you to the youtube app to their channel. It is only one channel not all 3. Better than nothing. It's not like watching live on cable. You can pick what to watch, some may be live, others pre recorded
  - Rock-em
    Channel Surfer
    3 days ago
    
    However, why should it be necessary to add another subscription when C-SPAN is free?
- thewheel1975
  Reel Rookie
  9 months ago
  It surely would be a good idea for Roku to contact c-span and suggest that they write an app or request that Roku write an app for C-SPAN.
  - AvsGunnar
    Community Streaming Expert
    9 months ago
    thewheel1975
    Used to be able to stream/cast it directly from their website https://www.c-span.org/networks/ but they stopped that about a year ago.
    I believe the only way to now stream it (legally) is via the DirectTV streaming app. https://channelstore.roku.com/details/d029c484932d244d1fa75c479951e714/directv