Forum Discussion

StevenCee's avatar
StevenCee
Roku Guru
2 months ago

Shows on Roku Channel Suddenly go Black

I've been experiencing a really odd problem. If I'm watching shows OTA, via my digital antenna, then switch to a Roku streamed Channel, the show on the Roku Channel will within 30 seconds, suddenly go dark, then I'll see a spinning figure, and the channel seems to completely disconnect!  However, if I go to a Roku Channel, from my OTA channel, then go to another Roku Channel, no shut down occurs, so it's only when I go directly to a Roku Channel from an OTA channel!

This is pretty crazy, as there's no reason for this to occur, and it's quite an inconvenience, what's going on?

app playback
live tv
roku channel

41 Replies

    • RokuEmmanuel-D's avatar
      RokuEmmanuel-D
      Community Moderator
      25 days ago

      Hey! Kdbbrown21​ 

      You seem to be experiencing the issue as well. To help us look into this closely, could you share a photo or a video showing the exact behavior?

      Hoping to hear from you soon!

      Roku Community Team

  • jasmin_ps's avatar
    jasmin_ps
    Channel Surfer
    27 days ago

    The main reason for this is that switching from the antenna input to the Roku app forces your TV or Roku device to reconnect to the internet. This can cause your streaming to briefly drop or stop.
    and once you are in Roku mode, this switching between Roku channels keeps the connection stable, so the problem doesn't recur.

    • StevenCee's avatar
      StevenCee
      Roku Guru
      25 days ago

      That doesn't really make sense, as once it reconnects, why should it disconnect 20 or 30 seconds later?  It shouldn't. It must be something else going on. 

  • keham's avatar
    keham
    Reel Rookie
    29 days ago

    Evidentially Roku doesn't want to fix this issue. They must want people to switch to another service

    • RokuEmmanuel-D's avatar
      RokuEmmanuel-D
      Community Moderator
      29 days ago

      Hey there! keham​ 

      Looks like you've been experiencing this issue. To help us understand your concern better, could you please share if this is affecting all content inside the Roku channel?

      Let us know when you can!

      Roku Community Team

      • keham's avatar
        keham
        Reel Rookie
        28 days ago

        Yes it affects all Roku content

  • StevenCee's avatar
    StevenCee
    Roku Guru
    2 months ago

    This very annoying glitch is still ongoing!  And not this website is acting very unstable and inconsistent, as well....

  • SonyBravia's avatar
    SonyBravia
    Channel Surfer
    2 months ago

    This statement is not clear. 

    • Tracker ID Software version and build (press Home 5 times**does nothing), then Back 5 times when the issue occurs)(also does nothing) are you talking about the roku remote or my tv remote. 
    • When I click home on my TV  remote the screen goes black for a good long time. That is unless I unplug Roku, then it works perfectly. 
    • RokuSuzyL's avatar
      RokuSuzyL
      Community Moderator
      2 months ago

      Thanks for that update SonyBravia​ 

      To get the Tracker ID, please use the Roku Remote and follow the steps provided on how to locate it. 

      Looking forward to your reply!

      Roku Community Team

  • dlstone56's avatar
    dlstone56
    Reel Rookie
    2 months ago

    Our OTA antenna is connected ti all 3 of our TVs, we are having the blackout issue on all 3 tvs. Time to figure it out ROKU!!!

  • dlstone56's avatar
    dlstone56
    Reel Rookie
    2 months ago

    I've been having the same issue for days. I bought a Roku tv specifically for the convenience of switching from antenna to streaming channels and now the Roku channels keep blacking out.

    • Kdbbrown21's avatar
      Kdbbrown21
      Binge Watcher
      25 days ago

      I have been the same issue too. I even factory reset one of my brand new 65 inch Roku TV to no avail the same problem

    • RokuRhea-V's avatar
      RokuRhea-V
      Community Moderator
      2 months ago

      Hey there! dlstone56​ 

      You mentioned you’re experiencing the same issue. To assist you better, please provide the following details:

        • Does this happen with a specific app, multiple apps, or certain content?
        • When did the issue first start?
        • If possible, please share a video showing the issue.
        • Roku device information: Software version, Device ID, and Serial Number (found in Settings > System > About).
        • Tracker ID, software version, and build (obtained by pressing the Home button 5 times, then the Back button 5 times when the issue occurs).


      Let us know when you can!

      Roku Community Team

      • StevenCee's avatar
        StevenCee
        Roku Guru
        2 months ago

        I think the issue has been explained very clearly, and clearly, Roku is doing nothing to fix this aggravating problem. Why not?

  • RokuHaz-M's avatar
    RokuHaz-M
    Community Moderator
    2 months ago

    Hello there! StevenCee​

    It seems that when you open the Roku streaming channel, the screen goes black, but the OTA channel works fine. Since streaming channels use Wi-Fi rather than the antenna signal, this could be an internet connection issue. Could you try restarting your router or unplugging it for a few seconds to see if that helps?

    Let me know if that does the trick!

    Roku Community Team

    • Kdbbrown21's avatar
      Kdbbrown21
      Binge Watcher
      25 days ago

      I have four Roku TVs, and all four of them are experiencing the same problem have done everything. Roku told me to do still the same problem was not fixed. This has to do with Roku.

    • StevenCee's avatar
      StevenCee
      Roku Guru
      2 months ago

      Why does this page disappear if I try typing in @, followed by your name RokuHaz-M???  This has been happening ever & over again!
      But I did a system restart, then reset my internet connection, and it's still doing this really annoying thing. The streaming channels WORK, they just putz out if I wish to flip to any from an OTA channel. If I only go from a streamed channel to another, they both work just fine. But when I go to a streamed channel from an OTA one, it will play fine for about 20 seconds, then it goes black, then the sound vanishes a few seconds later, and it's done. If I flip back to the OTA channel, and then back again, the streaming channel will again work fine, for about 20 seconds, then Poof, it's gone!

      • Kdbbrown21's avatar
        Kdbbrown21
        Binge Watcher
        25 days ago

        I restarted my Roku TV and the top banner that says top pics for you was gone when that banner was  gone. The TV worked fine but the banner came back later and start having the same problems with the screen going blank again, I think it has to do with that top pick banner that they installed across the top of our screen. That is the problem.

  • SonyBravia's avatar
    SonyBravia
    Channel Surfer
    2 months ago

    I am having this issue also. If Roku is plugged in, my Sony Bravia 55X810C is extremely slow accessing the TV input and all other functions are slow.

    If I unplug ROKU I can restart the tv and it works normally.

    I also noticed I no longer have the setup option on ROKU to not allow control of the TV implying it is controlling it since power off works with ROKU remote.

    It appears ROKU is intercepting and commanding the TV and slowing the process down. That’s annoying. How can I stop this?

     

    • RokuHaz-M's avatar
      RokuHaz-M
      Community Moderator
      2 months ago

      Hi there! SonyBravia​

      It looks like you're experiencing interference between your Sony Bravia 55X810C and your Roku. Let's try this: Go to Home > Settings > System > Power > System restart.

      Let me know how it goes!

      Roku Community Team

      • SonyBravia's avatar
        SonyBravia
        Channel Surfer
        2 months ago

        That sounds good but as I mentioned, I have unplugged the Roku to resolve the issue.

        Today I performed a factory reset of the TV. Manually, holding the power switch and simultaneously power cycling. This did work so far. 

        I use a tablo and DTV antenna on 3 floors over wi-fi and it works on both the TV and Roku. However the most relaxing process is still playing DVDs , no network required and no ads.