Account, payments & subscriptions

[Duke4]

If I subscribe to the same app, ( that has a subscription fee), on 3 different ROKU tv's do i have to pay for each of the 3 or does one payment  cover all three?

[JWS9518 · Accepted solution]

@Duke4 If all the Roku devices are under the same account, then you can view the same content.  If the subscriptions are independent of Roku (meaning you pay directly to the subscription service instead of paying Roku) then as long as you log into the app with the same account that you signed up for a subscription, then you can view the same content.  Some apps/subscriptions may restrict the number of devices you can use to view content or number of devices connected, but that is app/streaming channel dependent.  If you pay through Roku for Roku specific channels, you may also be restricted to viewing on Roku devices only. 

[HDMIGuy · Accepted solution]

@Duke4 One payment will cover all three Roku TV's.  I have several apps (That I pay one subscription for) installed on nine streaming devices.  Many apps do limit the number of streaming devices that can be used  simultaneously. 

[Duke4]

Thank you for your excellent explanation.

I have one more question, perhaps you would like to tackle it?  As I prepare to "cut the cord" with my current satellite  provider, (DISH), I noticed that several off the apps that I currently have added to my Roku "inventory", (TLC, Trvl, SCI, Discovery, ID, HGTV and Animal Planet), have "GO" attached to the name. 

As I click to enter the SCI app I immediately see 4 "links" on the left, the bottom "link" is ACCOUNT.

When I open ACCOUNT I am provided with 4 choices--"TV Provider", "My List", "Help", and "About".

As I open "TV Provider" there is a message that says "Your linked TV Provider is DISH"!

Beneath that is a little box with these words within it, "Unlink TV Provider".

SO, my question is, shall I assume that when I "cut the cord" and cancel my service with DISH, will I be still be able to view these apps that are all provided from DISH?

Maybe I'm asking the wrong part of the Support group but if so, please tell me which direction to turn, Thank You in advance, Duke

[JWS9518 · Accepted solution]

If an app/channel indicates it needs a provider, then it requires some type of subscription, such as a cable/satellite (Comcast, Spectrum, DirectTV) or streaming package service provider (like Hulu, AppleTV, etc) that provides those channels as part of your package.  In this case, if you get DirectTV, you will lose access to those channels unless you replace that service with another provider.  For example, what I do.  I use to have Spectrum cable boxes, but I dumped those and subscribed to their cloud service and kept my cable subscription package.  I now watch my cable subscription via the Spectrum TV app and save the costs of renting 4 of their cable DVR boxes.  I would assume DirectTV has something similar as does Comcast and others.  

You may be able to find some channels as individual subscriptions, but that tends to end up being more expensive than a regular cable/sat subscription when it is all said and done, depending on what you want to watch.  Some broadcast channels don't provide their own individual streaming apps and instead rely on being part of a provider package or may be locked into a licensing deal that restricts them.

[Duke4 · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the quick reply!

I THINK I understand but please allow me to see if I'm on the "right page".

In order to get the substance of those "GO" apps, that originate at DISH, (your message refers to Direct TV, but I will assume that the message will be the same for me with a DISH service provider), I will have to continue with DISH.

My DISH service is costing me $170 a month, (I'm being charged $10/month rental on 4 "Joey's" to service my 4 TV's). I have paid for those things many times over but when asked if I could buy them I found that was not possible. 

So, that's the main reason why I have purchased  4 Roku devices so as to be able to access from the "net".

I don't really need all of those apps listed and will still stream and possibly see if I can access them in another fashion.

Thanks for  the info, at least I know what I'm 'up against"! Duke

[JWS9518]

Yes, sorry, that also applies to Dish as well.  

I totally get you.  That is why I went to stream boxes because I was tired of "renting" boxes for the crazy amount they cost per month for a box that in reality is worth 20 bucks and you ended up paying for 100 times over.  I dumped cable boxes 2 years ago.

Some channels tend to be "locked in" to those packages.  You may be able to find a cheaper provider to find what you want as several of those may be hard to find separate or if they are, they will be costly individually.

You could go to those channels websites and see what providers they accept as well as a way to compare.  They are not normally restricted to just one provider.  They are usually available to several different providers.

[HDMIGuy · Accepted solution]

@Duke4 Just my option, but I have YouTube TV as my provider and pay less than $100 per month and have eight TVs.  Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, and DirecTV Stream are very similar.  Channel packages vary but all are similar to Dish.  Many offer free trials.

[Duke4]

I looked at YouTube TV and I thought it was too complex and was hoping to do my streaming in a more simple matter, but now that I think back on it I think I better take another look at it, for maybe it's the best way to go.  Once again, thanks for the advice, Duke

[JWS9518]

@Duke4 Here is a site that kind of helps you compare packages based on channels you want.  There are also a number of articles from CNET, Forbes and others that compares the different service providers and their packages as well that you can google and look up.  There may be some slimmer packages that may work for what you need.

Suppose | Compare Streaming TV Services