Cable-type channels like SyFi want to be paid. When you have a paid subscription to a "tv provider" service that carries these channels they receive their pay out of the subscription fees you pay that provider. When you don't have a subscription to such a provider you are not paying for those channels.
Many cable-type channels, again like SyFy, make their content available for streaming via a "TV Everywhere" channel app for those paying for the channel through a provider as mentioned above. That service doesn't have to be a bloated cable or satellite service however. There are several services you can subscribe to and run on a Roku that may carry the channels you are interested in at a lower cost than a full cable subscription. The following all carry SyFy:
Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, fuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM, or YouTube TV
... there may be others as well.
There are several places on the net where you can look up which streaming providers carry a particular channel of interest. Here are several such pages:
• https://thestreamable.com/channels
• https://www.groundedreason.com/cord-cutting/tv-streaming/how-to-stream-by-channel/
• https://suppose.tv/ (thanks to @DBDukes for this one)
• .. and again, there may be others
Savings in cord cutting usually come from picking and choosing which of the offerings you wish to pay for instead of paying for full blown cable or satellite services with scores of channels you never watch.
Roku Community Streaming Expert
I am not a Roku employee, only a user like you. Please, no support questions via private message -- post them publicly to the Community where others may benefit as well.
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