TVs & players

[write4voices]

If I want to watch NBC or certain channels, why do I have to have a TV provider?  I thought the whole idea of Roku was that you don't need one.  It also states that if you have cable or satellite you can watch with Roku anytime.  But why would I have cable or satellite if I have Roku?  I thought that was the whole point.  Is it just easier to throw out Roku and just get cable?

[makaiguy · Accepted solution]

If you're in a location where you can pick up your local broadcast stations by antenna, you can watch these directly for free by connecting the antenna to the coaxial antenna input on your television.  If you can't do this, you'll need a tv provider of some sort to bring these stations to you.

Cable-type channels 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 make their content available for streaming via "TV Everywhere" channel apps 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. Ones that come to mind to check out for any particular channel would include Hulu plus Live TV, Sling, philo, AT&T TV (which is rumored to have an upcoming name change to Directv Stream), and YouTube TV (which is currently accessed through the ordinary YouTube app on Roku) -- there may be others.

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:

• Streamable: Live Streaming Services Channel Comparison
• Grounded Reason: How to Watch TV by Channel (thanks to @DBDukes for this one)

Note that 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.

[JudyJudy]

You can still cut your Cable bill in half by just having the internet which if you have your email thru an internet provider you would need the provider anyway and then you can get your stations on your Roku TV thru that. Still saves you money.