What Is Roku and How It Works
Are you looking to purchase a TV? If yes, you are probably considering a smart TV with streaming capabilities. Gone are the days of people having to rely on cable TV or Blu-ray discs for content. Besides what TV brand to purchase, another great challenge is often deciding what streaming device to choose.
Roku is among the most well-known makers of streaming devices in the United States. It's no surprise since Roku stands out for its unrivaled simplicity and outstanding features. However, there is more to Roku than you might have first imagined. Keep reading to get a deeper understanding of Roku and how it works.
What Is Roku?
Roku® is a trailblazing American company that develops and sells various media-streaming devices that run on the Roku OS. The company was established in 2008 by serial entrepreneur Anthony Wood, and it soon after released its first product, the revolutionary Roku DVP. Wood aptly named his company Roku (a Japanese word meaning "six") as it was the sixth enterprise he was launching. Roku has since been updating its hardware and software, consistently guided by technological advancements.
Today, Roku comes in two ways. First, as a streamming device that can be used with any TV. Second, as a TV with a built in streaming capability. The later one is called Roku TV™, as simple as it can be.
Roku is best known for its streaming players. The TV can be from any manufacturer, such as Samsung, LG, TCL, or Sony. If you already have a TV and want to make it Roku-capable, you buy one of the Roku streaming players. They include Roku Streaming Stick, the Roku Ultra streaming box, and the Roku Streambar, among other streaming devices. Check out our in-depth article on all Roku devices here.
How Does Roku Work?
Setting up Roku to work on your TV is pretty straightforward. If you own a smart TV running the Roku software, make sure it's powered on and connected to the internet. If you have a standalone Roku device, use an HDMI cable to connect the device to the TV. Connect the device to a power socket and turn it and the TV on. Use the remote control to select the appropriate HDMI screen and then provide your Roku device with an internet connection. Remember that some Roku devices don't have an ethernet port; therefore, you will have to connect it to your Wi-Fi for smooth operation.
Once you have sorted all that, the next step is creating your Roku account to watch whatever your heart desires. For this, you will have to provide your email, name, and password and agree to the Roku terms and conditions to set up the account. You have to be 18 years or older to create a valid Roku account. Minors can use Roku on their parent's or guardian's account, whereby the parent or guardian will set parental controls for the content their kids can watch.
Roku makes getting to the content you want to watch easy through its search function. You can search for a program by title, actor, director, or even by creator. Simply hit the "search" button on the Roku remote and dial what you are looking for. If you have the Voice Remote or the Enhanced Voice Remote, you can use voice commands to search the content of your choice.
There are roughly 350+ free live TV channels on Roku, depending on your geographical location. In addition, you can also access content from YouTube, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Vudu, Hulu, iHeart Radio, and Pandora. There are also specialized channels that focus on everything from local news to NatGeo and lifestyle. Once you figure out your favorite services and channels, you can effortlessly add them to your Roku home screen. Also, you can easily access your favorites and manage your subscriptions from the convenience of your home screen.
Which Content is Available on Roku?
Roku comes with all sort of content you can watch on a TV. Some if it is free (350+ channels), while some other is for a fee. The content you can watch on Roku includes both Live TV and on-demand programming. Here are some of the categories on Roku:
- News: ABC News Live, NBC News Now, Fox Live Now, WeatherNation, Fox Weather, Newsy Live, Bloomberg Quicktake, Reuters, Cheddar News, Euronews English.
- Sports: Live Sports Coverage Stadium, Bein Sports Xtra, Adventure Sports Network, Edge Sport, ACC Digital Netrowk, Swerve Sports.
- Movies: Filmrise Free Movies, The Asylum, BlackPix, Movie Favorites by Lifetime, Hallmark Movies & More, Tribeca Channel, MoviesSphere, Cinevault.
- Game Shows: The Price Is Right: The Barker Era, Supermarket Sweep, Global Got Talent, Kitchen Nightmares/Hell’s Kitchen, Family Feud, Game Show Central, Deal or No Deal.
- Music: MTV Biggest Pop, MTV Block Party, Yo! MTV, iHeart Country Radio, iHeart the 90s, Vevo Latino, Vevo Reggaeton & Trap, Vivaldi, New KPop, iHeart 80s.
- Kids & Family: Always Funny Videos, The Wiggles Channel, Bob the Builder, Afro Kiddos, Filmrise Kids, Lego, Happy Kids, Rev & Roll, Teletubbies.
- Lifestyle: Bon Appétit, Architectural Digest, The Design Network, Food52, Revry, Tastemade, This Old House.
- Travel & Nature: Love Nature, The Jack Hanna Channel, Outside TV, Xplore, Ice Road Truckers, Modern Marvels, Axmen, Weatherspy, Wired, True History.
- Comedy: Funny or Die, Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, Comedy Central Pluto TV, The Red Green Channel, Just for Laughs Gags, The Comedy Shop, The Comedy Store.
- Crime: Forensic Files, Unsolved Mysteries, Crime Thriller, Midsomer Murders, Kriminal Presented by A&E, Total Crime.
- Sci-Fi/Anime: Unexplained Zone, Dust Sci-Fi, Midnight Pulp, Doctor Who Classic, Retro Crush, CONtv, Filmrise Sci-Fi, Filmrise Anime
- Spanish Language: Top Cine, Vix Cine Club, MooviMex, Cine Romántico, Vix Novelas De Oro, Vix Novelas en Familia, Tastemade en Español, América Tevé.
- Premium Channels: Live/linear content from your premium subscriptions like Max, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz is available on Roku, too.
Live Local TV Channels on Roku
When you start using your Roku device, you will be able to find your local news to watch them live. Roku offers over 100 free local channels, including KHOU Houston, FOX25 Boston, and WSB Atlanta, and more, all of them just a click away. The Roku Channel also has eight local NBC news stations spanning major metropolitan areas, including NBC News New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, Washington, D.C., Connecticut, and South Florida, all of which can be easily accessed from the Live TV tile on your Roku home screen. Plus, channels like NewsON and Haystack News make it easier than ever to watch live and local broadcasts. Just add them to your home screen and input your zip code for a stream of relevant news, weather, and traffic updates from your favorite local stations.
For more live, local options, you can check out the News & Weather category of the Roku Channel Store.
Roku Live TV Channel Guide
Roku's Live TV Channel Guide lets you browse what’s on now and what’s coming up later with more than 100 always-on free Live TV channels. The Live TV Channel guide is simple to use with easy to navigate categories and personalized recommendations.
You can open the Live TV Channel Guide directly from the Live TV row in The Roku Channel, or you can access it any time you are watching a live streaming TV channel or an "over-the-air" channel (if you have an HDTV antenna connected and the Live TV input on your Roku TV is set up). When you are watching a program, press Left on the directional pad to open the Live TV Channel Guide. The directional pad is plus-shaped and is in the center of your Roku remote.
Once you are viewing the Live TV Channel Guide, navigate left on your Roku remote to expand the categories menu. There, you’ll find your most recently watched live channels on The Roku Channel, your Favorites list, plus live channels grouped by genre including News, Sports, Kids & Family, Movies, En Español, and more. If you currently enjoy any Premium Subscriptions within The Roku Channel, they can be found here, too.
With a large variety of live streaming channels in the Live TV Channel Guide, you may wish to hide certain channels, create a custom list of your favorites, or filter the guide to only show certain channels. If you have a Roku TV™ and have an HDTV antenna connected, you can also hide and set favorites with "over-the-air" broadcast channels.
To set favorite channels on Roku:
- Open the Channel options menu.
- Select Manage channels.
- Select Favorite channels.
- Press OK to check the box next to any channel you wish to favorite.
To hide channels on Roku:
- Open the Channel options menu
- Select Manage channels
- Select Manage channel lineup
- Press OK button on Roku remote to check the box next to any channel you wish to hide
In addition, you can connect an HD antenna to your Roku TV to see your local network channels and free streaming channels all in one place.
Using an HDTV Antenna with Roku TV™
Adding an HDTV antenna to your Roku TV™ is a great way to stream local over-the-air channels, like CBS and NBC, for free. Setup is quick and once you’re done, you can watch local broadcasts from up to 100 miles away, depending on the strength of your antenna. Plus, these local channels are automatically added to the live TV program guide, so you can easily view them alongside the 350+ free live TV streaming channels available to all Roku users.
With Roku TV’s built-in features for Live TV and HD antenna, it’s easy to cut back on cable bills without cutting back on the features that cable offers.
Does Roku Allow Casting From Mobile Devices?
Yes – it's easy to cast content (photos, videos, and songs) you are watching on Netflix or YouTube from your mobile device, such as a laptop or smartphone, to watch on your Roku-enabled TV. First, ensure that both your Roku-enabled TV and mobile devices are on the same network. A casting icon will appear once the content starts playing on your portable device. Click on the icon to play the content on your TV via Roku.
You can also cast content straight from your smartphone to your Roku device. Here you need to use the Roku mobile app, available on Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store. Once you download the app, open it and click the "Play on Roku" option. Secondly, you can play audio from your mobile device to your Roku device using Bluetooth connectivity. Most Roku devices have a USB port to allow USB playback. If your content is saved offline on your mobile device or PC, you can transfer it to a USB stick. Insert the USB stick into the USB port on your Roku device and play it from there.
How Often Do I Need to Update My Roku Device?
You never need to worry about updating your Roku device, as software updates happen automatically. Neither will you ever spend even a penny on software updates, as these are always free. Don't let anyone try to scam you in the name of "a fee for Roku updates," as there are no charges for updates. This is because Roku® streaming players and Roku TV™ are designed to ensure they are always running the latest version of software. Your Roku device will check to see whether new software is available for download during initial setup and whenever the Roku device is powered on, and then randomly every 24-36 hours. The download and installation are done automatically without ever interrupting your use of the Roku device. If needed, you can check for updates manually as well. here is how to check for Roku updates manully:
- Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
- Scroll up or down and select Settings.
- Select System.
- Select System update. The System update screen displays the current software and build version, along with the date and time of the latest update.
- Select Check Now to manually check for updates.
If there is new software available or there are updates for your channels, then your Roku device will download and install them automatically and once completed, your Roku device will reboot.
Here is more about the Roku OS.
What's the Cost of a Roku Device, and Is It Worth It?
The cost of Roku devices varies widely depending on the features you want. For instance, the TV manufacturer in question determines the price of a Roku-enabled smart TV. On the flip side, the cost of standalone Roku devices varies based on different options. The most affordable standalone Roku device is the Roku Express attracting $29.99, while the most premium is the Roku Streambar & Wireless Bass Bundle, which costs $249.99.
Remember that the low-end subscriptions have fewer features; for instance, they lack 4K and HDR capabilities. Most also come with the simple Roku remote, which lacks voice search support and private listening. It's always best to go for a Roku device slightly a tier above what you are considering. Learn more at the Roku Devices page.
