Roku Devices

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

One of my popular classes is my Cut the Cable class, where we teach people how to watch TV without cable.  One of the best parts of the class is when we get to talk about Roku devices.

Roku devices (affiliate link) connect your TV to the internet to allow you to stream shows.  All of the devices are easy to setup and easy to use.  There is some free content, but it also allows you to log in to your subscription services.

For local news, you can use the NewsON channel that records live local TV news.  Currently, in the Portland area, there is only KOIN news.  There is also lots of national news options like Fox News, ABC News, NBC News and others.

Other free channels include PBS, HGTV and the Hallmark Channel. For movies, there are several different channels that allow you to watch movies for free.

If you already subscribe to Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime or any other services, you can log into them on your Roku to watch these shows on your TV. Most sports options are subscription services.

There are several different products, but I favor the Roku Streaming Stick for $49.99.  It is a reasonable price point and offers convenience over the Express products. Here is a handy PDF that compares all the devices.