Roku TV is Expanding: Here's What You Need to Know

Roku TV announced an expansion in 2020, making heads turn in their direction amidst the sea of streaming services available today. As a TV streaming provider, Roku is in direct competition with Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV, but their all-inclusive model sets them apart.

If you’re wondering whether Roku should be on your streaming radar, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ll explore Roku and what their expanded service selection could mean for avid TV streamers today.

What Is Roku TV?

Roku is a TV streaming platform that focuses on connecting users with advertisers and content creators for maximum accessibility. Basically, Roku TV works with a large scope of TV professionals and audience members to make as much content available as possible with a single device.

Roku devices are like home entertainment hubs. You can use a Roku TV to access free and paid content from a variety of channels and streaming platforms, as well as The Roku Channel.

Free channels available with Roku TV, other than The Roku Channel, include:

• YouTube
• The CW
• CBS News
• PBS Kids
• iHeartRadio

Subscription channels available with Roku TV include (among others):

• Netflix
• Amazon Prime Video
• Hulu
• Google Play
• Sling TV
• HBO
• SHOWTIME
• PBS

Cable channels available with Roku TV include:

• ABC
• NBC
• FOX NOW
• HGTV
• USA NOW
• HBO GO

To get your cable channels through Roku, there’s no added charge over the regular cost of your cable or satellite fees. Also, Roku TVs and streaming players allow you to sift through more than 100 leading channels with a Roku remote, mobile app, or voice search. You can search by title, actor, or director.

With Roku, you can select a player to connect to your existing TV, or a Roku TV that has the full Roku streaming capabilities built in. This platform facilitates cord-cutting by giving you access to free TV and movies, along with subscription channels and streaming platforms, in a single place. This can help you streamline your home’s entertainment system while saving money on traditional cable.

2020 Updates to Roku

A new program called “Roku TV™ Ready” has been announced as part of Roku’s 2020 expansion. This program will help consumer electronics brands pair their products with Roku TV. It will benefit users by allowing them to use more of their devices, no matter the brand, to their Roku system. When all of your home electronics work through a single system, it’s faster and easier to access the content that you want.

The other big piece of news relating to Roku’s expansion is its partnerships with new TV manufacturers. With more Roku TV models to choose from, avid streamers can more easily find a device that fulfills all of their specifications.

The new Roku TV partnerships include:

• TCL

○ 8K TCL Roku TV

○ ALTO 9+ Soundbar with Roku TV™ Ready

• Hisense

○ R8F Series

○ R6E3 Series

○ H4GS Series

• Westinghouse

○ Roku TV models with the DTS Sound Studio

• Funai

○ Philips Roku TV series compatible with Google Assistant devices

Bottom Line: Do You Need Roku?

Now that we’ve broken down the specifics of Roku and its 2020 expansion, the question remains: Is Roku an investment that TV lovers today should be making?

While the answer isn’t cut-and-dry, we will say this: If you already subscribe to multiple streaming platforms, access live TV with a cable subscription, and are always on the lookout for more in the world of home entertainment, Roku could certainly simplify your life. By connecting all of your home entertainment devices and subscriptions to Roku, you can access them all in the same place. No more switching between your laptop and the cable box, or wondering if you can connect your tablet to the home TV. A Roku TV will bundle all of these platforms into a neat package, ready for you to access at any time.