Cord cutting has become quite popular over the past several years. With the rise of streaming services like Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+, there’s much less of a reliance on traditional cable, especially since many of these services also offer live content. My problem with many of these streaming services is that I feel like I have to pay attention to what I’m watching. It’s not like cable where I can put something on for background noise. In many ways it is, but there will occasionally be prompts to make sure I’m still watching, and that’s something I don’t really want anymore.

I miss the way of cable where there was a TV guide to go through that let me pick a channel and just jump right into the middle of something. It felt like there was less commitment to what I threw on, and it meant I didn’t feel bad binging a bunch of episodes in the background. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV offer this, of course, but I don’t really want to pay for a service where the idea is that I don’t have to watch something. As it turns out, there are plenty of free options available, including one right on my Roku Ultra. The Roku Channel has helped me scratch this itch, and it doesn’t cost a dime.

notable shows

2 Broke Girls, Billions, Mary & George

Originals

Yes

Live TV

Yes

Price

Free

Ad plans

Ads included

Thank you Roku Channel, very cool

The Roku Channel has a live TV guide that offers easy scrolling, and while you won’t find actual channels like CBS, NBC, etc., you’ll still find something to put on with ease. It’s very strange how this is something that brings me comfort, but here we are. It’s nice because you’re essentially locked into something specific, like you just stumbled across an endless marathon of something. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve put on something like Comedy Central on cable with The Office playing for hours, only to be met with the whiplash of Seinfeld coming on randomly. It breaks the flow, even if I’m hardly paying attention, and it’s something that won’t happen with The Roku Channel.

It’s also important to note that this live guide only looks this way on my Roku Ultra and Roku Streaming Stick. Watching on my PC doesn’t give the same experience, and I find myself using the search bar to get to places more than anything else. That means it’s ultimately the same thing, but I don’t have the benefit of scrolling through something akin to an old-school TV guide.

You should also know that there are still some key differences between this and cable. Like cable, The Roku Channel is supported by ads, but unlike cable, you run the risk of getting commercials at the strangest times. Most TV shows on cable have an exact time when there’s a commercial, but that hasn’t been the case with The Roku Channel. I’ve been watching the AEW Fast Channel that showed up in early July, and ad breaks just happen in the middle of matches with no rhyme or reason. It might not bother you, especially if you want background noise, but there are certainly better ways to watch shows. With the way these FAST channels are set up, I don’t think they’re really meant to be binged. I would treat them more as something that should be experienced instead.

The Roku Channel keeps on growing

Not a bad option

I wouldn’t say The Roku Channel could completely replace a cable subscription, but it comes closer than you’d think. There’s a lot available on the platform, and more gets added all the time. If you’re ever bored, I don’t think you’d struggle to find something to watch at any given time. You get the added bonus of not having to scroll through a bunch of shows on Netflix to find something. The Roku Channel just lets you pick a station and be done with it. Interestingly enough, Netflix sounds like it could be on the verge of adding channels like this.

For a long time, I had a lot of reservations about jumping into these free streaming apps. I never thought I would be someone who would willingly bring ads back into my life, but as streaming services continue to raise prices, I’ve been looking at other options. Places like Tubi have shown me there’s a wide world of movies available, and if you’re okay with a commercial break here and there, there’s a ton of value. I’m a bit embarrassed that it took me this long to look beyond the world of paid streaming, but I’m glad I eventually did. I don’t pay for nearly as many subscriptions as I used to, and I really don’t see any reason to go back to doing that. As long as companies keep on dumping value into the free services, I don’t see a reason to ignore them any longer.