Because the rights for the actual content may have different restrictions on the internet instead of over the air. Hulu on the other hand, is a paid service, so the restrictions are different.

And Fox gets revenue from Hulu Plus (Hulu is free). By authenticating through a cable provider Fox gets a carriage fee. If they don't have a deal with a particular provider, that's because the provider hasn't agreed to pay them.

Thank you both

I had the latest version of Roku 2 and paid $100 for the Roku 3. COMPLETELY satisfied even though the only thing it really added was YouTube support. I never realized how much awesome content YouTube has. Tons of documentaries, many of them in HD. And have recently gotten hooked on TED Talks. And have playlists of my favorite videos. Spent 3 hours on the bike trainer and it went by in a jiffy. Really a fun device. And I have Amazon Prime, Netflix, and rent Vudu 99 cent rentals of the day and use HitBliss to get current Amazon rentals, so now the only issue I have is that I have too much to watch And the control with headphones is trippy and awesome.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spre...Wc&hl=en&gid=0

list of available public and private channels.

Do you have to pay to use Pandora on the Roku?

Will there be a Roku 4 this year?

no, you do not need to pay to use Pandora.

Roku DVP - May 2008
Roku 1 - Oct/Nov 2009
Roku 2 - July 2011
Roku 3 - March 2013

So roughly every 18-20 months. If they continue to follow that pattern, the next major update should be around Holiday 2014.

I wonder if Roku will face the same problem the cellphone service companies have with smartphones -- will the U.S. be saturated enough with reliable Rokus that not enough Roku customers will see a need to upgrade and there won't be enough non-customers remaining who are interested in buying a Roku.

The real problem Roku faces is the same thing that happened to TIVO. It's very cheap technology that each provider will simply duplicate through their own hardware. My Panasonic plasma does 80% of the streaming job that my Roku unit does. I could name about four or five more devices in my house that duplicate streaming functions (PS3, Sony BD player, etc).

Exactly. My Roku is nice, and perhaps my all-around best streamer at the moment; but it pretty much offers nothing that I couldn't finagle out of my TV or game systems or BD player etc. And to further repeat what PS said, the tech in those other devices will just keep getting better. Roku needs to innovate in some aspect of the process to survive I think.

I have a streaming Blu Ray player, but I primarily use my Roku, just due to the lack of channels my Blu Ray player has available compared to my Roku.

Ease of use definitely factors in for me, plus the ability to cast YouTube and Netflix (like a Chromecast) is very nice. BD Players tend to be pretty limited, TVs have gotten a lot better but with a premium, Game Consoles require controllers (PS3, PS4) or annual memberships (Xbox 360, Xbox One) to get the media features out of them.

So it's kind of a tough call, once the Roku 3 hits $50 I will be recommending them left and right. As it stands you get most of the best features with a Chromecast.

with Chromecast having just added VUDU support it now has everything I need in a streaming player (anything additional is gravy)
Roku fails in that there is no support for HBOGO via Comcast

Maybe just a new form factor? I just got a "roku streaming stick" ad...
http://www.roku.com/products/streaming-stick

Got the Roku stick. Pretty cool device. I have a Sony smart TV (and Samsung BD player with streaming for the BR), but doesn't have many useful apps -- use it for Netflix and YT but that's about it. Wanted the Roku stick to get WatchESPN and Livestream, plus I love the portability of it -- can use it for travel.

Being new to Roku, I'm still discovering channels, and really enjoying it. I'll even be able to watch WrestleMania this year, and the movie, sports, and documentary channels all have great selections.

Was talking over in Tech, that I was looking for a streaming player. I ended up getting the Rodu 3. Setup and all good. But I put it in a cabinet and it doesn't like being in there for WiFi. I was going to move it and mount it high by by TV (I'm setting this up in my bar where my TV is mounted high in a corner which is near the a window and closer to my wifi router.

However, It wouldn't be terrible to install a wired Ethernet from the office. I'd have to run the wire outside, but I could put in conduit or something.

Significant benefit to going wired? I've been watching it for a couple days on wifi and seems pretty good (once I moved out out from within the cabinet). Maybe I should move it, try wifi and see how that goes. Could always go wired late.

So far I have YouTube, Netflix and Amaze Streaming going....

Any other suggestions, sites, tips, etc??

You could also try a powerline adapter like this one if you don't want to take the trouble to run Ethernet.

Out of necessity my PC is a long way from my Wi-Fi router and I was having trouble streaming video from it. It took two minutes to install those powerline adapters and all my problems were solved. In addition to a more consistent connection, speed is much improved, too.

Thank you A+

For new owners who like baseball: if you sign up for a free account at MLB.com, you can link that to your Roku and get their "free game of the day" (in HD) on the MLB channel on Roku.

I bought one to use in the den and kitchen. I am extremely pleased that it does about 95 percent of what my Roku 3 in the home theater does. I was also happy that all of my apps and channels transferred over with no problems. The portability is the icing on the cake.

Depends on what your interests are.

Seinfeld fan? Get CRACKLE and watch Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

Comic Book fan? Get the COMIC VINE app

Love to watch movie trailers? The Flixster app has a really nice selection

The biggest problem with Roku is that for every great app, there's probably about 50 worthless ones...but to each his own, and what you like/dislike is going to vary wildly on your passions.

Be sure to Google how to add 'hidden' channels - there are some great ones, including a few with if you are looking for that sort of thing.

Midnight Pulp and zombeetv channels have a bunch of cool grindhouse type stuff.