Can a Roku replace cable?
Short answer, no.
You will not be able to get as much content with a Roku as you had received with your cable TV service, but you can get a good amount of programming with a Roku and over-the-air TV (free with an antenna). One area where the Roku has a disadvantage is with sports programming, but over-the-air TV can make up for that.
You will not be able to get as much content with a Roku as you had received with your cable TV service, but you can get a good amount of programming with a Roku and over-the-air TV (free with an antenna). One area where the Roku has a disadvantage is with sports programming, but over-the-air TV can make up for that.
Roku operates via Internet connection and provides content through third parties like Netflix, Hulu plus, and Crackle. If you are looking to rely on Roku for current television you will need a Hulu plus account, and even that can’t guarantee all current television shows will be streaming.
According to the Roku site they provide more than 150,000 movies and TV through subscriptions with Hulu Plus, Netflix, and M Go. Subscriptions to these providers are significantly cheaper than traditional monthly cable bills.
In addition to prime time television there are also several news, music, and family oriented channels. Sports channels and games are also available. The Roku purchase is a flat fee from $50 to $100 depending on the model you choose, all costs after that are Internet connection and subscriptions to content providers.
According to the Roku site they provide more than 150,000 movies and TV through subscriptions with Hulu Plus, Netflix, and M Go. Subscriptions to these providers are significantly cheaper than traditional monthly cable bills.
In addition to prime time television there are also several news, music, and family oriented channels. Sports channels and games are also available. The Roku purchase is a flat fee from $50 to $100 depending on the model you choose, all costs after that are Internet connection and subscriptions to content providers.
I'm going on three years as a cord cutter. I have OTA plus amazon and Netflix. Kids watch everything on Netflix and my four year old doesn't understand commercials interrupting the shows when she's some where else. 
sports can get tough, but fortunately I have an email address under my parents cable subscriber from way back which is still active, so I get ESPN, disney, etc via the Roku, iPad, etc. I don't miss those cable bills and LAUGH when I see the cable/satellite and networks bickering about re-upping their contracts.
sports can get tough, but fortunately I have an email address under my parents cable subscriber from way back which is still active, so I get ESPN, disney, etc via the Roku, iPad, etc. I don't miss those cable bills and LAUGH when I see the cable/satellite and networks bickering about re-upping their contracts. 
Roku alone is not an adequate replacement for cable. BUT, with an antenna (or Aereo service, https://www.aereo.com/) for live, local and network TV it's the equivalent of basic cable. You can add Hulu+ and Netflix for $8/ each per month.
For a certain group of people? Absolutely. I have a roku and it is the only thing I use, along with all of the apps that are on it. I miss out on MSNBC, which I hate, but almost all of my television shows and movies are on one streaming service or another and what isn't I put on Plex, which just streams it from my PC. I wouldn't even think about going back to cable and I've had this for two years now.
Roku box is $50 - one time expense.
Antenna is $free to $150 - one time expense.
Netflix and Hulu+ are $8 each, monthly
I don't know anywhere you can get cable for $ 16 a month - most cable companies charge $20+ for basic bottom dweller (locals only). And thats for one TV, SD only since most cable systems require a digital cable box for each TV now.
There's plenty of sports (on weekends) on free TV for normal (not obsessed) people.
Antenna is $free to $150 - one time expense.
Netflix and Hulu+ are $8 each, monthly
I don't know anywhere you can get cable for $ 16 a month - most cable companies charge $20+ for basic bottom dweller (locals only). And thats for one TV, SD only since most cable systems require a digital cable box for each TV now.
There's plenty of sports (on weekends) on free TV for normal (not obsessed) people.
Thanks Mr. Pogi. I'm trying to slowly get up local affiliates for the various U.S. college sports conferences under the sports section of the site to help out those who want to go cable free and use Roku/OTA/etc.
Two that I've gotten up so far:
http://www.dtvusaforum.com/sports-talk/53178-sec-network-affiliates.html
http://www.dtvusaforum.com/sports-talk/53108-acc-network-affiliates.html
I won't lie though. When I was an expat and was sans-cable (we refused to pay crazy money to get American stuff while in Germany), it did take some effort. Some other options though than for cord cutters here in the states.
Not sure that I would pay for both Hulu and Netflix though
Two that I've gotten up so far:
http://www.dtvusaforum.com/sports-talk/53178-sec-network-affiliates.html
http://www.dtvusaforum.com/sports-talk/53108-acc-network-affiliates.html
I won't lie though. When I was an expat and was sans-cable (we refused to pay crazy money to get American stuff while in Germany), it did take some effort. Some other options though than for cord cutters here in the states.
Not sure that I would pay for both Hulu and Netflix though
Since I'm in the South, SEC sports is very important (and now the ACC with Winston) and I get SEC broadcasts all the time. I do have an old email account with a cable provider that is still active and I've used that to get ESPN live on the Roku, plus a couple of Disney channels for the kids. So far so good, although on a couple of big games they did black out the streaming feeds. It's not perfect but the price fits.
I did just drop Hulu, just not enough content that is not on other services so I have Amazon prime and Netflix coupled with OTA and it's all I need. I do find myself surfing aimlessly when I go to my parents who have the full cable package......
I did just drop Hulu, just not enough content that is not on other services so I have Amazon prime and Netflix coupled with OTA and it's all I need. I do find myself surfing aimlessly when I go to my parents who have the full cable package......
Im not sure where you are getting your estimates, but astound costs $14.99 a month and I get 114 channels, including Starz... And if you're say a Raider's fan or some other non-top team, none of the games are aired, so you need access to country-wide games. But why would you pay $50 for a Roku box when you can buy a Panasonic or Sony Blu-ray player that does the same thing and MORE for $40-50, and keep in mind it plays 3D Blu-rays.... You really need to do research before lying to uneducated followers of this forum..
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