The Roku Live TV Zone: How to Watch Live TV on Roku in 2022
Roku has lots of live entertainment options, but finding them can sometimes be a chore. That’s why the Roku Live TV Zone was created. There you can find lots of live TV options, as well as the scrollable Live TV channel guide. Read on to find out more.
Roku users have lots of entertainment choices, but until now, it’s been lacking in one area: live TV. After a 2021 survey, Roku realized that 61% of its users still regularly watch live news. The Roku Channel provides live news, as do many other free Roku channels, but Roku wanted a way for users to have easier access to live news and other live TV; so the Roku Live TV Zone was born.
Key Takeaways:
- Roku’s Live TV Zone provides easy access to many different live TV options.
- The Roku live TV guide is a scrollable channel list that’s powered by The Roku Channel.
- Other live TV options are available on Roku through third-party apps and streaming services.
Now, Live TV Zone isn’t just another Roku channel you can add to your home screen. This is an addition to the left-side navigation menu that opens up a complete live TV section. That means no more faffing around, trying to find local and national news sources from multiple Roku channels. Now you can turn on your Roku and head to the Live TV Zone.
Oh, and guess what? It’s not only for live news. There are plenty of other live channels available, including sports, music, documentaries and children’s channels, to name but a few. In this article, we’ll go over what the Live TV Zone is, how to access it and how to use it, so let’s get into it.
Yes. There are plenty of live TV channels available through Roku’s Live TV Zone, The Roku Channel and many other third-party options.
The Live TV Zone is a new feature in Roku’s navigation menu that gives Roku users direct access to live TV channels.
Live local channels are available via the Roku channel store and third-party apps. Some channels have a dedicated Roku app too.
Changing your region on Roku is not a simple task. Your Roku account is locked to the country that you created it in via the IP address. You would need to set up a new Roku account in the region you want by using a Roku VPN, then perform a factory reset on the Roku device to set the new account up on it.
What Is the Roku Live TV Zone?
Roku’s Live TV Zone is a section of the navigation menu that provides you with live TV options from different sources. You’ll automatically see any free options, such as The Roku Channel, ABC News Live, Adventure Sports Network and many more.
Aside from that, the Live TV Zone also shows premium choices for live TV. You’ll see options from cable alternatives like Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu and so on, which require a paid subscription. These are shown in individual tiles so you can easily see what’s available.
If you scroll through the Live TV Zone section, you can see your recently watched content, as well as a bunch of categories like sports, news, kids and family, crime, reality and many more.
If you have a Roku TV with an antenna connected, the Live TV Zone will also include local channels; however, channels differ by location, so you’ll only see those that are available in your area.
There’s also the Live TV channel guide, which provides a scrollable list of more than 200 free live linear channels. It’s powered by Roku’s own channel, meaning you see all available content from The Roku Channel in one place. It allows you to surf quickly and find something you want to watch, and includes both free content and any premium content you’ve subscribed to on The Roku Channel.
How to Get Live TV on Roku
In this section, we’ll show you how to access and use the Live TV Zone on Roku.
- Scroll Down to “Live TV” and Press “OK”
In the left-hand navigation menu on the home screen, scroll down to “Live TV” and press “OK.” You can also use the search function to search for live TV.
- Browse Through the Different Live Channels Available
There are lots of channels and services available in the Live TV Zone. Scroll down to find different categories, and scroll left or right within the category to see what’s included. If you find something you want to watch, select it and press “OK.”
There are two types of “channels” within the Live TV Zone. Some are actual TV channels that you can click on to watch instantly. However, others are Roku channels, which are basically dedicated apps for TV channels and streaming services that you install on your Roku device.
Once they’re installed, you can select the app and watch content from it. Keep in mind that some are paid options, though.
Access the Roku Live TV Channel List
You’ll also find the Roku live TV guide in the Live TV Zone. When you open it, you’re provided with a scrollable channel list from The Roku Channel, similar in style to a cable experience. Below are the steps on how to use it.
- Scroll Down to “Live TV” and Press “OK”
In the left-hand navigation menu on the home screen, scroll down to “Live TV” and press “OK.” You can also use the search function to search for live TV.
- Click on the “Live TV Channel Guide”
Select the “Live TV Channel Guide” and press “OK.”
- Scroll Through the Channels and Pick One
This will open a scrollable TV guide. Look through them, select a channel you want to watch and press “OK” to watch it.
Roku Alternatives: How to Stream Live TV
If Roku’s offerings, such as The Roku Channel, aren’t quite what you’re after, there are plenty of other standalone streaming services that include live TV. Many of them are paid options, but the following list includes some of the best services available.
- Hulu + Live TV
- YouTube TV
- Sling TV
- Philo
- Peacock
- Paramount+
- Xumo
- fuboTV
- Google TV
Final Thoughts
Roku’s Live TV Zone makes it much easier for users to access the live TV options available. Its live TV guide provides instant access to a scrollable channel list that’s powered by The Roku Channel.
As you set to unlock the live TV experience, be sure to avoid potential Roku scams. If you like Roku live TV alternatives, there are plenty of options too, such as free services like Xumo and paid subscriptions like Hulu + Live TV.
What do you think of Roku’s Live TV Zone? Do you think the live TV channel guide is easy to use? What else do you think Roku could do to make the user experience easier? Or will you keep using traditional-pay TV? Let us know in the comments below and, as always, thank you for reading.
