Best Channels from the Roku Channel Store

The Roku digital video player has a channel store where you can add free channels to your Roku home page. These channels stream free and cheap content such as movies, TV shows and music to your Roku box. Here are some of the best channels you can install on your Roku HD player.

Hulu Plus

Hulu Plus is a new service that lets you stream full seasons of TV shows instantly. In the Roku Hulu Plus channel, you can see your queue, browse TV shows, and see recently added, popular and recommended shows. You can also browse TV specific shows by season, episodes and clips. You can also rate and subscribe to TV shows from the Hulu Plus channel, as well as view shows related to your current shows. You must have a Hulu Plus account to use this channel.

Netflix

The Netflix channel on the Roku digital video player gives you full access to Netflix instant streaming movies and TV, many in HD. You can easily browse your Instant Queue. The Netflix channel also has a search app that will allow you to find movies and TV shows to watch instantly. You can also see the movies and TV you've recently watched and your Netflix top picks. You can also browse Netflix categories like new arrivals in movies and TV, television shows, action and adventure, children and family, comedy, documentary, drama, foreign, horror, independent, sci-fi and fantasy and romance. To use the Netflix channel on the Roku, you will need a Netflix unlimited account.

Pandora Internet Radio

The Pandora Internet Radio channel lets you access your free Pandora account. Pandora streams free radio based on an artist, song or genre you've chosen. Using the Pandora channel, you can create a new station, make a "QuickMix" station and browse your existing radio stations. Preset stations are only available to a limited extent in the Pandora channel. To browse the full list of preset Pandora radio stations, log into your Pandora account on your computer. If you want to delete a station, you must do that from your computer as well.

Roku Newscaster

Roku Newscaster connects to free podcasts from a number of different sources. You can watch news from CBS, NBC, CNN, CNET, FOX, ESPN, CSPAN, BBC and more. You can also watch a live podcast and on-demand videos from NASA. There's also a National Public Radio podcast.

Weather Underground

The Weather Underground channel for the Roku provides current weather information for your local area. It also provides radar, satellite and webcam imagery, wind direction and speed, humidity and a five day forecast. You can easily change the location by pressing the down arrow on your remote and entering in the name of a city.

Pub-D-Hub

The Pub-D-Hub channel has lots of movies and other videos in the public domain. They include cautionary films and classic TV shows and movies such as cartoons, comedy, commercials, drama, horror and sci-fi, radio shows, thrillers, TV shows, westerns and silent films.

Flixster

The Flixster channel brings free streaming movie trailers to the Roku. The channel includes trailers for movies that are now in theaters, coming soon and new on DVD. There is also a "Certified Fresh by Rotten Tomatoes" category with trailers from the highest rated movies.

Revision 3

Revision 3 is an Internet TV channel that provides reviews for a wide variety of different tech and entertainment products, Shows on this Roku channel include movie, television, game, electronics and mobile phone app reviews.

Tune In Radio

The Tune In Radio channel offers free streaming online radio. You can set up this Roku channel to stream your local radio stations. There are also music, talk and sports radio stations. You can also browse radio stations by location, by language and by podcast.

TWiT TV

The This Week in Tech (TWiT) channel offers tech news videos for the Roku. The videos feature discussions about trends in high tech, You can browse categories, including "Tech News Today," "FourCast," "iPad Today," "Green Tech Today," "This Week in Google," "Windows Weekly," "MacBreak Weekly" and "Home Theater Geeks."

For more information on this topic, read How to Solve Problems with a Roku Digital Video Player and Best Private Channels for the Roku Digital Video Player.