• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

  • About
    • Affiliations & Honors
    • Contributors
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • Technology
    • YouTube
    • Social Media
  • Lifestyle
    • Parenting
    • Travel
    • Safety
  • Education
  • Causes
  • Gift Guides
  • CONTACT
    • Work with Me

Roku’s Streaming Stick Gives Your HDTV Access to the Internet

June 23, 2014 By Leticia

How Roku’s Streaming Stick Gives Your HDTV Access to the Internet

Roku’s Streaming Stick ($49) turns your HDTV into a streaming powerhouse. This small HDMI stick plugs into your TV and gives you access to streaming content from many of the top providers on the internet.

Roku has been making streaming TV boxes for a long time and has developed quite a following. Some owners are so devoted that they their Roku with them for business and leisure travel, plugging it into the TV in hotel rooms.

I reviewed one of their streaming boxes back in 2011 and liked its size and content. Roku’s latest product looks like an oversized flash drive that plugs into an HDMI port on your TV. No longer a box, they’ve shrunk their streaming capabilities into merely an HDMI plug.

Streaming-Stick-HDMI-Hand
The streaming stick can be powered by a USB wall adapter or you can plug the it into an extra USB port on your TV, or other component in your entertainment system, eliminating the need for yet another power cord.

Roku Streaming Stick in HDMI Port in TV

How Roku Works

The Roku Streaming Stick connects to your home’s WiFi to access content over the internet. Roku doesn’t get into the content business themselves, so they are a neutral platform for watching content from other websites like Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, Target’s video store, and Blockbuster online.

Netflix streaming on Roku

Roku advertises that they have access to 1,000 channels of content. Content ranges from high quality to repackaging of content available elsewhere, but it is well organized and easily accessed through Roku’s interface and remote control.

Roku Home Screen

Roku Content

According to Roku, once the streaming stick is plugged in, you can stream “from more than 1,500 channels of movies, TV episodes, music, news, sports, kids’ shows and free programming.” Roku claims that they provide more channels and genres than any other TV streaming device. But what does this really mean?

For content, if you’re a Netflix or Hulu Plus subscriber, you can watch their streaming content. Pay-as-you-go shows can be watched on Amazon’s streaming store. Several other channels offer movie rentals or online purchases as well.

Abundant Roku content for kids makes it a smart choice for families. National Geographic Kids has a paid streaming channel on Roku with high-quality videos available with ad-free videos for kids ages 2-11. PBS Kids’ channel features their full catalog of children’s shows where you can watch full episodes for free quickly and easily.

National Geographic Kids Roku Channel

Fox’s Roku channel will allow you to watch full episodes of their shows, only if you link your Roku up with your account at your participating cable company. Channels from others like CBS, Disney, and Disney Junior are full of behind-the-scenes content, clip-shows, teasers, trailers, and other bonus-fluff material… no full episodes of shows you’d normally see on cable or satellite TV. Vevo’s channel gives you access to their vast library of music videos, which is a good complement to cable TV since MTV doesn’t actually play music anymore.

The Nitty Gritty

But is it a box that allows you to ditch the Cable or Satellite company?   It depends on who you are. If you have a monthly subscription to one or more of the paid services like Hulu Plus or Netflix, it might be. Some people would rather pay $1.99 per episode to watch some TV shows than pay a monthly cable bill.

What’s missing?  iTunes. You can’t watch movies you’ve purchased in iTunes on Roku. Apple wants you to buy a $99 AppleTV to do that. In addition to the AppleTV, Google is giving Roku a run for its money with the $35 Chromecast stick which doesn’t come with a remote control, instead using an Android or iOS device to control it.

Summary

As the amount of content available for streaming increases and the costs of streaming adapters decreases, it’s becoming a no-brainer decision. Get a full-powered streaming adapter for my TV with a remote for $49?  Yes, please.

Roku is available in retail stores and from Amazon.com or come back on Thursday (6/26) to win one courtesy of National Geographic Kids!

Roku Streaming Stick and Remote Control

I received a Roku Streaming Stick through my involvement in the National Geographic Kids Insider program. I am also part of the #PBSKidsVIP and Netflix Stream Team where I receive product for my participation. No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own. Affiliate links included in this post. 

Related

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: #NetflixKids, #NGKInsider, #PBSKidsVIP, #StreamTeam, Gadgets, National Geographic Kids, PBS, Roku, streaming content, television

Previous Post: « Kia Embraces Luxury With K900 Sedan
Next Post: 5 Summer Reading Programs for Kids plus Kindle Paperwhite & $50 Amazon GC Giveaway! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah-Miss Virtual Reality says

    June 23, 2014 at 10:14 am

    I really am glad that you are pointing out that Roku streaming stick may not be a reason to cut the cord. I think people assume this was designed to cut the need for cable, but I don’t see it that way. I think they serve a purpose to assist with your home media needs, not to replace.

Trackbacks

  1. Stream Educational Ad-Free National Geographic Kids Content via Roku (w giveaway) | Tech Savvy Mama says:
    July 7, 2014 at 10:43 am

    […] The National Geographic Kids streaming channel is available on Roku, making the content easily accessible for your children from the couch. Roku’s new $49 streaming stick gives your TV full streaming powers with a small HDMI stick that pulls content from the internet via its built-in WiFi. If you’re curious about how Roku works, take a look at my post: Roku’s Streaming Stick Gives Your HDTV Access to the Internet. […]

Primary Sidebar

about sidebar pic_profile pic

Hi! I'm Leticia, founder of Tech Savvy Mama! I'm an award-winning blogger, Washington, DC area mom of teens, middle school computer science teacher, and education consultant.  Read more...

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

AFFILIATIONS & HONORS

_YouTube Parent Panel

_top50momblogger

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

Subscribe

Never Miss a Post!
Name: 
Your email address:*
Consent*
Yes, I consent to being emailed
No, I do not want to be emailed
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide
No spam, ever. Promise!

Tech Savvy Mama on YouTube

<<< View More >>>

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

INSTAGRAMMIN’

techsavvymama

DC area blogger & middle school computer science teacher focused on edu, family tech & teens. ❤s= 🚀 #STEM 🏃 #StJudeHeroes #legacyteamnuun 🏝 #Haiti

It was such a joy to be able to celebrate this mil It was such a joy to be able to celebrate this milestone! 🎉 Huge congratulations to Thomas and the Class of 2024! 🎓 #classof2024 #graduation
Happy Global Running Day! 🏃🏻‍♀️If you Happy Global Running Day! 🏃🏻‍♀️If you know me, you know you can always find me in Memphis running a race the first weekend in December for @stjude . I ❤️love ❤️ love ❤️ love ❤️this race because the race course is pretty flat, the weather is amazing, and the whole city of Memphis comes to cheer you on, you get to run through the St. Jude campus which is always inspiring, and it is just SO fun! 🎉 If you’ve ever thought of running a 5K, 10k, half, or full marathon, I invite you to register! Sign up to join me to run/walk/run+walk any distance and not only will I cheer you on as you get race ready but I will be your Marathon Weekend buddy. 🙌🏼 I promise to help get you race ready, will take you to all the best places in Memphis before the race, and to celebrate after with post-race drinks at the Peabody Hotel. 🍹Who is going to join me? Link to register in the first comment! 🏃🏻‍♀️ #stjudeheroes #globalrunningday #memphis #stjude #stjudedmv
The best part of @solairesocial is the incredible The best part of @solairesocial is the incredible variety of delicious food available in one place! 🎉 Our family of adventurous eaters has been anxiously awaiting the opening of this culinary collective and our first visit did not disappoint! 💕 Here’s a look at the diverse food concepts that @chefakhtar has carefully curated to be part of the Solaire Social culinary experience. 👀 Huge thanks to Solaire Social for inviting us to their influencer preview to enjoy the amazing culinary cultural concepts that we’re happy to have right in our backyard! I know the hardest part about our next visit will be choosing among all the incredible food at these 8 amazing restaurants! 🍽️ 

#SolaireSocial #SilverSpring #silverspringmd #montgomerycountymd #dmvfoodie #fifteensecondsofsummer
Chincoteague = Our island in the sun ☀️ Until Chincoteague = Our island in the sun ☀️ Until next time! 💕 more than #fifteensecondsofsummer #chincoteague #assateague #loveva #islandlife
The best way to start any day in Chincoteague is a The best way to start any day in Chincoteague is at @amarin_coffee_usa ! Their fresh baked buttery croissants (that are almost as big as your head!) are always such a treat when we’re here! 🥐❤️🥐 #fifteensecondsofsummer #chincoteague #civa #esva #coffeelovers
Fifteen seconds of sunset for #fifteensecondsofsum Fifteen seconds of sunset for #fifteensecondsofsummer ! 🌅 #chincoteague #loveva #esva #sunsetlovers
Is it officially summer for your family? It is for Is it officially summer for your family? It is for ours! ☀️Thomas finished his last day of high school and Emily is home from college for a bit so it’s summer in our house. 🙌🏼 We kicked off our summer at a @nationals game that included a win with 3 home runs! ⚾️ This year I’m joining @lashawnwiltz in 15 seconds of summer, sharing 15 seconds from my days so at the end, I can look back and remember the great things we did as a family before Thomas heads to college in the fall. 😢 Join in the fun by recording and sharing 15 seconds of your summer days and use the hashtag #fifteensecondsofsummer. It officially starts June 1 but join in whenever your summer begins! 🕶️🍉⛱️ #washingtondc #washingtonnationals #nats #baseball #summer
Today we’re celebrating National Rescue Dog Day Today we’re celebrating National Rescue Dog Day because we’re so glad Goldie and Murphy are part of our family! 🐶 We gave Goldie her forever home when she was 6 months old. She had been given up by her original family because she was just too much for them. She was an enthusiastic pup who loved to jump straight up in the air when she got excited and she used to hop the fence in the mornings to go visit her best dog friend, Katy, over our back fence. She still jumps from standing when she sees a deer, meets a favorite dog friend, or gets a visit from @lisatasch but now at age 5, she’s more calm and forever faithful. 🦮We met Murphy and his 9 brothers and sisters just days after he was born although we didn’t know he would be the puppy we’d claim as ours. Murphy has that puppy energy but in his quiet moments is a total love bug. He hogs the free space in our king bed (he even has his own pillow!) and loves nothing more than to press his body into me or lie directly on me. 🐾 Goldie and Murphy came to us through @labrescuelrcp and we couldn’t be happier that they’re part of our family! ❤️ #rescuedogday #labrescue #labrador #adoptdontshop
After 3 days at St. Jude Children’s Research Hos After 3 days at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, I’m leaving Memphis so very grateful to be able to support St. Jude’s mission of working to end childhood cancer. ❤️ Spending time connecting, brainstorming, and absorbing the wisdom of fellow Hero Ambassadors from around the country was inspiring because the work we do fundraising through our endurance events helps St. Jude do the incredible work they do to ensure families never receive a bill for their child’s treatment, housing, travel, or food and continue important research that will continue to reduce rates of pediatric cancer and other childhood diseases. I am so looking forward to running in Memphis again this December! 🎉 If you’ve ever thought of running a race that does so much good in the world, join me! I’d love to have you come to Memphis and run with me! Or you can always donate through the fundraising link in my bio. ❤️ #stjude #stjudeheroes #memphis #stjudedmv
Prom 2024! ❤️ #prom #classof2024 #senioryear # Prom 2024! ❤️ #prom #classof2024 #senioryear #lastfridaynight #latergram
When we bought our house 24 years ago, it came wit When we bought our house 24 years ago, it came with many things we didn’t love like rotted porch boards, 1 bathroom, and peeling paint (inside and out!) but it also came with things we did love like old, mature trees, crazy shaped boxwood bushes, and these spectacular peonies! 🌸 Every year when they bloom I’m so glad that these beauties conveyed with the purchase of our house and I’m glad we rebuilt our porch so we can step out our front door to admire them in their glory! 🩷#peonies #peonyseason #garden #blooms #spring
As a teacher and parent, I am well aware of the me As a teacher and parent, I am well aware of the mental health challenges our youth face and am really pleased to share that over the weekend I became certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing! 🎉 I’ve always worked to build relationships with the young people in my life- whether my kids’ friends or students- and this certification has made me more mindful of the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges so I can have important and supportive conversations when symptoms first start to appear. 🗣️A big component of the training also included developing a self-care plan which is critical when supporting others. 💕 I’m so grateful to have taken this certification for free through the University of Maryland whose blended learning format (2 hours of self paced online work + 5 hour instructor led class over Zoom) was fantastic! 💻 The teacher in me really applauds the course design and I’m glad to join the 3 million+ in the U.S. certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. 🏥 If this is something you’re interested in doing, University of Maryland has free courses on Saturdays or Sundays from 10-4pm between June-October. Swipe ⬅️ for more information, including a QR code with more information and a survey to take as part of the sign up process. And if you have any questions- leave a comment or DM me. I’m happy to help you get certified too! ❤️ #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthfirstaid #youthmentalhealth #mentalhealthawarenessmonth
Follow on Instagram

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

SAVVY FINDS

Footer

Tech Savvy Businesswoman

Check me out across my social media channels for examples of how I can help amplify your company's brand, product, or cause!

_YouTube Parent Panel

techsavvymamasquarelogo_techsavvymama square logo

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Looking for Something?

Search by category…

or by date

DISCLOSURE POLICY

Copyright © 2025 Tech Savvy Mama · Designed by Hustle & Sway · Log in

 

Loading Comments...