- Roku TVs must be online to view Live TV Guide after an update
- Without connection, Guide cannot select wireless channels
- Roku says it will fix the problem in a few weeks
Roku has changed the way its TVs handle over-the-air (OTA) channels — that is, channels that are received with an antenna rather than streamed over the Internet. To watch free local ABC, CBS, FOX or NBC channels you now need to have an active internet connection and of course not having internet is a key reason why some people want to watch OTA TV.
It’s a bug, not a feature, says Roku: Speaking with Cord Cutters News, the company promised a fix, although it may take a few weeks to arrive. But when it does, you can use your antenna again to receive television without having to be connected. Of course, you’ll need to be logged in first to get the update…
Why do Roku TVs require Internet to stream TV?
It appears that the issue is an unexpected result of Roku’s recent tweaks. Roku’s interface has received some useful tweaks in recent months, and one of those tweaks is better integration of free and ad-supported TV streaming into the Live TV Guide.
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That integration is nice because it makes it much easier to find and watch additional free channels. But to give you a guide that combines wireless and online channels, Roku TV needs an active Internet connection. And it seems like Roku didn’t put enough thought into what would happen to the wireless channels if an Internet connection wasn’t available.
Cord Cutters News readers have reported blank or gray screens when trying to watch channels and say the Guide doesn’t appear complete until they connect. If they connect to the Internet, for example by setting up a hotspot from their phone, some users can apparently get the channels and continue watching them, but cannot change channels without reconnecting.
Although this issue is very specific to a fairly small number of people, it raises a broader issue, which is how software updates from streaming manufacturers or providers can make significant changes to the core features or interface of a product you already own, and not necessarily for the better.
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