Owners of Roku TVs are currently unable to watch free over-the-air antenna TV channels, such as ABC, CBS and FOX, without an internet connection. Roku says it will roll back the limitation.
Connecting an antenna to a TV provides free access to select channels in many countries. It requires no subscription or internet connection.
Owners were therefore surprised this month when Roku started locking free antenna TV channels unless the TV was also connected to the internet, leading to speculation that it was part of a plan to serve ads and collect viewing data via ACR (Automatic Content Recognition).
You can watch free antenna TV on Roku TVs and all other TVs. Photo: RokuRoku to roll back limitation
Roku has now reached out to Cord Cutters News to say that it is planning to issue an update to ensure that antenna TV will work even if a Roku TV is not connected to the internet.
The company did not provide a timeline for the fix.
It is unclear whether Roku's reversal is a result of backlash from owners or if the restriction was introduced in error.
Time to consider alternatives?
Roku has significantly expanded its ad initiatives in recent years with video ads, pause ads and ads that take over the homescreen, even exploring ads over your TV's HDMI input.
Also read: Review: Apple TV 4K (2022)
Like other Smart TV platforms, Roku is heavily monetizing users, who can consider alternative TV platforms such as Apple's tvOS, which offers an ad-free experience without extensive viewing data collection.
- Source: Cord Cutters News
