7 Best Services to Watch CNN Without Cable on Roku

Sling Orange is for all cord-cutters who wish to save money, but it's especially for sports fans who watch ESPN channels as well as households that watch the Disney Channel.

Sling Blue has one of the best price-quality ratios for cord-cutters. For only $45.99, you get access to big networks like AMC, Bravo, TBS, National Geographic, and NBC. This package from sling makes the most sense for cord-cutters who don't watch ESPN or the Disney Channel, which are included in the "Sling Orange" offer.

DirecTV Stream’s cordless TV packages are pretty much the same as their cable counterparts. There’s Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier, which are known to be some of the most expensive but complete plans out there. If you already have an account with DirecTV Stream and want to access it on your Roku device, you can actually do so using the Roku app, which serves as a control center of sorts. On your app, go to Apps on Roku, download DirecTV Stream, and add it to one of your channels. You should be able to watch DirecTV Stream on Roku after logging in with your DirecTV account details, but make sure your Roku device is upgraded to software version 9.4+. Otherwise, you might encounter some playback issues.

As one of the more affordable and customizable live TV providers out there, it’s no surprise that Sling TV is a popular choice among cordcutters. Depending on what you prefer, you can choose between Sling Orange (family friendly content) or Blue (more news and sports), each for $40/month, or you can combine the two plans for $55/month and select add-ons ala carte. If you own a Roku device, it’s possible that Sling TV already comes pre-loaded on the homepage since many Roku users are also on Sling. But if it’s not, then you can simply download Sling on the Roku store and add it to your lineup of channels. You might be asked for your Roku PIN and Sling credentials in the process. Some Sling users have reported that Sling occasionally crashes on Roku, but an upgrade or refresh usually does the trick.

Hulu with Live TV is a comprehensive live TV package that comes with more than 80 live channels, including major local networks like ABC and NBC and sports channels like ESPN and CBS Sports. Plans start at $83/month, but Hulu with Live TV has a range of add-ons you can purchase. You can download the Hulu app on Roku to start watching on your Roku device and log in with your Hulu credentials if you already have an account. If you don’t, you can sign up through Roku, where you will be billed, but note that add-ons can only be managed directly on Hulu.com. If you’re on a basic tier, you’ll also want to update your plan on Hulu rather than Roku to enjoy bundle inclusions like Disney+ and ESPN+, which should come at no additional cost with Hulu with Live TV.

Programming: The breadth of shows and movies justifies the higher price of Max. As of the pandemic, the platform has also begun to release new movies originally intended for the big screen. It even includes podcasts.

YouTube TV has more than a hundred channels including local, entertainment, and sports networks. If you’re a fan of the latter, then you might already know that YouTube TV is also the exclusive home of the NFL Sunday Ticket. That’s why at $73/month, it’s a favorite among cord-cutters, especially since you can play it on almost all streaming devices including all Roku models (best to keep them updated, though). YouTube TV’s clean interface coupled with Roku’s minimalistic design make quite the match, just remember to download “YouTube TV” from the channel store if it’s not pre-installed yet, not “YouTube” or “YouTube Premium” if you want to watch live TV.