If someone asked you that question five or 10 years ago, you’d probably have a puzzled look on your face. If you still have that look, don’t worry! I’ll turn that confusion into a smile.
Let’s start with the Roku, which will soon be making its way to QVC’s Today's Special Value® stage and will forever improve the way you watch television. This remarkable little black box plugs into your TV and lets you stream content from the Internet directly to your big screen. With more than 350 channels to choose from there are a ton of options from movies, sports, and religious channels, to some of your favorite TV shows through channels like Hulu Plus. Also, the Roku is pretty simple to hook up. Most Roku units connect to the same wireless Internet signal in your home that you use for your laptop, but for those of you without wireless, the Roku XS allows you to directly connect to the web through an ethernet cable. The choice is yours with the Roku XS. That means if you use a computer in your home to get on the Internet, you can use this awesome device.
The Roku is not a recording device. It works by streaming the content through the 350-plus channels available. There is nothing to save, and you don’t have to remember to record anything. If you want to watch your favorite show that ran last night at 9pm, find it through the channels available on your Roku. There is also no monthly bill. There are some channels like Hulu Plus and Netflix which require a monthly subscription, but there will not be a monthly Roku bill showing up at your door. How cool is that?
A nice part of this offer is the inclusion of a two-month trial of Hulu Plus. What I love about this service is that you can watch your favorite TV show when you want without having to remember to record it. Let’s face it, life is unpredictable, and sitting down to watch your favorite show on time doesn’t always happen. Hulu Plus is a Web-based service that lets you stream those shows the next day, next week, next month or whenever you want. Have you ever had a friend tell you about a great show, and by the time you catch up to it, the show is already up to Episode 9? You always feel a little left out. "What did I miss? How did the plot of this show get here? Where did that character come from and why does everyone laugh at him?" Hulu Plus often has the entire season ready to stream so you can catch up on what you missed or look back on some of your favorite episodes, without recording a thing. Wow, I love the Internet.
So is that confused look still on your face, or is it a smile now? Hopefully, it’s the latter, but if you’re still a little baffled, check me out on Facebook at Craig Smith QVC. I’m more than happy to answer your Roku questions and help you get ready to watch some awesome television.
- Craig Smith
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