DEAR SUN SPOTS: This is in response to the Turner-area reader who asked about streaming services. Spectrum has Choice internet TV, which they don’t advertise, so you would have to ask them about it. It includes your local TV channels with their sub channels, plus lets you pick 15 cable channels from a list they have. It’s a lot cheaper than their other packages. I’m guessing around $30 a month. They have a package even cheaper with more channels but no local channels. You can get local channel news with a Roku device. You need to have broadband internet service to use Roku or Fire Stick, or Spectrum’s Choice TV. A speed of 50 or 100 would be enough and would be cheaper. Again, you have to ask service providers for cheaper packages and be persistent with them.

There are many apps on Roku and Fire Stick that are free to use, and you don’t have to subscribe to them to watch them. You need to be careful when you buy a Roku or Fire Stick because some won’t work on all TVs. It would be wise to go to or call Best Buy in Augusta or another store that is knowledgeable in TVs, electronics and associated equipment, so you get the correct device. I would advise getting a device that plugs in with a cord and sits on your TV stand rather than a stick that plugs into your TV. The sticks tend to overheat and shut down. Watch out for sales pitches, and just get what you need, unless you want to upgrade.  

You don’t need cable TV or Internet TV (like the Choice TV I mentioned above) to use Roku or Fire Stick, just broadband internet. Two of my favorite free apps on Roku are tubi and Freevee. They are free to watch and both contain oodles of movies and TV shows. If you want local news, Channel 6 has a free app on Roku called “NewsCenter Maine.” On this app, you can watch the local news live or later. They save the last broadcast, so you can watch it later if you missed it. You can also watch “207” live, or later. There are other taped shows you can watch anytime. Other apps that carry local news are “NewsOn” and “Local Now.” Roku has over 5,000 apps and a large percentage of them are free to watch. There are movie apps, live TV apps, educational apps, exercise apps, and cooking apps, the list goes on and on.

Fire Stick has free apps also. I haven’t used it much, but I know they have tubi and I believe, Freevee apps.

You can buy a TCL smart TV with Roku installed inside, and some smart TVs come with Fire Stick installed, so you don’t have to install a device separately. I’m not overly impressed with the picture quality of these TVs. Maybe they have better TVs than the ones I watched, though. Samsung smart TVs come with some apps installed on them, like tubi for example.

Keep in mind, not all apps are good. I look for 2.5- to 4-star ratings. If you get an app that you don’t like, you can delete it. Some apps, like CBS, will let you watch some TV shows the day after they air for free with no subscription. If you are a cable TV subscriber, you can link apps on Roku, say NBC, to your cable provider. This unlocks everything on the app, so you can watch shows live, or watch them later. You can also watch movies and past TV shows that have been aired previously whenever you want.

If you have any questions, I could give you a call. Maybe Sun Spots could email your phone number to me, with your permission, of course. I would be glad to help. — Livermore Falls-area reader

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