StanMac Loc: Tennessee

I also have Hulu - similar issues periodically. I’m not sure all those streaming services are ready for prime time.

Stan

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Been using YouTubeTV for about 2 years now. Love it. I use it in NY & FL. Both locations have an Amazon Fire TV Stick. One price both location and all TVs.
Occasionally there’s a glitch so I unplug the power from the sending unit plugged into the HDMI port on my Samsung & plug it back in immediately. Problem gone.
I also have HULU, which a friend gave me, and I have Disney +, Discover +, & Motor Trend.
HULU never gave me a problem.

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

I signed up for Hulu ad-free because they had Murdock Mysteries but they only had up to season 10. Dropped Hulu when I learned that Acorn TV had the whole series. Found out after signing up with Acorn that it doesn't work with Samsung televisions - something to do with electronics BS. Had to resurrect my Roku in order to watch Acorn TV.
There is a lot of programs on Acorn that's not available elsewhere. I'm watching Murdock and just completed watching "I, Claudius" again and I have "Foyle's War" on my list, among others.
Hulu isn't the only problem I have with my 50" Samsung TV. A lot of times when I try to start Netflix all I get is a black screen so I have to reboot the television. And it's not just a matter of turning the TV off then on again. Nooo, I have to physically unplug it from the wall socket and plug it back in again. Actually I have the TV connected to a power strip that has an On/Off switch so I just turn it off for a few seconds then back on. I don't have that problem with YouTubeTV or Amazon Prime, just Netflix. Also, I don't have the problem with my 32" Samsung in the bedroom. Go figure.

wareagle

i HAVE ATT TV PRIMARILY for sports. It is great. Had direct tv before, and it was costing me over $200/month.

Att tv costs me around $80/ month and has all the channells I ever watched on Direct TV. For every thing else (netflix, prime, hulu, espn+, disney, peacock etc etc) i connect through roku express (one time cost of less than $28} All you need is a good internet source. I highly recommend it

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

I have an oooooollllllld tv and roku gives me all I want, saves me from buying another tv.

jdmiles Loc: Texas

I watch Hulu through FireTV. I once decided to quit because I did not like the price increase for live. The problem was Hulu had the best screen resolution. I found that the other providers were using more compression in their signals. I watch on a 4K TV and you can easily see the difference. I still watch it. It works so well for me that I am getting rid of my Tivo. Hulu is likely wider bandwidth than the other providers so if you don't have a fast enough connection you could see the problem you describe.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

I had the same problem with a Roku TV and a Spectrum App. I could watch any channel on Spectrum for awhile, then it would crash. I had 3 different service people out here until the last one agreed with me. He exchanged my router and ran a new line outside from the pole and I haven't had a problem since. I don't know if it was the new line or the new router though.

budclem Loc: orcutt, ca

I have similar with Discovery+, pay 6.00 for ad free and get ads, multiple e-mails and no success. i might go to ads as wife has to watch 90 day fiancé or something like that

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

When I purchased a 65" TV a few years back I did some reading prior to my purchase, it was suggested to avoid the Smart TV's and save a few hundred bucks by purchasing a Roku device so that you could use your TV like a Smart TV that way went it was time for an upgrade you only have to purchase a new Roku instead of a $1300 TV.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

All of the apps on my TVs in the house update automatically. I do agree the Roku is more powerful and can handle more processing, but not sure how that applies to application updates.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

The gist is the upfront savings, and as technology needs to be upgraded you simply replace the roku.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

This is an excellent suggestion to keep in mind, even for those who own a smart tv.

For example, my 24" Vizio does not have the option to add apps like some of the larger, expensive smart tv's do. I was thinking of getting a Roku so I could watch my MLB TV subscription, which until this year I'd been viewing only on my Chromebook (casting from laptop to tv results in poor resolution and often unsynched sound).

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

Oh, I guess I overlooked that point. I assumed (I know, bad habit), that all smart TVs were created equal in regards to streaming capabilities. I have three higher end Samsung and LG TVs that basically negated the need for an external media device.

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

My roku handles all updates and adds any new channels. Plus it's controller turns my tv on. My other controllers are collecting dust

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

My Vizio came with a bunch of apps. Some are the biggies (including You Tube TV, my streaming service choice for a few years now. Also Netflix, Hulu, amazon prime, Disney+ etc), but many are the free and/or marginally interesting ones that "nobody" ever uses