The Roku device will connect to your internet via a wireless connection which will need to be set up.

It's really just like a small networked computer with a collection of apps pre-installed on it. That's all you're 'buying'.

There may be some apps on the machine that are free, but most anything you'd ever really watch ... are not. I.e. just buying a Roku doesn't get you Netflix, or History Channel or 95% of what Roku is shown as 'having'. Those are just the apps that are installed.

Netflix is available as it's own sub, of course, but many of the apps for the cable channels like HBO Go and History Channel ... require you to HAVE a 'cable' subscription (and in the case of HBO, obviously you have to be an HBO subscriber on top of it). You basically activate these other channels by logging on to your cable account on your PC/laptop/phone and acquiring an activation code which you plug into the app on the Roku.

I believe Roku also has a wired internet connector as well as wireless but I may be wrong on that. But basically yeah, you just need a router connected to the internet, and subscriptions to what you want to watch.

You no longer need a cable subscription you can pay to use HBO NOW or Showtime.

https://channelstore.roku.com/browse/news-and-weather

Some are free some are not, some you have to register to add to your Roku.

There is also Nowhere Man TV who offers private (as in not listed on Roku) free channels such as NowhereTv. There is too much there to list. You can just add it and if you don't like it, just delete it. You have to be signed into your Roku account in order to add any channel on-line unless you are adding it from your Roku.

http://www.thenowhereman.com/roku/

I believe you still need a credit card to use the Roku, it's something they keep on file for when you buy a movie or whatnot. I've never bought a movie through Roku so I've never had a charge. Netflix charges you separately and I imagine HBO NOW would be the same.

You need the internet of course. I don't know how well DSL works for that since I have Cable internet. The cheaper Roku's just have Wi-Fi. The cheaper ones though let you use the old style Red/Yellow/White RCA style A/V connectors. The more expensive models have ethernet and Wi-Fi.

https://www.roku.com/products/compare

There is also a Netflix/Streaming Channels Group on DU and it covers a lot of subjects not just Netflix.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1143

you may also want to check out http://www.snagfilms.com/shows/

Free on the internet, free streaming to your TV.

you can get pretty much any channel in the world,most in HD.Google "roku iptv" and pick wisely.