- Roku adds more free channels covering reality TV and westerns
- Instant Resume is coming to more popular streaming apps
- Roku Store apps of a certain size must use the feature from October 2026
Roku has added another six free channels to its Roku TVs and Roku streaming devices. As with previous additions there's quite the mix here, with classic Westerns, comedy, reality shows and music, as spotted by Cord Cutters News.
Roku is also planning to improve its Instant Resume feature. From October 1 2026, the feature will be coming to stacks of apps in Roku's streaming store, again according to Cord Cutters News.
High-traffic streaming apps that meet certain criteria (audience size, hours streamed) will be obliged to support Instant Resume, which enables you to pick up from exactly where you left off even if you've been watching on a different device or haven't used your device in a while. It's a handy feature and a welcome addition to third-party streaming apps.
Roku's new free channels for April 2026
The first new channel, channel 313, is dedicated to the classic TV show Rawhide. Rawhide is one of the most famous Western shows of all time, has one of the most famous theme songs of all time (a song that also soundtracked a memorable bit of The Blues Brothers movie) and introduced the world to a young actor called Clint Eastwood. It's a classic of 1950s and 1960s TV and I've got the theme tune in my head right now. Hah! Rawhide!
There are more Westerns where that one came from. Channel 6036 is going to be streaming a wide selection of vintage and classic cowboy movies and shows, and once again it's going to be round-the-clock streaming of gunfights, cattle ranches, showdowns, wagon trains and outlaw gangs.
Meanwhile over on channel 314, there's another classic: the Beverly Hillbillies, the much-loved 1960s show that follows the adventures and misadventures of the Clampett family as they bring their simple, folksy ways to the rich neighborhoods of Beverly Hills.
If you prefer a bit of reality, channel 624 is where you'll find Ink Master. That's a reality TV competition where tattoo artists take on challenges that push their skills and their patience to the limit. We're promised drama, excitement and dramatic reveals.
For younger Spanish speakers, channel 978 delivers MTV en Español, a high-energy, youth-oriented channel mixing music videos (an MTV that still does music!), reality shows, celebrity interviews and "culturally resonant programming" that showcases Latin music and lifestyles.
Last but not least there's Toso.o on channel 815. I'm intrigued by this one, because the description doesn't really describe anything: it's "vibrant", "eclectic", "unique" and provides a "variety of niche content". How very mysterious.
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