On May 2, 2026, Roku delivered a major dose of nostalgia and binge-worthy entertainment to its users, unveiling 34 brand-new, free streaming channels dedicated entirely to some of television’s most beloved shows. The update, rolled out across all Roku devices, brings together programming from the earliest black-and-white classics to more recent favorites, making it one of the platform’s most ambitious content expansions to date. But as viewers settle in for marathon sessions of Saved by the Bell or Little House on the Prairie, there’s another side to the story: Roku’s quiet but extensive data collection on what, when, and how people watch.
According to Yahoo, the latest additions transform The Roku Channel into a treasure trove for television fans. The lineup spans nearly every era of the small screen, from vintage gems like Lassie, Leave It to Beaver, and The Dick Van Dyke Show to ‘70s and ‘80s favorites such as Little House on the Prairie, The Joy of Painting, and Murder, She Wrote. The ‘90s and 2000s are well represented, too, with shows like Baywatch, Home Improvement, Bones, and Stargate Atlantis. The most recent addition, The Goldbergs, which aired from 2013 to 2023, marks the only show from the current decade among the new arrivals.
As Men’s Journal reports, these 34 new channels are more than just a trip down memory lane—they’re a curated journey through television history. The golden era of black-and-white TV is captured by dedicated channels for Lassie, Rawhide, and The Carol Burnett Show. The 1970s and 1980s shine with Saved by the Bell, In the Heat of the Night, and Supermarket Sweep. Fans of more recent decades can revisit Heartland, Stargate Atlantis, and Doctor Who. In total, the new lineup covers genres from sitcoms and dramas to sci-fi, westerns, and reality TV, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
The full roster is a who’s-who of classic TV: Home Improvement, Murder, She Wrote, Bones, Little House on the Prairie, In the Heat of the Night, Universal Westerns, My Wife & Kids, Leave It to Beaver, The Goldbergs, Heartland, Saved by the Bell, Unsolved Mysteries, Stargate Atlantis, Saturday Night Live Vault, Doctor Who, PBS Antiques Roadshow, Rawhide, The Tonight Show, The Lone Ranger, Baywatch, The Joy of Painting, Cheaters, The Beverly Hillbillies, Supermarket Sweep, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Lassie, The Carol Burnett Show, This Old House, The Red Green Show, Mystery Science Theater 3000, That Girl, Out California Way, Grit Extra, and Emergency!.
The Roku Channel, as highlighted by Cord Cutter News and MakeUseOf, has always positioned itself as a free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service. With the new additions, the platform now boasts over 10,000 free shows and movies, all available without a registration or monthly subscription. The service also features a “Featured Free” section, letting users browse movies and series from apps like Pluto TV, Fawesome, and Tubi without hopping between different applications. For those who want to centralize their entertainment, Roku offers the ability to link premium subscriptions such as Paramount+ and STARZ, creating a single hub for all viewing needs. The platform replenishes its content monthly, ensuring a fresh rotation of live news, sports, and entertainment channels alongside these new classic TV offerings.
But while the lure of free television is undeniable, Roku users may want to pause before diving headlong into their favorite reruns. As Yahoo points out, Roku’s business model relies heavily on data collection. Every time a Roku device is in use, it quietly logs what’s being watched, for how long, and which advertisements are interacted with. This tracking isn’t limited to just Roku’s own channels—it extends to any device plugged into the TV’s HDMI ports, including cable boxes, gaming consoles, and Blu-ray players.
Roku’s data collection practices are largely invisible to users. The information gathered is shared with third-party advertisers to build detailed viewing profiles, enabling more targeted ads. While some basic data collection is necessary for the platform to function, most users are unaware of just how much is being tracked by default. According to Yahoo, “Every time a Roku device is in use, the platform logs what is being watched, for how long, and which advertisements are interacted with. That data is collected by default and shared with third-party advertisers to build individual viewing profiles.”
There’s no way to completely opt out of Roku’s data collection, but there are steps users can take to limit what is shared. Three privacy settings, in particular, can significantly reduce the amount of personal information captured:
First, users can disable ad tracking. By navigating to Settings, then Privacy, then Advertising, and checking the box labeled ‘Limit Ad Tracking,’ viewers can prevent Roku from building a targeted advertising profile based on their viewing history. Ads will still appear, but they won’t be personalized using specific viewing data.
Second, microphone access can be blocked. Roku remotes equipped with voice features may, by default, allow channels and apps to record and transmit audio. To change this, users should go to Settings, Privacy, Microphone, then Channel Microphone Access, and select ‘Never Allow.’ The tradeoff? Voice search and hands-free navigation within those channels will be disabled, so users will need to rely on good old-fashioned button navigation.
The third—and arguably most important—setting involves disabling Automatic Content Recognition (ACR). This feature monitors everything displayed on the television screen, regardless of which input or device is active, and shares that information with advertisers and content providers. To turn off ACR, users should go to Settings, Privacy, Smart TV Experience, and uncheck ‘Use Info from TV Inputs.’ This single change, as Yahoo emphasizes, “cuts off the most comprehensive element of Roku’s data collection and is worth prioritizing above the other two.”
As Roku continues to expand its free content library, the company’s dual role as both an entertainment provider and a data collector comes into sharper focus. The 34 new channels offer hundreds of hours of classic television, drawing in fans from every generation. But for those who value privacy, understanding how to manage Roku’s settings is just as important as picking the next show to stream.
With the right tweaks, viewers can enjoy the golden age of TV—without feeling like Roku is watching them back.