Roku Channel has added one of the best TV shows ever — for free

Roku Channel has added one of the best TV shows ever — for free

Forget Chip and Joanna. I want Kevin, Richard, Tom, Kevin and Jen. And I am trying to get more of them. That's because Roku has announced that they have acquired the rights to the entire catalog of "This Old House" (about 1500+ episodes) and will make it available for free streaming on the Roku channel.

While "Flip or Flop" and "Love it or List It" are born and gone, "This Old House" has been around for over 40 years, setting a standard that all HGTV shows have yet to reach. No wonder "This Old House" and "Ask This Old House" surpassed every other home improvement show last year, according to Nielsen data.

I consider myself a DIYer, and over the years I have learned dozens of home improvement tips from watching "This Old House" and more recently "Ask This Old House." From replacing light switches to replacing faucets to repairing drywall, what I've learned from watching the show has easily saved me hundreds, if not thousands of dollars that I would have had to pay an electrician, plumber, or contractor.

If you've been watching Kate Kozuch's DIY Smart Home series (and you should) and have questions about neutral lines, I highly recommend watching This Old House.

Roku's subscription includes the entire back catalog of This Old House, so you can go back in time and watch the original episodes featuring Bob Villa and Norm Abram. (Note to Roku: be sure to pick up "New Yankee Workshop" as well.) It is interesting to see how home improvement technology has changed in the 42 years the show has been on the air; what would they have thought about PEX tubing and composite materials back in 1980?

Not surprisingly, home improvement boomed during the pandemic. We will eventually break out of our isolation, but we will never tire of fixing up our homes.

Roku makes the best streaming devices, but the good news is that Roku channels are available on almost every other streaming platform, including Amazon Fire TV Stick and Apple TV.This Old House app is also available for download on Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV Stick, but Roku's acquisition allows for faster access to the show.

I will continue to watch and DVR "This Old House" through my local PBS station, but if you want to enjoy power tools and Boston accents, there is no better place than Roku.

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