A memory that's stuck in my head is a day, many years ago, when the internet went down in my apartment for several hours. I was so bored that I started watching all the documentary extras in the Lord of the Rings DVD box set. I enjoyed them, but I was pretty much done with Tolkien for a while after that. In retrospect, I probably should've used the time to read the books, not just watch something based on the movies based on them.
DVDs and Blu-rays aren't as popular as they used to be, so if you're cinematically inclined as I am, you might be wondering what if anything you can do with a Roku TV (or add-on streamer) when your internet isn't working. There's actually a surprising amount — as long as your Wi-Fi router is still up, or you've done some preparation ahead of time. You'll see what I mean on both points in a minute. It's also important, however, to cover what's going to stay broken.
What doesn't work when a Roku is offline?
More than just the obvious
Naturally, any native app that requires streaming something from a remote server is going to fail, such as Netflix, Disney+, or Apple TV. That includes live TV services like Sling and YouTube TV, which aren't simply pulling over-the-air antenna or satellite signals.
There's more, though. For one, you can't set up a new Roku device without going online during the process. That's mostly because you're…