Roku is a fairly well known name in the streaming video players business, with their current Roku and Roku 2 media devices. Since 2008, these players have been streaming YouTube, Netflix, and other web content to TVs around the world. The Roku boxes offers over 300 media channels to users over their Internet connections. Now, the company has just announced their latest innovation, the Roku LT, which will be added to the legacy devices.

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The Roku LT is aimed at a mainstream market with a very decent $49 price point. The little box packs all the typical features like wireless connectivity and the ability to stream 720P HD movies. All those media channels are accessible on the new device, including Disney, Netflix, Pandora and more, and it comes with a simple, easy to use remote. The main features that you have to give up with a Roku LT, as compared with the older Roku 2, are the lack of a SD memory slot, and the Ethernet port. It also won’t support some of the gaming accessories requiring Bluetooth. Otherwise, it does everything that Roku is known for.

In the same announcement, the company announced a new deal with HBO to add their new HBO Go channel to the platform. HBO Go is the web based service where HBO customers can watch on-demand programming on any device, even on some mobile platforms. Now, Roku users will have the opportunity to watch these shows as well, although it will still require a cable package to be able to access HBO Go. Users will be able to simply enter their login information to watch HBO content.

Overall, there is no question that the Roku devices provide plenty of programming for everyone, and they keep adding more on a constant basis. Just recently, before this latest deal, the company added channels like EPIX and HuluPlus. Most of them also do not require a cable subscription. It’s hard to say whether HBO Go will see much success from Roku owners, who may not own a cable box, and thus most likely no cable TV either.

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As for the Roku LT box itself, at $49, that’s less than half what an Apple TV costs, and is in fact lower than most of the competition, leading to rumors that Roku may be doing this at a loss, although it’s hard to say. What can be said however is that it will likely see a good reception amongst prospective buyers, as more and more people go for web based content to replace expensive cable or satellite TV channels.

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