Don't buy that it is almost certainly infected with Malware.

Perhaps you could install Kodi on a device?

These days, several tiny PCs have prices that compete with the Raspberry Pi, and significantly beefier specs. Of course, by that point, we're talking about things that run around $100.

I have a Jellyfin server running locally. All my TVs either have a Roku device connected or are a Roku embedded TV. I also run PiHole and all DNS queries in my local network go through it. That way all telemetry, "phoning home", and advertisments are blocked. All my TVs have the Jellyfin Roku app installed to stream my local content.

If you want access outside your local network. I setup Nginx Proxy Manager (NPM) locally and have my own domain pointing back to my NPM server to access my Jellyfin content and other self-hosted services that I run.

Mini elite desk. Linux... Kde for easier customization. Search Amazon for mini keyboards or couch keyboards. You can find small ones to thumb type. Make custom shortcuts for windows switch closing apps.... Windows key plus 1-9 for app shortcuts which is the default for the dock style taskbar.

Set up to boot into Kodi first thing. Set apps to auto run full screen or maxed...

Sorry for my shitty grammar etc...

Ohhhh. some of the elitedesks don't have HDMI audio working. For that you'd need a an aux cable. Or use winduz

I have installed linux on a €20 tv box because i needed a print server; it turned in a 2 month adventure that only ended when i cnocked the emmc off the board and started booting from sd card( and due to how unknown the hardware is, there is very little support); I'd consider it mostly a side project to do if you are willing to risk losing the stick and just like to toy with this stuff; not something to do out of actual need.

Boy do i miss cheap sbcs.

Ps. Dont bother with the stock os; when i booted the box for the fist time with his original os i saw a spike in my pi hole's blocked domains; yikes...

Cheapest would probably be the Raspberry Pi/Orange Pi route.

I gave up trying to make an HTPC (using Kodi, ChimeraOS, etc). It wasn't worth the hassle and ended up settling for an Apple TV.

I'd go the mini PC/sff route, on eBay for instance you can get like a HP EliteDesk 800 G3 for around 50-80$ depending if you want a drive and adapter included think that's the best bang for the buck. I would've recommended buying a 20-30$ onn android TV box but seeing how restricted android tv is from another post kinda made me rethink that.

Edit: also if you can wait like a year more I bet the market will be flooded with cheap mini/sff desktops.

Use an old android phone with whatever os you want. Even if you keep the oem os you can load whatever FOSS/ privacy apps you want. I like having a keyboard and mouse, revanced/newpipe, VLC for local files, jellyfin for networked, Firefox with ad block, etc. I need to see how gaming is through steam link.