How To Get Cable TV For Free
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Are you wanting to give up your cable subscription (because you want to save money, or you think the quality of programming is c–p, or you just can’t stand the constant plague of commercial advertisements), but have a few shows that you can’t live without?
If so, there are several options for you. Some of them are free, some are not, but importantly they are all alternative and legal ways to enjoy TV.
Right now the key point to remember is that if it’s free and has no advertising, the programming content is likely only to be average at best, total piffle at worst.
Advertising ensures that content creators and video artists can make money and thus make more content. But hey, if the service is free, I’m happy to watch a few ads.
Often the free services collect demographic data from you when you register and use a Google type model to serve you with contextually and demographically relevant ads. e.g. if you’re a vegan Democrat voter they won’t try to serve you ads for a bacon burger fundraiser, where the profits go to the Republican party.
Free TV Options:
This is a free TV site paid for by advertising and will soon be bringing you shows from several major networks. You can’t skip the ads, but you’ll see a lot less of them than on television.
This site provides streaming video stations from around the world, although the selection is somewhat limited at this point.
This claims to have over 3000 internet TV channels. Again, lots of them you probably won’t want to watch.
Fancast.
This site offers full-length TV shows, movie clips, and trailers.
Surf The Channel
This website acts as a search engine for internet content.
Network TV websites.
If you check out their websites, you’ll find many networks offer online versions of their first-run shows right after they air on TV.
Cable TV Alternatives
Netflix is the stand out here, but you have to pay. The benefit though is that their services are affordable and reliable and you don’t have to watch ads. They now also provide streaming video from their site.
Satellite TV - Can You Watch It On The Internet?
Filed Under Internet TV, Satellite TV | Leave a Comment
The arrival of Internet TV means you now have the chance to also watch satellite TV on the internet.
There are various methods you can use to watch satellite TV on the internet and they are evolving all the time.
Does this mean the end of satellite TV dish systems and satellite TV subscriptions? Maybe, maybe not. It probably depends on 3 things.
1. Whether the programs you want to watch are available on the internet yet.
2. Whether you have a high speed internet connection and a fast, modern PC.
3. Whether you are willing to watch TV on your PC, probably on a smaller screen and to use a service that is not as easy to use or convenient as satellite TV.
As you would expect for a free service, there are some drawbacks when you watch TV via the internet. Speed is one. There may be many people trying to catch the same show as you, so there might be thousands of viewers accessing the TV websites simultaneously. Clearly, this is going to slow down the streaming speed.
Needing to install stuff into PCs is another drawback. Plus you need a modern PC and a high speed internet connection.
However, internet TV is getting better all the time and it won’t be too long before you will be able to watch satellite TV on the internet without a monthly subscription, or needing an satellite TV dish installation, or being a “PC guru”.
Today, there are essentially 3 ways to watch Satellite TV over the internet.
1. Use Satellite TV Websites
You can use a selection of satellite TV websites that offer free TV broadcasts. This includes websites like Wfitv.com, ChannelChooser.com and BeelineTV.com. You can use these to watch satellite TV on the internet without paying a subscription.
These are free TV channels broadcast for public viewing. You can actually find several decent satellite TV channels to watch. It really is not so bad if you just want to catch a TV show in your leisure time and since it is free, why not?
2. Use PC Hardware - a “PCTV” Card
PCTV cards are installed into your computer that will enable your PC to access satellite TV channels – potentially you can get access hundreds of satellite TV channels. Again, the viewing of internet satellite TV channels is free as the programs are what people call free-to-air or FTA TV.
The drawbacks are the cards are not cheap. especially the multi-functional and branded ones and there is some “messing about” needed to install and get it working..
3. Use Satellite TV Software for Your PC
PC satellite TV software delivers more than 2000 satellite TV channels directly onto your computer. The satellite TV channels are from international FTA TV stations, including thousands of English language stations.
These screen programs including the latest movies, TV shows, geographic channels, local and world news, LIVE sports, music videos and so on. As a bonus, you also get to watch foreign language channels.
In terms of cost, it is much cheaper than PCTV cards and installation is simpler for most people.
Summary
As described above, internet TV is getting better all the time and it won’t be too long before you will be able to watch satellite TV on the internet without a monthly subscription.
However, right now if you value convenience and just want to be able to just sit down in front of the TV and use the remote, keep your subscription.