Best Free Online TV Viewer [1]
Introduction
This area is still quite new, but in the last year it has 'exploded' with content and applications. There are still very few standards, so you will end up having several viewer programs if you want to access a wide variety of shows.
What I was looking for was a replacement for cable TV. Once I started finding TVoIP programming I discovered that this just isn't cable TV like I was used to. For one, my favorite cable channels are nearly impossible to find eg A&E, Showtime, PBS Kids, Spike TV, CBS, FOX, Comedy Central, C-Span, HSN, The Sci-fi channel and Nick.
The Movie channel can be found on one service or another. CBS, Fox and CW have made reruns of their past shows available. Not so much ABC or NBC. I also found many independent and international networks that just aren't carried by the cable companies.
When you find shows on the Internet, they will be in one of three forms:
- A live video stream, which is like over-the-air broadcasts. In fact many TV stations are making their over-the-air broadcasts available as live streams. When you connect to a stream, it is like tuning into the station over the air. You join the broadcast in progress. You can't pause it or rewind it (unless you have some sort of PVR software). Many network stations consider streaming video an experiment, so the quality can be variable.
- RSS feeds, which are better known as video Podcasts or Vcasts. You don't need an iPod to enjoy them. There is software available to receive and watch them on your computer.
- Video on demand, which is self-explanatory, connects you to a video server and allows you to choose the program you want to watch by using a menu or channel guide.
A quick search will turn up many free Internet TV viewers, but most are cut down versions of a paid software. However, there are a few that are not. Some of my favorites are recommended below.
Rated Products
Platforms/Download: Linux [5] | Mac OS [5] | Windows (Desktop) [5] | [6]
Version reviewed: n/a
Gizmos Freeware [7]
| Our Rating: 4/5 |
Read more... [4]
Platforms/Download: [field_blackberry_download] | Linux [10] | Mac OS [10] | Web App [11] | Windows (Desktop) [10] | [6]
Version reviewed: n/a
Gizmos Freeware [7]
| Our Rating: 4/5 |
Read more... [9]
Platforms/Download: [field_blackberry_download] | iOS [14] | Web App [15] | [6]
Version reviewed: n/a
Gizmos Freeware [7]
| Our Rating: 3.5/5 |
Read more... [13]
Related Products and Links
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Editor
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