Categories: Apps: Internet & Networks

Internet TV

Watching TV over the internet isn’t easy, but can be watched if you master a variety of different techniques. There are some interesting options that offer either free or subscription access to many TV shows and movies. This does not refer to iTunes and Apple TV, because they are video-on-demand services and are locked to a specific Apple hardware devices for watching on a TV.

Netflix: This service has a large selection of both TV shows and movies for a small subscription fee per month. Netflix TV shows and movies are very popular, and Netflix was the first of the big Internet TV providers to offer its own shows. For instance, Netflix exclusive shows such as Orange is the New Black and House of Cards have proven very popular with both critics and viewers. Today, Netflix is the number one internet TV broadcaster.

Hulu Plus: This is a free internet TV service that offers popular broadcast and cable TV shows, along with some movies for PC watchers. It offers about one thousand Criterion Collection movies from around the world. If you want to watch some of these shows on a TV, smartphone, or tablet you will need to pay a monthly fee. Either way, you’ll end up watching some ads. Hulu is owned by NBC, Fox, and Disney-ABC.

Amazon Prime Video: For a fee, you get free two-day shipping on most Amazon purchases, and access to a wide variety of TV shows and movies. Amazon also offers access to many older HBO series. Amazon offers paid video-on-demand for some newer movies.

Crackle: This service offers a decent, selection of free movies and TV shows. The movies and TV shows are often action-adventure or comedy films. Crackle has one original show, Sports Jeopardy, which is exactly what the title implies. If you like sports and trivia, you’ll like this show.

BBC iPlayer: This chain offers a few British TV shows and series, such as Downton Abbey and Wolf Hall. Many of these shows may never appear in America.

Acorn TV: This internet TV services offers many old British TV series. It also offers many shows from Australia and other countries, and costs about five dollars a month.

YouTube: Besides music videos, short comedy bits, and cat videos, YouTube includes many TV shows and movies. This service is free.