Search Smart Spending:

How to watch TV without paying for it

Posted Jul 21 2008, 04:28 PM by Karen Datko
Rating:
Filed under: , ,

One luxury you can cut when costs for essentials are rising is your cable or satellite TV service. But how can you still watch your favorite shows?

David at My Two Dollars presents "35 ways to watch television without cable or satellite," and he's not just talking rabbit ears. After Option No. 1, an antenna, the rest are Web sites. Readers provided more suggestions, so the list is now up to 42 possibilities.

Warning: David says that he "cannot vouch for the legality or the quality of all of these Web sites."

We decided to check some of them out, and were amazed at all the free TV to be had. Just for starters, you can watch network shows at the Web sites of CBS, NBC and ABC, including past seasons of "Lost."

Some sites are independent and others are linked to networks or other media companies. Hulu, for instance, is a product of NBC Universal and News Corp. Fancast is offered by Comcast. Some also provide international access, including YourGlobalTV, AnyTV and TevooTV, where the list of most popular channels is topped by Discovery Channel, iFilm TV, Caught on Video TV, and Al Jazeera.

Now, if someone can tell us how to watch a certain NFL team (dressed in black and gold) online every week for free, we'd be happy to ditch our DirecTV.

Back to Smart Spending Digg this | Email this | Link to this
Comments

 

This message right on time as I am so irritated with my internet and phone provider!  I would gladly pay if the service ran smoothly all the time but a little rain and I might as well have two cans with a string between them!  Remember the library usually has movies that can be checked out and there are now those red box machines where you can rent movies for a dollar.  VHS tapes go for 25 to 50 cents at garage sales (most of the time-I certainly wont pay more!).  Even the video stores have entire seasons of the juicy series out there like Nip/Tuck, Entourage, etc.  (actually any of the HBO/FX/Showtime series)  Now the BIG problem-how do I drop the Direct TV without the kids going mad?

Michelle (Posted 07.21.08 7:02 PM ) Report Abuse

Don't forget about joost, Comedy Central, and Discovery Channel

Bill (Posted 07.21.08 7:20 PM ) Report Abuse

My phone cost me $19.95 a YEAR for local and long distance.

I have broadband for $20.00 a month.

I paid a one time fee of $35.00 and can get hundreds of channells.

I have a wireless system that sends my PC picture to my TV one time cost $50.00

I did all this by research on the WEB. You can also.

My phone is the MAGIC JACK.

My broadband is Bellsouth DSL.

My tv is DISHTV TO PC.

GEORGE PHELPS (Posted 07.22.08 7:14 AM ) Report Abuse

Watch cable while at the gym.  Schedule your cardio time when your favorite shows are on (if possible).  It's great motivation to hit the gym!

Dawn (Posted 07.22.08 1:11 PM ) Report Abuse

I just heard that in Canada you don't pay for sattelite TV.  Is that true?  They just buy the equipment and they are set.

Not a Canadian (Posted 07.22.08 1:25 PM ) Report Abuse

Or you could just...give up TV.  

Seriously. I did when I was in grad school.  Never read so many books in such a short period of time, and never had so much fun doing it (made a friend, too).  For 3 years I lived without a TV, and now that I'm living with my boyfriend who has a TV, I still find myself loathe to watch it.  

Jules (Posted 07.22.08 1:39 PM ) Report Abuse

Dawn,

That would be a great tip except who all of us who can't afford gym memberships -- and I'm not just talking about people who are 'poor'.  Gym memberships are a huge luxury that most people I know can't afford.  

Liz (Posted 07.22.08 2:24 PM ) Report Abuse

Giving up TV would be the best solution Jules!  We would all be healthier and wealthier because of it and would have plenty of free time for hobbies too (those hours spent in front of the boob tube could give you time for any hobby, sport or recreation).  I admit I'm addicted and should give it up at least just to see if I die or not...

Michelle (Posted 07.22.08 3:54 PM ) Report Abuse

In response to George, the MAGIC JACK works great. The only thing we couldn't get a local number for ours.  Our area code was not on the list.  So anyone that wanted to call us it was long distance for them.

And where did you find your wireless system for sending PC to TV?

LaRue (Posted 07.22.08 7:05 PM ) Report Abuse

Thanks for the tip on Magic Jack. I was wondering about that.

I gave up TV and live great. You don't know what is on if you don't watch, because you miss all the teasers and promotions.

I found a DVD at the local library of "Vegas." I didn't have time to watch half of them. But it is always there for when I have time.

Most of TV is crap that you wouldn't want anyways, isn't it?  Come on, what about the shows you saw a year ago - how have they helped you succeed?  Is the writer's strike over yet? Does anyone care?

Lukethespook (Posted 07.23.08 1:14 AM ) Report Abuse

1 2 3 > Last

Send a Comment

Comments must be directly related to the blog entry. Comments with offensive language will be deleted. Your e-mail address won't be displayed.

(please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):