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How to watch TV without paying for it

Posted Jul 21 2008, 04:28 PM by Karen Datko
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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.

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Comments

 

Instead of watching TV exercising is more beneficial and joining your local recreational center is the way to go.  I joined my local recreational center and I only pay $6.50 a month.  I can use any recreational center in my area and I only pay that $6.50 month, they cool thing about it is the facilities are well kept and there's even television on some of the cardio machines.  

Kay (Posted 07.23.08 8:19 AM ) Report Abuse

I have MAGICJACK and it's wonderful.  Hopefully they can survive.  This is coming from soneone who works for the phone company.

As for TV.  We didn't pay for it prior to the 80's and now we have cable.  Got to have it.  We did not have phone and now we got to have it.  HDTV and a set of rabbit ears works great.  I get a better picture than DIRECTV.  It's time we do things with are family's that don't revolve around the TV.

DavidOH (Posted 07.23.08 9:13 AM ) Report Abuse

would lik to know more about the wireless connection. please

let me know where i can buy it. by the way...t v is o k late at night.

jesseaz (Posted 07.23.08 10:34 AM ) Report Abuse

Try www.alluc.org

Steven Webb (Posted 07.23.08 2:12 PM ) Report Abuse

I have had DirecTV since i first bought the antenna kit and installed it years ago.  In those days it was pretty inexpensive and full of neat and interesting programming.  Now many years later it has at least doubled in cost and the programming has gone to s--t.  The commercial time is unbelievable.  You are deluged with Nutrisystems, e.g., on every channel except Link TV, and many other commercials dominate your time.  Good ole captalism and control of the airways by a few big jugernaut companies.  I think a recent example of the total dumbing down of Americans is the report by all the news channels that your home-grown tomatoes are SAFE to eat.  Just shoot me now....

Jim (Posted 07.23.08 2:21 PM ) Report Abuse

Regarding our fav black & gold 5 time Super Bowl Champs, there are now 100's of fine beer & wing establishments that offer free viewing of our team & all others...on digital large screen tv's of all sizes. Not a bad way to meet more steal town fans also.Also I think we play about 5 games this season on regular broadcast tv.        

Will (Posted 07.23.08 4:12 PM ) Report Abuse

Will, thanks for the tip. When I lived in Anchorage, I was a regular at the Steelers bar (and a card-carrying member of the Black and Gold Brigade)  and watched our guys there every week. No such place exists where I live now. And if you figure out how much you spend on breakfast (games start at 9 a.m. Alaska time) and beverages, Sunday Ticket isn't a huge expense in comparison. It's one of my few splurges and is well worth it to me. I think you know what I mean. But again, if I could find a free and legal source, I'd go for it.

Karen Datko (Posted 07.23.08 4:24 PM ) Report Abuse

type Skype.com they provide a local number in US

shiv (Posted 07.23.08 4:51 PM ) Report Abuse

Your welcome Karen, cool blog btw. Jeez you must live in a really remote part of our world, & maybe you should open a bed & breakfast & Sunday Tix around your neck of the woods.

Will (Posted 07.23.08 4:53 PM ) Report Abuse

Liz

Look for special deals particularly if a new gym opens in the area. I recently joined a Planet Fitness that opened near me. The cost: $99 for a 1 year membership.

Rich (Posted 07.23.08 10:54 PM ) Report Abuse

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