Free-ish TV
Something that always drops my jaw when talking with patrons is how much they spend each month on their cable television. Some spend as much as a car payment on TV.
You need to have an honest discussion with your budget about the cost of television. Is it worth paying $100 each month for those images on the screen? $200? $300? The highest I think I've heard somebody paying is over $300 all-in with their Internet, phone and television. Absolutely crazy to throw away that much money every month on what amounts to nothing at all. Especially for seniors on tight, fixed incomes. Getting an antenna and trying to pick up a local signal is an option for some but not for anyone around where I live. There are no broadcasts within range.
Before going any further understand that how you access TV and what is available to you will be drastically different from how it all works when you're paying $100 or more a month for cable. What's more important to you, saving hundreds of dollars a month or being able to watch whatever show it is you think you need to be able to watch?
Alright, now that that's out of the way:
The first order of business is to get the least expensive Internet access you can find in your area. This will vary depending on where you are but inexpensive options abounds such as Starlink and even cellular Internet provided through a cellular hotspot from companies like Verizon, Tracfone and Consumer Cellular. Shop around, do some research.
When shopping around don't be distracted or impressed by more expensive add-ons or upgrades. Nobody needs Gigabit Internet. Businesses often do but individuals DO NOT. Especially the audience I'm talking to here. You'll have absolutely no problems streaming movies, shows, music, browsing the Internet, getting email, sending photos or doing any of the other things people do daily over the Internet on plans as low as 50 Mbps. Paying more for faster speeds is just throwing money away. I'm not a fan of throwing money away.
Where I am the lowest cost available Internet is $50 for a speed of 100 Mbps. If I could get 50 Mbps for $25 I would but this is the lowest cost option available to me right now.
This does not include television or phone service. This is ONLY for Internet access.
Now, on to television.
So without cable we're left with streaming. We need something that's "smart" like a smart TV or a "smart" device like a Roku, Amazon Fire or a computer that we can connect to a not-smart TV.
Using your smart TV or smart devices attached to your TV you will stream shows using various apps.
*All of of this can also be done on your phone if you'd like to see what it would be like.*
Here is an incomplete list of all the apps and websites you can use to watch shows for free:
Free streaming with no signup:
cwtv.com
tubitv.com
midnightpulp.com/home
watch.sling.com
watch.plex.tv
freevee.com
There are many more options available.
Each of these platforms offer different programming. You'll find older shows, current shows and movies on each so it's worth see what they all offer. There are thousands of shows and movies out there to watch at absolutely no charge. Some even mimic the live television watching experience complete with a TV Guide Channel styled listing.
