Can I watch TV without DIRECTV?
Many folks ponder whether they can get to watch TV at all without dealing with a service like DIRECTV. In this case, the answer is yes, as there are numerous ways for you to continue watching Television without having to subscribe to satellite or Cable. Here are some of the main ways to watch TV without DIRECTV.
Over-the-Air TV
OTA broadcasts are one of the most popular options for getting unlimited access to several programs without a cable or satellite subscription. If you have a TV that is equipped with a digital tuner or if you have connected your TV to an over-the-air antenna then you can get local broadcast stations such as ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and PBS and many more for nothing.
Television networks offer entertainment programs like popular series, local news, live sporting events and so much more. You can get an indoor antenna that is placed on top of or beside the TV and this will work well if you live close to the TV towers that broadcast the channels. Those far from the station require an outdoor antenna to be erected either on the roof or attic to capture the signals.
Streaming Services
The availability of various streaming sites has become more prominent in today’s society for the past few years. Most brands such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney +, HBO Max, Peacock, and many other services allow users to watch a vast library of on-demand movies and shows via the internet on smart TVs, media streamers like Roku and Firestick, game consoles, smartphones and much more.
While many streaming services have ads, they also have exclusive and original content, and one typically costs less per month than a cable subscription. Some such services like Peacock even have free ad-supported tiers for those willing to put up with commercials. While cord-cutting may require several streaming services there are normally enough free over-the-air TV networks to complement the cost of a few streaming services as compared to cable/satellite.
Free Streaming Apps and Sites
Apart from the paid streaming sites and apps, there are several other streaming apps as well as sites where streaming is free, and they have legal rights to air the content. Streaming services like Pluto TV, Tubi TV Crackle, IMDb TV, The Roku Channel, and many others have thousands of movies and television shows available free of cost with advertisements. Some of the major networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox also provide their programs for viewing on their websites or mobile applications for free.
YouTube is, or at least almost, an endless source of free videos as well, because of it. As much as there are limited full episodes of most current shows except for those that can be watched online through global streaming, NBC has other features such as clips, older episodes, web series, news, how-tos, vlogs, and almost all types of videos.
Live TV Streaming Services
YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV are some of the examples of live TV streaming services that are similar to cable TV but use the internet to broadcast. It’s like cable with monthly subscriptions that allow you to watch 50-100+ live channels and recording options for the shows. This allows you access to national broadcast and cable channels to watch both live as well as on-demand without having to subscribe to a cable box or deal with a contract.
The channel packages differ from service to service but they are based on familiar networks like ESPN, TNT, TBS, Discovery, Bravo, FX, etc. Local programs, on the other hand, are also accessible in many places. Slightly more expensive than other streaming services, live TV services provide you with the closest experience to that of using DIRECTV without the contracts or front-end costs of equipment.
Free TV Antennas
Besides STBs, some other streaming devices and smart TVs are pre-installed with free TV pickup of the over-the-air broadcast stations. For instance, Roku devices include The Roku Channel where users get to access thousands of free movies and TV episodes that come with ads. A lot of Samsung, Vizio, and LG smart TVs already have Pluto TV pre-installed as a free live and on-demand app. Amazon Fire TVs as well as sticks also come with IMDBtv.
These free apps and channels are available with a streaming device and smart TV and will offer limitless content all from original free TV apps and channels. And that is how you can add free options that may serve as a complement to streaming services like Netflix, for example.
An alternative is to borrow or purchase digital versions of the book
Other potential providers of TV shows and Movies In addition to the internet, do not neglect your local library and retailers. Almost all the public libraries in the United States permit borrowers to borrow DVDs/ Blu-ray discs of popular movies and show box sets without charges. They also usually offer physical and digital copies for checkout and listening or watching through apps like Hoopla and OverDrive.
You can also purchase movies through online retailers including Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, and others in the form of downloads, by season or episode. The prices are affordable in most cases, they range from a couple of dollars to own full High Definition copies. This enables you to gather your favorite content in a single place, ready for you and others to view at any one time.
The Bottom Line
Of course, DIRECTV is a quality satellite TV company, but you have other options at your disposal — pay TV. from free access and paid platforms, purchasing movies and shows, renting options, and more, you can create a full TV solution without ever having to install a satellite dish. If you want to save money on cable or satellite subscriptions, use this guide for getting local channels with an HD antenna and use Netflix, and Amazon Prime for streaming shows, movies, and originals if you have a streaming device, check free channels and you’ll never run out of things to watch.
The clue lies in combining relatively inexpensive paid streaming services with a myriad of free broadcast and web-based content offerings. None of these services has as many channels and programming options as traditional pay TV, although you can replicate much of the experience for a fraction of the regular monthly cost and without getting into a long-term contract. Therefore it should not be a worry to get satellite or cable as you can enjoy all your television and entertainment as you desire.
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