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For those who have lost Cable - Here is a list to hopefully help out.....

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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 10:52 AM
Original message
For those who have lost Cable - Here is a list to hopefully help out.....
Since so many people are losing their cable I tried to come up with alternatives that can be watched on PC's. My chronically ill son is one of those people on a fixed income and if anyone else can add to this list please do so!

I already knew about CNN Live which is a good place to check out everyday:

http://www.cnn.com/live/

But for other sources I started off here: The best tools to watch TV on your Computer:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-best-tools-to-watch-tv-on-your-computer/

And then found these article also:

Ditch Your Cable Company With Free, Legal Alternatives

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/ditch-your-cable-company-with-free-legal-alterna

tives/

.....

NO Subscription Required

http://www.nosubscriptionrequired.net/

.......

TVChannelsFree : Watch Free Live TV Channels Online

http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/tvchannelsfree-watch-tv-channels-internet-online/

......

Joost

http://www.joost.com/

......

Fancast

http://www.fancast.com/full_episodes?cmpid=ppc|gu|2431384434&9gtype=conte

nt&9gkw=internet%20television&9gad=2431384434&s_kwcid=ContentNetwork

|2431384434

........

Livestation

http://www.livestation.com/account/register

.......

Hulu

http://www.hulu.com/channels

.....

Sling

http://beta.sling.com/show/list

......

MTV

http://www.mtv.com/

....

MyP2P : Watch Sports on your PC Live

http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/myp2p-browse-life-sports-shedules-watch-favorite

-games/

......

This article talks about adding a "media box" so if you want to check this out go

here:

How to watch commercial-free HDTV on Demand without cable

http://www.coryshaw.com/how-to-watch-commercial-free-hdtv-on-demand-witho

ut-cable/


:hi:
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Ichingcarpenter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 10:57 AM
Response to Original message
1. BlinkoTV. has MSNBC, CNN, Fox news, Fox business and Discovery Channel
Edited on Thu Feb-05-09 11:01 AM by Ichingcarpenter
For free. Discovery channel is from Romania but is usually british or American
shows with subtitles


http://www.blinkotv.com/

I dropped my satelitte bill last month and still catch
The Daily Show and the Colbert report a day late.

Plus CBS classics has Perry Mason, Star Trek, Twilight Zone
Love Boat, McGiver, Have Gun will travel and other shows
available for free on Line and in their entirety.



http://www.cbs.com/classics/
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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:18 AM
Response to Reply #1
9. Thank you for adding to the list - No one knows what tomorrow might bring now.
I'll check it out and add it to my list!:fistbump:
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Ichingcarpenter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:25 AM
Response to Reply #9
11. The only thing I missed is AMC and HBO everything else
I like I can get on-line.
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MineralMan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:08 AM
Response to Original message
2. Back in the late 1960s, a college buddy of mine,
who was an electronics engineering major, undertook to provide cable access to everyone in his dorm. It was sort of an expensive option for the dormies at the time.

He used a broadband amplifier he designed and built and an antenna to broadcast the signal coming out of his own cable connection, creating a low-power over-the-air signal for the lower 12 channels. It was receivable by anyone in the dorm who had a tv and a pair of rabbit ears. Just basic cable, of course, but that was better than nothing.

As long as I was there, he was never caught, and the kids in that dorm had free access.

An interesting concept, if a bit anarchistic.
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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:12 AM
Response to Reply #2
5. I think the one article on "media box" is something like this - I wish I knew more about it.
Thanks - :hi:
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MineralMan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 12:00 PM
Response to Reply #5
21. Something like that is going on now with broadband wireless
for the Internet.

It's not at all difficult to pick up a commercial wireless router capable of broadcasting broadband to an entire neighborhood. They're commercially available, and get used in places like apartment buildings and hotels. A little spendy, but...

Connect one of those to an incoming cable system...pay one fee, and the whole neighborhood is online. An enterprising person might just be able to set that up and sorta work out a deal with the neighbors to give him a small sum of money each month...say $10 or so, and make a little profit.

Gosh, I think I've actually encountered such systems out there, so I guess it's not a new idea, huh?

Broadband access wants to be free. These days it pretty much can be.

Oh, look, there's a real estate agent parked in front of my house using a laptop. Let me just go look at my wireless router. Yup...sure enough, there are three lights on, instead of the usual two. Pity.
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Broadslidin Donating Member (949 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:10 AM
Response to Original message
3. Cutting-off your t.v. cable connection will definitely delay the use of an Alzheimer's 'Drool Cup'.
:nuke: :boring: :nuke:
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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:14 AM
Response to Reply #3
6. I don't watch hardly anthing other then News channels - I hate the series stuff!
I do think that it is good to keep up with the news as some people I have conversations with are so dense to the real world it is disturbing.
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Broadslidin Donating Member (949 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:39 AM
Response to Reply #6
18. Simply dial the toll free 800 number seen on your screen and the nice lookin' tv Flim-Flammer will..
slip it to ya... :P
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Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:11 AM
Response to Original message
4. Bookmarked for future disaster
although I do find I'm far less a vidiot now than when I first got satellite 2 1/2 years ago. The shine is off and programs are repeating endlessly, especially on BBCA. Most of the time, it's playing movies and the occasional series I get on DVD because I am too cheap to buy a premium package. The DVDs are cheaper.

I imagine in another 2 years, I'll cancel the service completely.
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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:16 AM
Response to Reply #4
8. I agree - I used to watch History Channel, BBC and others but now they are mostly reruns!
:hide:
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supernova Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:14 AM
Response to Original message
7. Thank you for this
I may need it shortly.

I was thinking of canceling my directv service.

I mostly watch movies, which I either go out or buy the DVD, So, I might just let them go and get a converter box in a couple of months. I already have one flat panel TV, and that may have to do me.
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Kalyke Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:24 AM
Response to Original message
10. Here's one we watch:
http://projectfree.tv/

It's got movies, too.
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Ichingcarpenter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:30 AM
Response to Reply #10
14. That one is great just added it to my tabs- thanks

I'm saving $70 a month by getting my stuff on-line.

I even saw the super bowl on-line
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MattSh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 01:42 PM
Response to Reply #14
25. How did you do that one?
If you don't mind me asking.

The Super Bowl.
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Ichingcarpenter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 02:32 PM
Response to Reply #25
26. BlinkoTV had it running that day

Sometimes they change their programs.
The day after they showed the Comcast live concert series.
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MattSh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-06-09 02:09 PM
Response to Reply #26
37. Super
I'll file that for next year.
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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:32 AM
Response to Reply #10
15. Great! Thanks!
:fistbump:
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Lucinda Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:29 AM
Response to Original message
12. Food Network - Full episodes available
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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:55 AM
Response to Reply #12
20. Neat link! Thanks!
:fistbump:
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lpbk2713 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:29 AM
Response to Original message
13. K & R #5


Bookmarked. Thanks.


:thumbsup: :hi: :thumbsup:

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L0oniX Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:33 AM
Response to Original message
16. Sorry ...I can't respond because my cable is out.
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IDemo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:36 AM
Response to Original message
17. We're dumping DirecTV after this month
Other than Rachel, Keith, Jon Stewart, and the occasional NatGeo show, I simply don't watch it.
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elocs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 11:44 AM
Response to Original message
19. Thanks, good info. I've used some and will check out the others.
My problem is that I only have basic broadband and some video does not play well. For networks, CBS is great while ABC constantly breaks up and is all but unwatchable.
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Ichingcarpenter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 12:06 PM
Response to Reply #19
22. What is your broadband speed?

A couple of things could effect your viewing besides speed.


http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/
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eShirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 12:28 PM
Response to Original message
23. Nice! I'll have to update my links to streaming TV (in my sig)
Edited on Thu Feb-05-09 12:33 PM by eShirl
soon; my hobby is procrastination

this one has Comedy Central, SciFi Channel, Nickelodeon, CW, and an anime channel called Animax http://www.tvunetworks.com/

this one is people streaming movies and entire seasons of TV shows http://www.justin.tv/directory/entertainment?kind=live&order=hot&lang=en (each channel also has a text chat room so you can talk with other who are watching, as well as whoever is running the channel)

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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 12:58 PM
Response to Reply #23
24. Thanks! I see a lot of these sites are offering free webcast service - interesting.
Also I saw that "sling" was offering something called an "invitation" on one of the sites I listed - Could you expand on that any? Is that so you can be in on the beta content comments?:headbang:
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eShirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 04:28 PM
Response to Reply #24
27. I have no idea.
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Ichingcarpenter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 04:43 PM
Response to Reply #27
29. I gave you a link to check your speed

that's why I posted the speakeasy site. Your isp provider should
at least be in the range that in your contract. We had a faulty
link transducer that they had to replace at our units.
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barbtries Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 04:37 PM
Response to Original message
28. i didn't lose my cable,
my cable lost me. so happy without it. i watch all kinds of tv on the tube now. fancast is great.
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merh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 04:47 PM
Response to Original message
30. If you have a favorite series just check the network's website for
the online reshowing of the program. I missed a good many of the LOST episodes when aired and was able to catch up online.

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backscatter712 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 04:48 PM
Response to Original message
31. Losing cable is such a strong word.
You're assuming I wanted to keep it.

Good riddance, Comcast!
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ColbertWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 04:48 PM
Response to Original message
32. Kick and rec and bookmarked! Great links, thank you! n/t
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1776Forever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Feb-05-09 08:11 PM
Response to Reply #32
33. You are always welcome!
:fistbump:
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eShirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-06-09 07:08 AM
Response to Original message
34. kick for early morning crowd
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Patiod Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-06-09 11:12 AM
Response to Original message
35. Thanks so much. We've never had cable, and don't want it
We time our visits to the gym to pick up Keith and/or Rachel a few times a week.

I watch Jon Stewart on my computer at work during lunch (sometimes Colbert if it's a slow day)

If we hear great things about a specific series, we have a home-bound friend who will DVR it for us, or I'll pay for it on iTunes (Mad Men) so I can watch it on my iPod on the airplane (especially now that they don't show movies anymore). Will probably spring for a small DVD player - I read a lot, but those cross-country trips can get tedious.

We went onto ebay, and bought a few season of "Rockford Files", and when there's nothing on broadcast network TV (yes, we have a digital converter ready to go), we'll pop on an episode of "Rockford", which has really held up (we already went through "Columbo" and "Bones") But there's usually enough on the networks to provide an hour or two of entertainment every night, which is all we really need.

We also watch a lot of cable on vacations or weekend get-aways, and we're shocked how many re-runs we see, and WE only get access 3-4 times a year - can't imagine how many re-runs regular subscribers are subjected to!
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BuelahWitch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-06-09 11:57 AM
Response to Original message
36. Kicking and bookmarking!
Dropped my cable a year ago and don't regret it a day. I just wish Turner Classic Movies would put some of their stuff online...
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earth mom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-06-09 02:57 PM
Response to Original message
38. Thanks for posting this!
Here's a couple more with some episodes/programming:

Looks like the current line up, but no past shows that I could find.
http://www.hgtv.com/full-episodes/package/index.html

Lots of clips and trailers. You have to really search for a full length movie. I'm hoping this changes one of these days.
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index/

:hi:






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eShirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-06-09 07:35 PM
Response to Original message
39. live audio-only of msnbc
there's a guy who streams a live audio feed of msnbc here: http://stevekraft.com/radio/
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Starry Messenger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Feb-06-09 07:40 PM
Response to Original message
40. Ooh, we are losing cable next month.
Thank you for this! I'm sorry I didn't see it in time to rec. My mom will appreciate this, too. I recently showed her cspan.org and she is a total addict, now. Cool stuff.
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