+ Easy Ways To Get Free Cable TV Legally
As most of us already know, cable TV has a lot of great channel choices.
And if youre a fan of watching House Hunters on HGTV or the Walking Dead on AMC, unfortunately, youre going to need a cable subscription to watch these premium cable TV channels.
While the Internet has changed the way we have watched TV and offers online options instead of the bulky cable TV box, I wanted to research ways to potentially watch cable TV for free, all while being LEGAL.
Yes, there are illegal ways to watch cable TV, but thats not what this website is all about. We need to follow the law to keep this website running in the United States!
In my research, I found some cool strategies and resources you could use if you wanted to either watch live TV or a specific show for free and wanted to share them below.
And while I tried to list free options only, some may cost a few dollars, but I will let you know in the subheading before you read about the resource. And some may only include the big networks, so bear with me.
Regardless, using these free sources should fill your watching library for the next few months.
Its time to ditch the cable bill and start paying next to nothing!
Enjoy Through Network Websites
All the big channels have their respective websites. These websites have telecast their hows on their sites. FOX, ABC, NBC, all of them allow you to watch their show on the same day.
Sad thing, you cannot watch it live, but you can watch it later. Why wouldnt anyone like it, even when they are watching it then, you can save lots of money? Another simple way of getting free cable tv.
Who Has The Cheapest Cable Service
What is the best and cheapest cable service? The best and cheapest cable services are Spectrum TV and Xfinity TV. Theyre the best because theyre reliable companies, widely available, and offer a great number of channels for a fair price. Spectrums TV Select package gives you 125+ channels for $45 per month.
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What To Do About Internet Service
Cable companies like to bundle internet with cable by promising youll save money. That is often a lie.
They know you need internet service, so they use it to keep you in a cable contract.
Doing the math is important, but it is possible to break the bundle and save money. If you want to get free cable TV legally, it can be done even if you cut the cord.
Read our guide on how to get internet without cable here so you can ditch your contract.
Make sure to ask your provider the level of they provide. Each streaming service has different recommendations and it needs to be fast enough to mitigate buffering and freezing of shows.
Get Affordable Cable TV
Buying an HDTV antenna and using one of the streaming platforms like Roku and Amazon Prime Video can be all you need to replace your current cable TV subscription. Sometimes, these recommendations still arent enough and you need to subscribe to a streaming service to watch premium movies or live sports.
Cable and satellite TV providers still maintain a competitive edge on these products, but that doesnt mean you still need to pay $100 a month to watch your favorite team take the field.
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Stream Cable TV On Your Internet
Websites like TV.com offer every TV program listing and TV news available in your area. This website will also offer where to watch or stream the program or show you are looking for.
By hooking up your computer to your TV using an HDMI video cable, you will be able to load up any show you want and connect it to your TV. This is an easy solution to watch a premium channel for free, thanks to the internet. Most channels like HBO, ABC, FOX, Epix, and hundreds of others offer their programs on their website to stream. Often, they are free to watch, and others require a subscription-free.
Free Cable TV Online Final Thoughts
Its simple: You really dont need cable to get good content anymore. Whether you decide to try out the free options I mentioned at the beginning or want to go for the paid streaming services, you can easily get all the free Cable TV you need legally and with no hassle. What are your thoughts on streaming sites? Do you use any of the sites mentioned above? Let us know in the comments!
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Dvr Live TV With Tablo
One drawback to cutting the cord is you lose access to DVR capability, unless you use a Tablo OTA DVR. You can record programming in HD on up to six devices that can be played on demand. Now you can record that ball game or TV episode that you couldnt sit and watch in entirety.
These standalone DVR devices didnt exist a few years ago and since we dont have VCRs to record your favorite shows anymore, there was a recording gap for a few years and held many people from canceling their cable subscription. Now, that problem is solved as Tablo connects to any smart device connected to your home WiFi or ethernet.
Negotiate Your Cable Bill
Negotiating your cable bill wont result in getting free television but its still worth a shot, especially if you use a service like Trim.
Trimis a free app that can sift through your spending habits, find subscriptions you should probably cancel, and can even negotiate your cable bill. If you hate making that annual phone call to your cable company to negotiate your bill, definitely give Trim a shot.
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Are There Free Cable Channels
Getting cable TV for free is a nice thought, but you will likely have to pay for some part of the setup. First of all, if you have an HD TV with an antenna and tuner, you can get over-the-air local HD channels for free. If you want access to the major networks, this is a good way to get TV without paying for it.
Free Trials On Paid Streaming Services
Paid streaming services arguably began the worldwide cord-cutting movement. They offer programming at a much lower cost than even some standard cable packages. And with time, streaming has only become stronger. Modern streaming services offer a depth and breadth of selection that is unrivaled by any cable or satellite provider.
The good thing about all these services is that they offer a free trial, so you can always take a platform for a spin before committing to it.
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Start To Watch All Your Favorite Channels For Free
Let me show you how easy it is to set up. All you need to do is to follow these 3 steps:
Step 1 Order SmartView Antenna today with 50% OFF sale.
Step 2 When you receive it, open the package and connect it to any TV you like with cables included and press the power button.
Step 3 Watch HDTV for free SmartView Antenna will automatically scan the channels for you and enjoy!
Update: Ever since SmartView was featured on TV, an incredible amount of buzz has been generated and has since sold over 1 million units. Due to its popularity and positive reviews, the company is so confident in their product that they are now offering a one-time first time buyer 50% discount.
This is a sponsored article. The article should not be considered as advice.
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The cable cord.
Im one of a countless number of people who have made the decision to ditch the cable company.
Theres just no way to justify paying $90 a month when I dont have to.
Luckily, I really dont have to.
There are so many ways to get free cable TV legally that its almost silly for people to continue paying for it.
Ive compiled a great list of the tips and tools youll need to cut those cable cords and learn how to get free cable TV legally.
Whether you choose to pick up some hardware or go the streaming route, one of our options for free TV channels is sure put a smile on your face and your favorite shows on your screen.
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Free Video Streaming Platforms
If youre looking for a free cable TV, the Internet is the better alternative. You get a wide range of various genre videos. The amazing fact is that its cost-free.
You will require a stable internet connection, your preferred platform, and a platform-running device. Most of them are free, but for a premium edition, you need to pay a small sum of money.
Generally, you need to pay for the internet only. But you can still find a lot of places to get a free internet connection at home on the internet.
:
Today, YouTube has become so popular. By watching shows, you can even make a living by being a creator. It is mainly free, but there is also a marginal premium edition. You will select any movie or show that you like.
People keep uploading the latest videos every day. You can stream live television, web series, movies, short films, cartoons, and more.
This is a video streaming site that is only open to Amazon Prime owners. But if you dont want membership, you can always get access to Prime Videos for less than $10 a month.
If youre not interested in paying even a cent, then, happily, Prime Video provides online access to thousands of free movies and TV shows.
Netflix:
Netflix is similar to Amazon Prime Videos, except its more popular than that. Its got more than 75 million users. It provides the best quality and variety of programs.
Go To Network Websites
Most of the major networks and several cable channels make shows available online 24 hours after a show airs. You typically need to visit the homepage of the selected network to see if they let you watch shows online.
We do this regularly with CBS and NBC shows. Even if the website does not air current content, they may offer content from previous seasons.
Those networks include:
If you like NBC content, you can watch a lot of it for free on their app. Read our review of the Peacock TV app to learn more.
You may not be able to get all the content you want, but you can get more than youd expect.
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Simple Ways To Get Cable TV For Free
Miranda Marquit | September 03, 2021
Cable and satellite TV can get expensive. I know. We are still using satellite TV, and paying $92 a month for it.
And we dont even have a premium package. At some point, though, I hope to convince my husband that he doesnt need the TV for the sports, and that we can find other ways to keep up with his favorite teams.
Im even preparing for the day that we can ditch the paid TV and just go straight streaming online.
Options For Streaming Without Paying Extra
Assuming you already pay for broadband Internet, you could ditch the cable TV and watch without incurring any extra cost . There are plenty of places to get free TV content. Many of the major and cable networks stream full episodes of shows.
You do have to plan ahead if you go this route, though. In many cases, the full episodes are available only after a day or two, and even then are available for a limited time. You have a viewing window, and you have to plan to watch in that time period.
Its also possible to get the free version of Hulu, as well as watch Joost.com, FreeTVOnline.com, and Sidereel.com to access clips and full episodes of some shows.
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Free Cable TV Through Mobile Apps
This might sound unbelievable however you will get free TV and watch primary in addition to premium channels utilizing your cell phone. no, I dont suggest you watch free TV in your smartphone.
Instead, you possibly can obtain free primary and premium channels by merely connecting your smartphone to TV.
For this, youll require an On-The-Go USB adapter and High Definition Multimedia Interface cable. The course of is slightly easy. Simply observe instructions offered by the producer of your smartphone, purchase the required and youre all set to lower the twine.
Free TV channels you will get on smartphone contains ABC Live TV, HBO Now, History Channel, Cartoon Channel and a number of different. Download apps of those channels in your smartphone to watch your favourite reveals.
How To Get Basic Cable For Free
Bring back the antenna!
The HDTV antenna, that is.
While this option costs a little cash up front, the money you save from cutting the cord will more than make up for it.
Over the past decade there has been a steady rise in the number of homes using an antenna to watch television.
And thats for good reason!
Consumers who use an HDTV antenna will have access to dozens of free TV channels, known as Over The Air channels, that many people dont know exist.
According to a recent test performed by Consumer Reports, there is little to no correlation between the price of the antenna and its performance.
The biggest factors in antenna performance appear to be location and weather.
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Determine Which Free Cable TV Method Is Best For Your Household
If eliminating or reducing your cable bill is a priority, but you dont want to give up TV completely, there are alternatives for watching your favorite shows and movies. Which one you choose depends on factors including your location, budget, and personal preferences.
TV is something that should provide entertainment and relaxation, not monthly stress over an expensive bill.
What If You Get No Cable TV
Not everyone will be able to get free cable television direct from the wall jack. In that case, you should look into HD TV antennas.
The great thing about technology is that we do have so many options available to us besides traditional cable television subscriptions.
One of the things that I hear people doing is using an HD tv antenna.
Sure, it sounds old-school, but there is a big benefit to it:
All over-the-air television signals are uncompressed and therefore are true high-definition signals.
That means even if you cant get free cable television the way I am able to, you may be able to at least get the next best option.
There are a few caveats, however:
- The further you are from a tower, the weaker the signal will be and the fewer channels you will receive
- The makeup of your home will also impede the signal
- Line-of-sight to a tower is important in terms of trees, mountains, hills, other buildings and structures
- Naturally, the weather will also play a part
The FCC even has a DTV Coverage Map showing you which DTV signals you should be able to access and how strong of a signal you should get.
Its not exact, but can be used as a reasonable guide.
But, if you get lucky and buy an HD tv antenna like one of the ones below, you may be able to keep your entertainment budget lower than if you paid for cable television.
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Live In An Apartment Complex Check With Them
If you live in an apartment complex, some people report that they were able to receive basic cable simply by plugging in a coax cable into the wall.
When I lived in an apartment years ago, I tried this by mistake, and to my surprise, I was able to get about 25-30+ channels as part of my rent and I had no idea it was even possible.
Now, even if you find this tip works, there are two downfalls.
For one, the channels will more than likely not be in HD, meaning youre going to have to watch TV like it was in the 90s. And secondly, since you wont have a cable TV account, you will, unfortunately, be unable to use any of the network apps online if they require you to login into your cable provider.
How To Get Cable TV Channels Without Cable/satellite
Using an antenna is great for getting your local stations plus the major networks and PBS. But what if you need certain cable TV channels like AMC, ESPN, or HGTV?
Happily, there are now more than a few companies offering live cable-TV-like streaming services over the Internet. Cost is a lot less than cable or satellite, and you can watch the shows on your computer, tablet, or phone, or on your TV using a streaming device.
One of my recommended streaming services is Sling TV , which has plans starting at $30 per month. You can get all of the channels below for $45 per month:
So, by using an antenna to get the networks and local channels for free, combined with a low-cost streaming service like Sling TV , you have an impressive package of channels for a fraction of the cost of cable! And there is no contract, and no dealing with the cable company!
If you cant get the networks using an antenna, dont fret, there are services that offer live TV channels for you. For more information on all of the options, check out my page on streaming services.
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