Can You Watch TV on a Computer?
You can use your computer to watch TV in many different ways. For example, there are hardware solutions for streaming your standard cable TV service to your computer. If you do not want to purchase additional hardware, you can also streaming TV shows from free services like Hulu, YouTube and Crackle. These services have limited selections, but you can also pay for a service like Hulu Plus or Netflix to access more TV shows on your computer.
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TV Tuners
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The most standard way to watch TV on the computer would be to install a TV tuner device. These devices allow you to connect your cable television coaxial ouput directly in to your computer and watch television from a program that comes with the card. Currently, there are several options for TV tuner devices, from PCI cards that install directly into a computer's motherboard to external USB or FireWire devices.
Slingbox Network Attached TV Tuners
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The most convenient method for watching cable TV service on a television is a Slingbox. Essentially, the device is similar to a TV tuner except that it connects to your cable TV box instead of a computer. The Slingbox device can then be configured stream your TV as digital video across a local network or broadband Internet connection. These devices can allow you to watch TV from any computer on a broadband connection as long as it has the Slingbox Player software installed.
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Free Streaming TV
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There are several options for free streaming TV on your computer. These services will force you to watch advertisements, but there is usually only one short clip for each commercial break. All you will need is an Internet connection, a browser and any applicable plug-ins. Typically, these sites only need Adobe's Flash Player installed to watch TV shows. Many of these services, like YouTube Shows and Crackle, only offer older TV shows for streaming. However, Hulu offers new episodes of modern shows, usually right after they air on TV. You can also access streaming TV episodes on the official sites of many TV networks, including NBC, CBS and FOX.
Paid Streaming/Download TV Services
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If you do not like the restrictions of the free streaming TV sites available, you can also use a video-on-demand service to watch TV shows. Both Netflix and Hulu Plus offer a wide range of titles for a paid monthly membership. If you want to download episodes of a TV show to watch on your computer, you can try a paid download service like Apple's iTunes or Amazon Instant Video. Both offer thousands of TV shows for a low price; you can even buy full seasons of a TV show and save money.
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References
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