Hans Braxmiere •Pixabay The TV antenna might be a relic of history but the premise of free TV programming is making a comeback.
Before satellites and cable boxes, people received TV broadcasts via an antenna. The antenna grabbed an “over the air” signal sent out from a TV station and turned it into video for free. There was no monthly bill or subscription. Networks made their profit through commercials.
As is often the case, what was old is new again. While the paid streaming platforms get the most attention, there are free options out there that allow viewers to remain informed and entertained.
One of the most downloaded free streaming apps is Pluto TV. The service offers live channels for news, weather and sports along with entertainment channels.
You won’t be able to watch your favorite show from the major networks live, but the platform offers several alternatives. When Viacom bought Pluto TV in 2019 for $340 million, it brought thousands of hours of viewing pleasure.
The interface is easy to use and looks a lot like a channel guide you are probably familiar with through a satellite TV provider. Viewers can select a channel through the guide or channel surf. As for programming, Pluto TV offers content from Comedy Central, TV Land, CBS, FS1, History and more. The mix of live programing and on demand shows and movies make Pluto TV a must-have in the streaming world.
A fairly new streaming service that is growing rapidly is Locast. Locast takes the idea of an “over the air” antenna and applies it to the internet. The service has a limited amount of coverage areas but with the recent addition of Atlanta to their cities, Locast is available to Clay County residents.
The service uses a viewer’s IP address to verify they are in an approved viewing area. Once confirmed, viewers will have access to channels they would be able to get using an antenna, which for our area is a total of 36 channels. These channels include the major networks along with PBS, Peachtree TV, the CW and other entertainment channels. Locast offers two versions of its service. The free version allows you to watch any channel but your viewing will be interrupted by ads for Locast. However, a monthly donation of $5 will eliminate the ads and the interruptions.
For Roku users, the company’s own channel is a great option for free TV. Much like Pluto TV, the Roku Channel offers a mixture of live programming and re-airings of familiar shows. As with Pluto TV, viewers can watch live news, weather and sports or select a show or movie from the “on demand” section of the app.
While the options above might cause some to make sacrifices in their viewing habits, many will find that these free options are more than sufficient for their TV needs. Another plus to these three platforms is they are all available online so even if you don’t have a streaming device on your TV, you can give these options a test drive before you commit to cutting the cord.