The Roku is a streaming player that features a number of “channels,” with content streaming directly to your television, including a necessity for cable-cutters, Netflix. I now live in a two-Roku household, so that may tell you right off the bat what I think of this device.

I owned one of the original Roku HD devices, and now I’ve added a Roku 2 XD, which sells for around $75, depending on where you buy it. The Roku website claims it’s the “best for Netflix.” So does the device back up that claim?

Roku Connections

The old Rokus used to have a more options for connections to your television: RCA cables, component or HDMI.

The new, slimmed down design of the Roku 2 XD only provides only two options: HDMI or composite RCA via a mini-jack.  This shouldn’t be a problem, though, as all new HDTVs feature several HDMI inputs. However, this is something to be aware of if you’ve maxed out your HDMI cables on the back of your television.

The Roku Experience

The Roku 2 XD packs a lot of performance into a tiny package.

Did I mention the Roku 2 XD was slimmed down? It’s about half the size of my original box. In fact, it’s only 3.3 inches wide by 3.3 inches long. I was blown away by how  small this was when I opened the box.

Setup is pretty easy–you just identify your wireless network, put in the password, and you’re connected to the Internet. You can then browse the Channel Store and add channels to your device.

Of course, the most important test for the device is performance on Netflix. Once you’ve registered the Roku as a Netflix device, your free to stream. Performance is excellent. A small difference I  noticed with the Roku 2 XD is that it starts streaming your Netflix programming faster. It will default to low picture quality but within a few seconds it will kick up to HD quality. This is different from the old Rokus, which would first try to buffer an HD stream before starting the program.

The Roku's Netflix interface looks similar to the Netflix website.

The Netflix interface is quite elegant, and mimcs Netflix’s website. I really like this approach compared to the XBox 360. While the XBox interface is snazzy, it annoys me that it just starts streaming the next episode from where you last left off. Sometimes, I want to pick a different episode before I stop watching, and with the Roku interface, you can do that.

Other Roku Channels

Netflix isn’t the only channel the Roku offers. In fact, in my opinion, the Roku has the best selection of channels outside of your computer.

Some of the highlights include:

• Hulu Plus
• Crackle
• Amazon Instant Video
• Roku Newscaster
• Fox News
• MLB.TV
• NBA Courtside
• UFC
• NHL Gamecenter
• Facebook
• Pandora

There are also private channels created by third-party developers with a wealth of content culled from across the Internet. You can even play games like Angry Birds.

The company is continually adding channels, and while not all of them are “winners,” there’s a wealth of content available that will appeal to a wide variety of folks.

The Bottom Line

The Roku is easy to use and elegantly designed. If I were going to recommend any streaming device to someone ditching cable,this is it.

The Roku really does have the market cornered when it comes to streaming devices. As big names continue to bring channels to the Roku platform, it’s popularity will grow.

While there are cheaper versions, I highly recommend the Roku 2 XD, because it comes with the capability for 1080p video. This is important if you’re wanting to stream movies in 1080p from a service like Amazon Instant Video. In addition, as streaming becomes more prevalent, there will be more options for 1080p streams, and you’ll be ahead of the curve.

Overall Score: A+

Alex J.

Perhaps my biggest conundrum in ditching cable has been my obsession with sports. A limited number of sporting events are available over-the-air, and sometimes you just can’t see your favorite teams play via your trusty antenna. In fact, both times I “fell off the wagon” and ran back to cable, it was because of sports. Finding ways to watch sports live online can be a challenging task, and you probably won’t be able to *legally* find every game your looking for. But there are ways to watch sports live on the Internet, and I’m detailing many of those in this post.

The Best Way to Watch Sports Live: ESPN3

ESPN3 is probably the most diverse streaming site out there to watch sports live. It carries a variety of sporting events, many of which are streams from live games airing on the ESPN family of networks. Sports streamed on ESPN 3 include college football, college basketball, NBA basketball, Major League Baseball and soccer from Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal and sometimes England.

If you’re a college football or basketball fan, ESPN3 is going to be your savior. You won’t be able to catch every game–for example, you’ll miss out on games airing on Fox Sports regional networks.

Of course, not everyone has access to ESPN3. Your ISP has to pay fees to ESPN to carry it. A list of participating providers is available on ESPN3′s website.

Also, ESPN3 is available on XBox 360, as long as your ISP carries it. I actually prefer to watch it on the computer. The ESPN3 streams on XBox can sometimes be choppy, and always seem to be about a minute behind the actual game.

In the past year, ESPN3′s website has been complicated by the introduction of “Watch ESPN.” Watch ESPN allows cable subscribers to watch ESPN networks live on their computer, iPhone or iPad. Remember, if your ISP pays for ESPN3, you can only watch streams that are labelled ESPN3 on the “Watch ESPN” website. The other broadcasts are only available to cable or satellite subscribers. So don’t get frustrated if a game is available on Watch ESPN and not ESPN3. It comes with the cable cutting territory.

Sports Leagues Offer Live Video–For a Price

David Freese wins games six of the World Series for the Cardinals, as seen on the MLB iPad app's condensed game feature.

If there’s a specific sport you’re interested in, odds are you can watch it online, if you’re willing to pay.

The pioneer in streaming online game video over the years has been Major League Baseball. Every year, their MLB.TV service gets more sophisticated (and more pricey). With MLB.TV, you can stream most live, out-of-market baseball games in HD to your computer or a variety of connected devices, including the iPad, iPhone, Roku, XBox 360 and PS3. MLB.TV’s website provides a list of available devices.

I’ve had both good and bad experiences with MLB.TV, but it sure beats paying for the MLB Extra Innings package on cable or satellite. In years past, you’ve been able to pay month-to-month, and that will probably be the case in 2012. Right now, the MLB.TV website only lists its two yearly packages, but this should change once the season draws closer. Still, the yearly price for 2012–$124.99 for “MLB.TV Premium”–is a money-saver when compared to MLB Extra Innings on DirecTV, which costs $215.94.

The really cool thing about the MLB.TV premium subscription is the aforementioned ability to watch on other devices, including the iPad and XBox 360. The iPad/iPhone apps are great. In addition to live video, they feature game audio, highlights, and team news. I really enjoy the “condensed games” feature (which is also available on the computer). If you miss a game, you can simply watch a condensed version in about ten minutes.

One thing to remember about MLB.TV–you can only watch OUT-OF-MARKET games. If you’re wanting to stream your hometown team, you’re out of luck. Due to the MLB’s TV contracts, it’s not possible.

Other sports leagues have followed MLB’s lead. The NBA now offers “League Pass for Broadband,” with some interesting payment options. If you’re only interested in watching four or less teams, you can pay $109 for the whole year. If you want to watch all the games, you’ll have to shell out $169, which seems a bit pricey compared to MLB, especially considering you get half the games. The NBA service offers 720p, HD video.

If you’re cheap, and are willing to watch NBA games on your iPhone or Android phone, you only have to pay $39.99 for the whole season. But seriously, why would you want to watch live games on a tiny screen? I guess if you plug it in to your TV it might not be so bad.

If you’re into hockey, you can also watch NHL games live via NHL Gamecenter. It’s reasonably priced at $79 for the entire season, and you can watch on other devices, including the iPad, iPhone, Android phone, Roku, and PS3.

Remember, just like Major League Baseball, the NBA and NHL streaming services have blackout restrictions, meaning you can’t watch your local team via those services.

But wait, you’re saying. What about the NFL?

Unfortunately, if you’re interested in watching all the NFL games online, you’re out of luck. DirecTV holds the rights to most NFL games through it’s pricey Sunday Ticket service. While that service is available online, you have to have DirecTV, which means people ditching cable are out of luck. That is, unless there’s a loophole. According to The Consumerist, if your “landlord won’t allow a DirecTV dish” on your home or at your apartment, you can get the streaming service by calling DirecTV and informing them of this. Still, Sunday Ticket is $300, a price I would be unwilling to pay.

Oh, and if you’re interested in watching replays of every NFL game on demand, NFL does provide “Game Rewind” for $15 a month. Personally, I’ll stick with the games I get over-the-air.

MMA and Pro Wrestling

Some UFC fans are probably ticked that I’m categorizing their sport together with pro wrestling, but they should just deal with it.

UFC PPV events are available live online, usually priced around $45. This includes HD video. You can also buy them on XBox 360.

WWE also streams its pay-per-views online for around $45 (Wrestlemania costs more). However, it doesn’t claim to stream HD video–only “very good quality for web video.” I ordered Wrestlemania this way a few years ago and was satisfied, but I wouldn’t do it again, simply because an HD stream is not available.

Other Ways to Watch Sports Live: A Warning

There are plenty of websites that allow users to watch sports live online, providing streams to a bevy of sporting events around the world. However, these are illegal and worst of all, they are filled with spyware and viruses.

It’s pretty easy to find these sites, but I wouldn’t recommend using them, simply because it’s not worth getting your computer infected and having to reformat.

If you can’t find a sporting event legally online, your best bet is to find a local bar that’s airing it. These days, that’s usually not to difficult, especially if you live in a major metro area. So instead of watching sports illegally, get out of the house, have a few drinks and enjoy the game with friends. Aside from the options above, enjoying a game at a local bar may truly be the best way to watch sports live.

If you have any other suggestions to watch sports live online, let me know.

Alex J.

The TiVo Premiere--TiVo's $99 base model.

If you’re ditching cable but you still use an antenna to watch over-the-air (OTA) television, odds are you might want a DVR to record shows. You’ve got several choices: build or a purchase a pricey home theater PC, buy an expensive stand-alone DVR, or go for the TiVo Premiere and pay a monthly service fee.

At $99 plus roughly $20/month, TiVo’s base model is an affordable for those looking for DVR functionality for their over-the-air recording needs. I’ve been using one for about two months now.

Shelling out a monthly fee for TiVo service does have its benefits. The Premiere can hold up to 45 hours of HD content, which should be more than enough for those looking to record shows off broadcast cable. In addition, the TiVo Premiere can mostly eliminate the need to pay for a monthly service like Hulu Plus to watch HD versions of broadcast television shows. It also allows people annoyed by commercials to skip them, which can be beneficial for people who get annoyed by the ever-increasing number of commercial breaks on broadcast network websites.

The TiVo Premiere User Experience

TiVo’s recent interface update has certainly improved the machine’s main menus, including “TiVo Central,” the box’s hub for content.

TiVo Central is the machine's center for all content, including recorded shows and apps.

One press of the “TiVo” button on the remote, and you’re transported there, where you can access your recorded shows and other apps, including Netflix, Hulu Plus and YouTube.

For those who are new to TiVo, it’s important to understand how the box works. You can record a show once, or select a show’s “season pass,” which will record all of that show’s episodes. One of TiVo’s heralded features is it’s suggested recordings. On the TiVo remote, you can rate shows using the the “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” buttons. Based on your ratings, the box will record shows that you might like. The suggestions never take precedence over shows you’ve scheduled to record.

With an antenna, the TiVo Premiere acts like a cable box, giving you an on-screen guide. You tune channels using the TiVo remote, not your TV remote. This may be beneficial to OTA users who want more programming information.

I’ve been using the box for a few months, and the most important features of TiVo work well. Recording is a breeze,  as is playback of recorded shows. As long as you record your video on the highest quality, the picture looks sterling. Changing channels can sometimes be a bit choppy, but that’s the only basic complaint I have.

More than a DVR

The new TiVos, like most internet-connected devices, now feature apps (though they aren’t called that). Users can access the typical services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube and Pandora, among others.

This is a nice feature, but it’s not make or break. If you don’t have a streaming box and you’re looking to add Netflix capabilities for your TV, the TiVo Premiere can do it. Just don’t expect an elegant interface, especially when compared to XBox 360 or Roku. In testing Netflix on the TiVo, I did get a stable, HD stream at most times, though I did have an odd problem a few times where the video either played at a high rate of speed or was completely black.

TiVo's Netflix interface leaves something to be desired.

I’ve also tested the  YouTube app, but I wasn’t impressed. However, I will say I haven’t really seen a good YouTube interface on any streaming device other than the IPad.

Perhaps new updates to these apps will provide better user experiences for TiVo owners, but right now, they’re nothing to get excited about.

TiVo Premiere iPad App

If you’re an iPad owner, you can actually control your TiVo Premiere directly from that device. TiVo’s iPad app features a virtual remote control and programming guide.

The guide also tells you if a movie or show is available on Netflix, Amazon Instant Video or Blockbuster online. If it is, you can direct your TiVo to download or stream that program.

The iPad app isn’t necessary, but it’s a nice touch, especially if you prefer touchscreen control to a regular remote.

The Bottom Line

The TiVo Premiere is a solid investment for cable cutters. If you’re willing to spend $19.99/month for service, you can’t beat the $99 price for the box.

I can see where some people would be hesitant to purchase a TiVo for recording OTA programming, especially since you can watch most broadcast shows on the internet for free. However, for me, being able to watch the shows at any time on my television, along with the ability to skip commercials, makes the service worthwhile.

Though TiVo’s core functions–recording and watching–work well, the one downside to the box are the user interfaces on the apps like Netflix. TiVo has some work to do there if they want to compete with other streaming devices. But then again, maybe it doesn’t matter, because the main point of the TiVo Premiere is to record and watch shows, and it does that flawlessly.

Overall Score: A-

Alex J.

Free HD signals are easy to receive–and they are glorious.

As someone who’s recently used a variety of cable and satellite TV providers, one of my main complaints was the picture quality. Many of the HD channels have that “compressed” look to them. In fact, the only provider I’ve used that didn’t have compressed video quality for HD channels was Verizon FIOS, and that’s because the operate their service on a brand-new, fiber optic network that’s not available in many locations.

A lot of people may assume that cable or satellite providers are giving them the best possible picture quality, but you know what assumptions make. Many people may be surprised to find out that the best picture quality is available for free, using what’s called over-the-air (OTA), or sometimes free-to-air (FTA), HDTV.

But it’s not just picture quality–there are several benefits of OTA HD. To summarize:

• It’s free HD–your only costs are the antenna ($100-$400)
• You’ll receive an uncompressed, high-quality picture
• You’ll get programming from networks such as CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and TheCW
• You’ll also get digital sub-channels, which provide more content than old-school OTA TV
• Most new TVs display some programming info
• You’re sticking it to the cable and satellite companies

This post will expand on these benefits and more. Read on to find out how you can enjoy OTA HD at home.

Antenna Installation

As said, all you need to receive these glorious free HD signals is a good digital antenna. You may be thinking, “isn’t this like back in the day when I used to use an antenna and the signals would fade in and out?” The short answer is, “absolutely not.” With the transition to digital television a few years back, over-the-air signals now perform much better. Heck, the free HD signals don’t even drop out during severe weather, as opposed to satellite. So if you live in tornado alley like me, with an OTA set up, you can watch weather coverage during the worst of storms. Try doing that with your satellite dish.

The Winegard GS220 antenna is designed to pull DTV signals from up to 40 miles away.

By now, hopefully you’re asking, “how do I get free HD signals?” It’s pretty simple–you just need the right antenna. But remember, I’m not talking about a pair of rabbit ears from Radio Shack that sit on the top of your TV. While those might work for someone who lives extremely close to all of your local broadcast affiliates television transmission towers, it may not work for most. For example, I live in a the northern part of a large metro area–Dallas/Fort Worth. While I’m in a highly populated area, the broadcast transmission towers for the major networks in D/FW are located along the southern edges of the area. Thus, I’m around 30 to 35 miles away from those towers. To get free HD signals from that far away you need a larger antenna installed in the attic or on the roof of your house. The antenna can be wired via high-quality coaxial cable into your house’s existing cable system, so the signal will come right out of your cable outlet.

There are two ways of going about getting this antenna. There’s the easy way, and the hard way. Of course, the hard way saves you money.

Let’s start with the easy way. Having someone install your antenna is always a good idea if you’re not an expert at this sort of thing. The best place to start is a website like Service Magic. There you can search for someone to install a TV antenna, and find contractors in your area. The website even allows you to read ratings from other customers. This is always helpful as you want to make sure you have someone who knows what they’re doing.

A knowledgeable contractor should be able to recommend an antenna type for you, and will probably have one on hand. He or she will also know where to install the antenna–on the roof, in the attic, etc. They’ll have it installed in a manner of hours, and you’ll be up and receiving free HD signals with almost no hassle. If you’re willing to spend anywhere from $200-$400 dollars, this is the way to go. Remember, if the contractor can’t answer the question, “what type of antenna do I need to pick up OTA signals from my house?”, it’s probably a bad sign. And don’t EVER let a contractor leave without a demonstration that the antenna picks up all the free HD channels in your area.

One other IMPORTANT note: you’ll need to be sure that your TV is digital TV ready. This is KEY. Some older HDTVs are not DTV ready, and require a converter box to receive free HD signals. Convertor boxes that process HD signals can run more than $100, so in that case, you might even want to think about getting a new, inexpensive HDTV. For example, I discovered that one of my HDTVs was not DTV ready, so I re-purposed it as a computer monitor and  replaced it with a great little Vizio 30 inch that I picked up from Wal-Mart for about $350 last year.

Now, onto the hard way. For those of you who are good with installation, you might be able to to this yourself. You’ll probably be able to save a good chunk of money by doing things this way. Again, I stress, if you have any hesitation about your skill level, PAY A PROFESSIONAL. It’s always embarrassing to have to call someone to come clean up your mess. I experience that year after year trying to fix my sprinkler system!

The first thing to do is assess your situation. You’ve got to find out what kind of antenna you need to receive free HD. The best way to do that is to surf on over to AntennaWeb.org. Click on “Choose an Antenna,” input your address, answer a few questions, and you’ll see something like this:

This information tells you what type of antenna you’ll need to receive your desired channels. For example, you can see that I live about 30 miles from all of the major affiliates in the Dallas area. If you click on the links under “antenna type,” you’ll see what kind of antenna you need to receive these channels. I really only need a “small, multi-directional” antenna, according to AntennaWeb, which is what I own. All antennas are actually classified by color, so if you’re out at the store shopping for an antenna, make sure you buy an antenna with the right color classification to pick up the channels you need. AntennaWeb has a great page on antenna types that I suggest you read.

I personally use a Winegard GS220 antenna that was installed by my contractor.  On their website, you can see what type of antenna you’ll need by looking at the color classifications. My antenna works great–I get every free HD channel in the Dallas area and the picture never drops out. On a really clear night, I can even receive signals from the Oklahoma/Texas border, which is about 80 miles as the crow flies.

There are other considerations once you’ve purchased your antenna. Are you going to install in the attic, or will you put it on top of your house? Do you want to wire it to one television, or feed the signal into you’re house’s cabling system? Will you need to buy coaxial cable and splitters? For example, I have a rather tall, two-story home. My antenna is installed in the attic, away from the elements. Since all my cabling infrastructure runs from the outside of my house into the attic, this is a perfect setup for me. For you, it may be different. Again, if you don’t know the answer to these questions, you definitely need to hire a contractor like I did.

Free HD: What’s On?

Once you’re up and running, it’s easy to find out what’s on OTA HD. There are several sites that provide programming information, but the consensus among techies on the Internet is that TitanTV is the best channel guide out there. Simply surf on over, select the guide for broadcast networks in your area, and you’ll be able to see what free HD programming is available.

You should remember to rescan your channels every few months, as something new might pop up, especially if you live in a populated area. Last time I scanned my channels, I had close to 70 show up. Granted, many of those are shopping networks, Spanish-language, and religious based, so if those aren’t your cup of tea, it’s easiest to remove them from your channel memory so you don’t have to flip through them all the time!

One of the cool things about OTA TV signals are digital subchannels. You’ll find that channels now aren’t just formatted “2, 3, 4, etc.” They’re formatted “2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, etc.” On the subchannels, networks will air additional programming. For example, here in Dallas, ABC broadcasts in HD on channel 8.1, airs a local weather station on channel 8.2, and airs other programming on channel 8.3.

Another great thing is that DTV signals include some channel information. While you may use may use an online channel guide like TitanTV, you’ll still have the ability to see a program name and description on your television screen:

Best of all…

You’re now receiving sterling, free HD broadcast television without paying a dime. All it cost you was the price of a good antenna. If you’re willing to ditch cable and find other ways to watch TV, such as OTA HD, you’ll adjust in no time.

For more information on ditching cable, read my guide to watching TV online (on a budget, of course).

Alex J.

If you are willing to watch TV online, then it’s completely possible to cut the cord and ditch cable or satellite TV.

Dropping your cable provider may seem scary at first. After all, you’ve probably lived your whole life with cable TV. But never fear: there are plenty of ways to get TV online without paying out the wazoo.

This guide is intended for those people who are on a budget who are willing to put in a medium-sized initial investment ($160-$460) but keep monthly costs low.

Step 1: Get an OTA HD antenna ($100-$400)

So wait: the first step in watching TV online is to go old school and buy an antenna?

Yeah, that’s right.

The Winegard GS220 is perfect for picking up OTA HD signals in urban areas.

Once you drop your cable or satellite company, you should get a digital over-the-air antenna (OTA) installed. After all, you don’t want to be completely cut off from the world.

An OTA antenna will allow to receive free, OTA broadcast television signals. If you have an HD television, you’ll be shocked at the picture quality. You’ll be able to pick up your favorite networks like CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX in sterling high definition. OTA HD offers some of the best picture quality around since it’s broadcast by your local TV affiliates uncompressed. I’ve had several cable and satellite companies over the years, including Time Warner Cable, Dish Network, DirecTV and Verizon FIOS, and I can say the only picture quality I’ve seen rival OTA HD is from Verizon FIOS.

The amount of money you spend here really depends on a variety of factors, including your technical abilities and where you live.

If you’re like me, and lack the technical know-how to install a television antenna, it’s probably best to leave it to the experts. I spent around $300 getting mine installed. If you’re able to have it installed, your installer will recommend an antenna type and placement. For example, I have a two-story home, and my antenna is installed in the attic, away from the elements. Sometimes they may have to be installed on your roof outside.

One other tip: if you’re unsure of where to find someone to install an antenna, try searching on a website like ServiceMagic.com.

If you’re a do-it-yourself type, you’ll need to read my full guide to OTA HD. If you are able to install the antenna yourself, which I again wouldn’t recommend unless you really are an expert, you’ll probably save anywhere from $200-$300 depending on costs in your area.

Step 2: Buy a Roku ($76 on Amazon)

This is your other up-front cost. The Roku is a small streaming box that bridges the gap, bringing TV online to your living room. It connects to the Internet either via Ethernet cable or over your wireless network, and streams a variety of content straight to your TV.

If you don’t have another device that already streams internet content to your TV, this is a MUST-HAVE.

I recently purchased the mid-level version of the Roku (the Roku 2 XD) and I love it. It’s actually my second Roku. I’m able to stream Netflix, MLB.TV, and a variety of other private channels on the Roku. There are a multitude of streaming devices out there right now, but in my opinion, Roku offers the most bang for your buck.

For more information, see my full Roku 2 XD review (coming soon).

Step 3: The King of TV Online: Netflix

Netflix is currently the best way to watch TV online, but it does have a recurring monthly cost: $7.99. Of course, if you want to, you might add on the option to receive Netflix discs, but I’m perfectly happy with the streaming right now because I’m able to watch a variety of movies and full seasons of TV shows.

The one thing to know about Netflix streaming is that not all movies are streamable. More likely than not there will be new movies you want to watch that won’t be available on Netflix streaming. If there’s something you really want to see that’s new on DVD, you can always scoot down to your local Redbox or video rental store and pick it up. Or even better, just head on out to your local movie theater and check out a new release.

One other note: if you’re not sold on Netflix, they allow you to browse their selection before you sign up. If you’re interested in their streaming-only package, remember when browsing the selection to look at what’s available only in “Watch Instantly.”

You’ll be able to stream Netflix to your new TV via your new Roku. If you own an iPhone, iPad, or other Netflix supported device like an XBox 360, you can stream to that, as well.

Step 4: Watch Free TV Online

So here’s where the proverbial rubber meets the road. Maybe some of your favorite shows aren’t on local broadcast TV, or even if they are, maybe sometimes you miss those shows and want to watch them later. There’s a variety of television networks that allow you to watch TV online, not to mention some other websites that broadcast those same shows.

Here’s a quick rundown:

1. Hulu: This is probably the most well-known streaming site outside of Netflix. The great part about Hulu is that you can watch TV online from a variety of networks including ABC, NBC and Fox. Hulu streams in standard definition, and from the major networks you’ll only get the last five episodes of each show. If you pay $7.99 a month, you’ll get full seasons of several current-run shows and the ability to stream in HD to a variety of devices. Of course, if you’re on a budget, the $7.99 price tag may not be worth it.
2. TV.com: If it’s not on Hulu, it might be on TV.com. TV.com is CBS’ answer to Hulu, so you can watch some of their shows on here, as well as various other clips.
3. ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC,TheCW: All of your favorite broadcast networks stream recent episodes of their television shows for free. Can’t find it on Hulu? Go straight to the source. For example, if you’re interested in the hit TV show “Two and a Half Men,” you can watch it on CBS.com. Want to watch Gossip Girl? Head on over to the TheCW’s website. You get the drift. If it’s broadcast TV, you can find it for free.
4. Comedy Central, FX, History Channel, MTV, National Geographic, Spike, etc.: Yes, your favorite cable channel may be streaming TV online for free on their website. This is by no means a complete list. If there’s a show you can’t live without, just Google the channel it’s on, and see if they stream full episodes.
5. ESPN3: This one comes with a catch. ESPN3 is GREAT for sports fan, as you can watch live football, baseball, basketball, soccer and any other sport you can think of. It’s free, but only if your cable provider ponies up for it. Right now, that means it’s only available to people who have certain cable/internet providers. If you’re not on the list, you can watch it.

Conclusion

So there you have it. Four easy steps for ditching cable on a budget and watching TV online. Your start-up costs are somewhere between $160 to $480 dollars, but that pays for itself in a manner of months. Your only recurring monthly charge is $7.99 for Netflix. I’d say that’s a pretty good deal regardless of whether you simply want to stick it to the cable/satellite companies or if you’re just trying to cut costs.

Alex J.