Cable services are quite expensive and most people are unable to utilize the service. If you are wondering about how to watch TV without cable or satellite, then this guide will help you out. We all live in a digital world where we can get a range of services for entertainment over the web. Expensive cable services charge you every month. If you have decided to ditch a cable service to save some extra bucks but still want to watch local channels, then there are many ways to do so.
What’s the Cost of Cable Tv or Satellite?
Both the services are quite expensive. The pricing of these services has risen recently. For an average cable service, you are paying up to $200 every month. No matter whether you watch your TV or not, you will have to pay the desired amount for the subscription to their cable service.
Spending $200 every month might put a big dent in your budget especially if you are tight on it. Low-income families can’t afford to have such an expensive cable service. We all need a little cheaper service which could be set in our budget.
To watch Tv without Cable or Satellite, there are some alternatives present in the market. You can go for these alternatives which don’t require you to have a cable TV or Satellite subscription. You can choose the customized plan and avail of their services as per your needs. Let’s find out the top alternatives to Cable and Satellite service.
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Best Ways to Get Free TV Channels without Cable and Satellite
If you have decided to cut ties with cable, then here we have prepared a list of the best ways to get your favorite TV Channels without the subscription of Cable and Satellite.
1. Free Over-The-air TV
Over-the-air TV is one of the best services which you can use to get free local TV channels without cable. It takes a one-time investment from you and you will get free local TV channels for a lifetime. You will need an HDTV Antenna which you can install indoors or outdoor.
You might have noticed big towers across the city which are installed by popular Cable service providers such as ABC, Fox, CBS, and other affiliates. They are still following the traditional way of broadcasting content through different channels.
Now, by installing a TV antenna, you can get the full coverage of their TV channels and broadcasting services for free. Just install the TV antenna to the right location and connect the antenna with your TV.
After connecting the TV antenna to the TV, you just need to start the scanning process. As soon as you start the scanning process, you will get to see a bunch of TV channels available on your Television. Many major broadcasting partners’ channels are available for free through TV antenna.
The Free Over-the-air TV offers kind of the same experience that you get from the standard cable service. You will get a bunch of TV Channels to explore from different categories. The Live TV channels will be there to watch the live shows and other programs at the scheduled time.
There are two types of OTA antennas present in the market, indoor antenna and outdoor antenna. You can search for a suitable TV Antenna to get the suitable and affordable OTA Antenna for your needs. The OTA Antennas are available in full HD quality, you can watch free TV channels in full HD resolution by getting an HDTV Antenna.
2. Use Live Streaming Services
Using a live streaming service is one of the best ways to ditch your cable. With the help of a live streaming service, you can watch your favorite movies, TV shows, or any other sports program online from different devices. Yes, you need not have a TV to watch your favorite programs as these services can be accessed from your computer or mobile devices.
Live Streaming Services offer you a range of networked services with their exclusive content. You can live stream your favorite show or movie whenever you want. Here, we have prepared a list of the available platforms from where you can avail the live streaming services i.e. live tv channels and other exclusive content.
Fubo TV: If you are a sports lover, then Fubo TV has an extensive range of sports channels which you can select from its available options. The service offers you hundreds of TV channels from different categories.
Hulu with Live TV: Hulu is undoubtedly the best service provider to stream content online. The service provider has added a live tv section to watch your favorite TV channels live just like the Cable Service. You will get a free trial of several days to test out this service. After that, you can avail yourself of the Hulu+ Live TV subscription service at $65 per month.
DIRECTV Stream: DIRECTV Stream is owned by AT&T. The service offers hundreds of live TV channels which you can select and customize a plan according to your needs. The service lets you pick from different categories such as entertainment, movies, sports, regional, etc.
Sling TV: Sling TV is yet another popular live streaming service provider in the US. The service is available in many states across the US. It is the oldest player in the market which is still dominating the market with its reasonable pricing and unmatched TV channels. The Sling TV’s premium subscription plan starts from $35. You can add a TV bundle package to an existing plan as per your requirements.
YouTube TV: YouTube TV is YouTube’s own live TV streaming service. The service gives you access to explore the popular live TV channels on your devices including smart TVs. It’s a premium streaming service that starts at $65 per month.
Philo: Philo is relatively a new player in the market which gives you access to live TV channels with its lowest and the most affordable plan at $20 per month. Hundreds of live TV channels are available to choose from and customize your plan.
These are some of the best and most-loved live streaming service providers in the US. The above-listed platforms are highly recommended to those who want to watch TV without cable or satellite. These platforms have different premium plans which you can explore from their websites. You can even customize your plan and can set up the pricing model as per your requirements.
3. Video on Demand Services
The Video-on-demand services are currently trending and we all are quite familiar with them. Video-on-demand services give you the access to watch your favorite movies, TV shows, and programs whenever you want. You need not go for the live TV channels as these platforms give you access to its exclusive hub carrying millions of content.
You might have heard about the popular on-demand service named Netflix. Yes, Netflix is an on-demand service that lets you stream your favorite movies, tv shows, and other programs in full HD resolution.
Just like Netflix, there are many big players present in the market. Let’s find out what options we have in this segment.
Netflix: Netflix is undoubtedly the best and the oldest player in this category when it comes to watching TV without Cable or Satellite. Netflix offers TV Shows and Movies from different providers. The company has tied up with a range of producers where they produce exclusive content for Netflix subscribers. You can search for the movie or the TV show and can start streaming it on your TV or any other device as Netflix is compatible with all the devices and platforms.
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Amazon Prime Video: Amazon Prime Video is a video-on-demand service from our favorite e-commerce giant Amazon. Amazon Prime Video is a premium video subscription service. The service is included with Amazon’s Prime membership which gives you additional benefits along with the exclusive content library. Amazon Prime Video service includes a range of content for different types of consumers. The service includes movies, tv shows, sports programs, and more. Its intuitive user interface and details about the movies and TV shows make it the toughest competitor of Netflix.
Hulu: Hulu is still there with its new plan called Hulu+ Live TV. Just like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, Hulu lets its subscribers watch their favorite movies and tv shows in different resolutions. Unlike Netflix, this service offers the top recent episodes of an ongoing TV program. The service comes with several plans which you can avail as per your needs. If you want to watch live TV channels just like the cable service, then you can even choose the Hulu+ Live TV plan which is available for those who have a question “How to watch TV without Cable or Satellite?”
Tubi: Tubi is a popular AVOD service provider which acts like Crackle. The service gives you free access to its exclusive entertainment range. You can sign up for a new account and start using its services for free. There are premium plans available for those who want to explore more from the Tubi’s bucket.
HBO: HBO is an independent service included in all the TV Streaming Services. You can include it in your Cable Subscription Plan or go for the independent service through HBO’s website. HBO has started its new service called HBO Now which lets you use its service through a standalone medium.
You can choose from different options to get exclusive content as per your needs from HBO’s network. HBO is known for its TV Shows and you will get access to all of its TV Shows i.e. the previous TV Shows with full episodes in full HD quality as well as the latest TV Shows.
HBO Now can be availed through their website. You can get full access to HBO’s content library online which doesn’t require you to have a Cable TV subscription. You can watch all the TV Shows and content available on HBO online.
These are the popular Video on Demand Services that you can try to watch TV without Cable or Satellite. These services are popular in the modern world as they offer the best content with exclusive web series and movies. These platforms spend millions of dollars to produce their exclusive content. The subscribers will get full access to their content library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How can I watch free TV without cable?
There are many platforms which you can try to watch free TVs such as an OTA Antenna, On-demand Streaming Services, and Online Streaming Services. For more information, you can check out the above information. Some of the services are available for free, for some services, you will be asked to subscribe to their premium plans.
Q. What devices can I use to watch TV without a Cable?
You can use your TV, smartphone, tablet, laptop, computer system to watch TV without cable using the streaming services that are available online.
Q. How to Stream Local TV Channels without Cable?
To stream local TV Channels without Cable, you will be required an OTA antenna. Over-the-air Antenna lets you stream the popular local TV channels for free. If you don’t want to install the OTA Antenna, you can go for a live streaming service such as Directv Stream or Fubo TV.
Q. How do I get free TV Channels without Antenna?
You can get free TV Channels without an Antenna by availing of Online Streaming Services. You can choose from Hulu TV, YouTube TV, HBO, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and many other on-demand and online TV streaming services available to cater to your needs.
Q. Can I Stream Local Channels on my Mobile phone without TV?
Yes, you can! Popular broadcasters offer their mobile apps to stream their live TV channels on a smartphone or a tablet device.
Q. Is the best TV Cable replacement in the market?
Sling TV is the best alternative to your traditional Cable Service. If you want to watch TV without cable, then you should go for Sling TV.
Q. What is the best TV streaming service for Sports?
FuboTV is the best online TV streaming service for sports. If you like to watch sports in your free time, then Fubo TV is the best platform for you.
Q. Is cutting cable worth it?
Yes, as soon as you are selective cutting cable is all worth it. You will be able to customize your plan and can select a suitable plan as per your needs under your budget.
Final Words
This explains how to watch TV without a Cable or Satellite. The above-listed options are for all types of consumers. If you want to ditch the cable, then you can use any of the above-listed services. To ditch the cable, you need to install an OTA Antenna on your premises. Else you can use an online TV streaming service to watch live TV channels and other exclusive content to entertain yourself. Get to know about the different services available in the market, and go with the one that suits your needs.
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