Getting a monthly cable bill is no fun- especially considering that there are usually only a couple of channels that are really worth watching for the average user. The Internet has fixed this problem in some ways, with the invention of video on demand technologies, which can give users access to cable and satellite TV shows- in some cases at no cost at all!
There are some legitimate resources that give consumers a way to watch TV online. The old faithful website of YouTube allows users to watch some TV shows completely free of charge. However, it should be noted that YouTube obeys strict copyright laws and will remove and copyrighted material in the instant they find it. This means that users will only be able to watch public access or non copyrighted shows, which are few and far between.
Other resources have struck deals with cable companies and networks that have access to TV shows, and offer services based on monthly fees. This is essentially just like paying a cable bill, only the rates are usually much lower because of the lowered cost to the cable networks in question. This is also an alternative to the expensive installations that are necessary for satellite installations.
Another big fad in TV shows is to release content for free, although the content will be laden with ads where applicable. This was made popular by the TV show “South Park,” where its creators decided to release every single episode of South Park to the general public in exchange for advertisers putting their ads at predetermined spots in the episodes. This is less popular for cable networks at the moment, but consumers agree it’s the best option for free TV shows online.
Still other media outlets have struck special deals with owners of copyrighted content. In the popular deal between YouTube and NBC, NBC agreed to give out certain episodes of certain TV shows for free on YouTube in exchange for advertising and other benefits. Included TV shows is the vastly popular “Saturday Night Live,” which has been a successful series for many years. Others such as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” have appeared on YouTube as a result of the deal.
While there are indeed many legit places to watch TV shows online, it’s important to keep note of those that are less so. Some websites claim to be legit and charge users fees, when in fact the fees go straight to the pockets of the webmasters of the website, and the operation is still considered illegal. In such cases, consumers should ask for proof that a website has the authority to allow others to watch copyrighted content, and only then should funds be released to such websites.
Final Thoughts
Online TV shows are becoming vastly popular among a culture that is starting to live in the Internet. It is now less expensive to watch TV shows online rather than pay a satellite bill each month that can leave consumers short on money. Whatever the case, consumers will have plenty of options with the Internet in getting their TV show fix.
