By now, I’m sure, you’ve heard of those free online TV programs that keep popping up. The majority of them come from China, where TV stations are under government control and the internet is the only way to access certain programs.
Others, such as SopCast and TVU are used by English speaking countries. Now only if there were a way watch these channels without the hassle of an application to download. Something like… FreeTube maybe?
It was only a matter of time before something like FreeTube came up. It is already possible to access free TV and movie channels without the need for hardware, now it’s time to eliminate the software.
Unlike P2P apps like TVU Player, however, you cannot share your own content. FreeTube only connects to pre-existing streams, therefore most regular TV channels such as Comedy Central and BBC1 are not available.
Channels Available
It seems as if FreeTube took all the online channels available and organized them in one place. Because of the voting system, you’ll find most channels do work. Here are a some examples:
- Fox 5
- CNBC Awaaz
- MTV (Uber, China, Brand New, ect)
- ESPN
- Toonami
- BBC World
- CourtTV
- C-SPAN 1-3
The full listing can be seen here.
Compatibility
For the most part, FreeTube uses resources that your computer already has: a high-speed internet connection and a screen with at least 800×600 resolution. For a better compatibility you will need the following plugins:
- Windows Media Player
- QuickTime
- Real Player
- Flash
- JavaScript
To check if your computer is compatible see the FreeTube Diagnostics page.
The Good
- 100’s Of channels
- Save Your Favorite Channels (‘My Channels’ Feature)
- New Channels Added Every Week
- It’s FREE!
The Bad
- Occasional Crashing Browser
- Low-Quality (Like YouTube at Best)
- Broken Channels (Blank Box at Peak Times)
- Wait Time (30-90 Seconds)
The Verdict
Fortunately in this scenario, the good outweighs the bad. FreeTube delivers the same Internet TV with a huge perk: Nothing to download. Is it just me or is there an online revolution around the corner?
