The advent of the internet has led to an upsurge in popularity for online TV tivi online. Now, TV viewed through the internet can be freely availed at any time and place. It has even reached remote and rural areas which previously had no access to cable or satellite broadcasting. The good thing about watching online TV is that one doesn’t need a special device to watch TV unlike cable and satellite TV. Moreover, there are no subscription fees to be paid unlike cable and satellite TV where a subscription fee is needed.
Online television is simply the transmission of tv shows, movies, and other media as streaming data delivered via the internet. Streaming TV also stands in opposition to traditional broadcast television, namely over-the-top (TOS) terrestrial television, satellite television, and cable television. While TOS televisions have their own channel base, streaming TV utilizes a “pay per view” mechanism wherein in the event that you don’t like the program, you can just cancel and watch the next one. This is unlike cable and satellite TV where you would have to watch the whole show again.
There are several providers of live tv streaming TV services. Some are based within countries, while others have global reach. Irrespective of the country, the service remains the same with the common features of full episodes, latest updates, schedule of upcoming shows, and most importantly the availability of foreign shows. As of late, US based companies such as Hulu and Netflix have made strides in providing streaming tv providers to US based subscribers. Most of the US based Hulu services are only offered through the website, which may be either free or subscription based.
On the other hand, cable and satellite TV providers have an advantage over streaming services as they often offer more channels to their viewers. It also offers a wider variety of programs and premium channels, which may not be available with most streaming services. However, the lack of channels does not necessarily mean less entertainment value, it could simply mean less options compared to cable and satellite TV.
With most cable and satellite TV providers, if you want to watch certain online tv channels, you can simply ask for the channel number from your remote control. The operator will then automatically provide the list of channels that you want to watch. You can then choose to watch or download a program from their on-screen selection or by browsing through their pay-per-download catalog. Satellite TV providers on the other hand require the use of an external device such as a digital video recorder (DVR) or a box-top DVR (BTDR).
All in all, streaming TV is a good option for those who are looking for easy ways to access TV online. Prices for this service vary from place to place and there is no definitive best option out there. So, it’s up to you to find the right one for you. However, if you have an android mobile phone, you can download a free app that can help you stream tv using the device.