Watch TV On My Computer
by David
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Friends frequently ask me the general question, how can I watch TV on my computer? The answer can be different depending on exactly what they mean with this question. For example, when I watch TV on my computer, it simply means I visit sites like Netflix, Hulu or YouTube to watch my favorite TV shows online through streamed video.
These resources, as well resources available on different television networks’ sites (like NBC or HBO), allow you to watch streaming video free. This is really a simple matter of visiting the appropriate website then clicking on a link to load the television show you would like to view.
How Do I Watch TV On My Computer?
However, when some people ask me “how to watch TV on my computer?” they sometimes mean they’re asking me how to connect their computer to their cable tv or satellite tv subscription line and literally view TV through a TV tuner on their PC. This is a perfectly legitimate way to watch tv on your computer. However, they’re two completely different concepts.
The first way I described above involves tapping into the new and exciting resources available online to watch tv online. In addition to simply watching the same shows you view on standard TV, when you watch Internet TV you’ll discover a whole new world of television programming.
The second way I described in that last paragraph involves simply using your computer to watch traditional television programming, just like you’re sitting on your couch in your living room watching prime time TV.
As you can probably tell from the name of my website, my specialty is online video, so this article will primarily focus on the first concept I described. I really like to watch tv on my pc and it was fun learning how to watch tv on my computer when I discovered the extensive world of digital entertainment available to me when I watch TV on the Internet.
However, if there is enough demand from readers I will also add a section (or another page) describing how to install a TV tuner (either a hardware version or a software version for modern computers) in your computer so you can watch tv on your pc.
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In particular, I like to watch tv on my laptop because I can then watch my favorite TV shows anywhere anytime. This affords me far greater flexibility than I could ever manage with the old world of strict television schedules. I can watch tv on my computer while sitting in a cozy coffee shop or — with a 3G card, I can even enjoy the latest hit dramas or sitcoms while out hiking in nature.
Set Up Streaming Video On Your Computer
So how do you go about watching TV on your computer. First you need a somewhat modern computer, then make sure you update your video drivers. For the most part, any computer manufactured and sold in the last 3 or 4 years should be more than enough. I suggest you update your video drivers because Windows Vista in particular can have problems processing higher quality streaming video if you don’t have up-to-date video drivers. Your computer manufacturer should make it fairly easy to find, download and install the latest drivers.
The next thing you need is… a web browser! I know you have one of those or else you couldn’t be reading this online video article right now, now could you? You can use Internet Explorer 6 or above, Firefox 2 or above, Opera or Safari. There are some services, like Netflix, which still operate more easily with Internet Explorer (although that should change soon), but for the most part, the browser you choose doesn’t make much of a difference.
What does make a difference is that each browser should have a plugin or addon called Flash installed. This is a free addon to all the browsers which will prompt you to be installed when you visit a site with streaming video. If you’re not prompted by your web browser to install anything and you can watch streaming video on sites like YouTube without difficulty, Flash is probably already installed and functioning.
And that’s really all there is to it. Some great places to start are just the networks themselves (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, HBO, Comedy Central, etc.) plus Hulu, Netflix and YouTube. Just these sites alone could keep you entertained for years. Here are a few favorite links to get you started. My favorite is Netflix and it is well worth the couple bucks a month, but you can always just watch some free TV and movies for a while with the generous free trial:
Netflix Free Trial
Hulu.com
YouTube.com
nbc.com
So learn to watch television online and you will increase your television viewing options and greatly improve your flexibility.
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