Tag: Free TV

Free TV is something that’s become extremely popular in recent times. This increased popularity is not only in terms of viewers looking for cheaper ways to stream movies and shows, but also in terms of companies that are looking for new ways to generate additional revenue.

Free TV FAQs

Looking for more information on free TV, below are answers to some of the more commonly asked questions.

Can you watch TV for free?

Yes, you can watch TV for free. However, it is important to understand what free TV means in the streaming era compared to what it means in the traditional sense, as they are not the same.

Nowadays, streaming makes it possible to watch a variety of content for free, including live linear channels. Just like traditional live TV, these free channels play content continuously throughout the day. Unlike traditional live TV, however, these free channels tend to play themed content.

For example, while a paid live TV plan opens up access to popular channels like ABC and Fox, free TV services offer access to generic news channels or channels that are dedicated to specific topic like comedies, movies, and so on.

What does FAST actually mean?

FAST is a term you will hear often in reference to live TV in the streaming era. FAST is an acronym for free, ad-supported TV or free, ad-supported television.

What FAST means in real world terms is simply this – the ability to watch TV channels for free thanks to the use of ads. Unlike a traditional live TV plan which typically requires a subscription and still shows ads, FAST services are completely free to use, and most won’t even require an account.

How many channels do you get with free TV?

This is almost impossible to answer although it is starting to seem like the number is limitless. As free TV channels are curated channels and not traditional live TV channels, companies and services can theoretically create as many as they want.

While some free TV channels emulate traditional live TV channels by focusing on news, lifestyle content, or sports, others are focused on specific content including individual shows.

As examples of how many free channels are currently on offer, Sling Freestream offers access to more than 300 channels, Vizio’s WatchFree+ unlocks access to more than 260 channels, and Pluto TV users get access to more than 200 channels. All of these services are also always adding more.

Are services like Pluto TV and Tubi really free?

Yes, services like Pluto TV and Tubi are really free. While that might sound too good to be true, it’s not. The reason these services are able to offer free content is thanks to the FAST and AVOD business models.

FAST stands for free, ad-supported TV while AVOD stands for ad-supported video on demand. The common factor in both of these examples is ad-supported, and that’s exactly how these services make money.

Instead of directly charging you a monthly subscription free, these services heavily rely on ad revenue. This tends to mean that almost every episode, movie, and video will include ads. The ad load varies by service, and in some cases, can be quite heavy.

Can you watch local live TV for free?

Yes, you can watch local live TV for free. Many streaming services now offer access to local news and weather channels for free. When it comes to local sports and RSNs, things are a little more complicated. Likewise, so is watching well-known local channels including ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.

For homes looking to access any of these channels or local sports content for free, streaming is not going to be the solution. Instead, the best option will be to purchase an over the air antenna from Amazon or another retailer. These antennas make it possible to receive OTA feeds from local stations that are within reach of the home.

While there is no guarantee you will be able to get all of the local channels you want with an antenna, it is currently the best option outside of paying for a live TV plan that includes the desired local channels.