Viewing television on your computer can be an easy, convenient, and low cost alternative. Money can be saved by forgoing expensive HDTV's and cable services. The convenience of watching TV on your laptop also allows you to take it anywhere you go. There are a number of solutions for TV on PC, each offering its own strengths and weaknesses, but each are worth checking out in your endeavor to get rid of the television.

Popular Online Services

Most major networks offer streaming content straight from their websites. Channels such as ABC, NBC, and FOX, as well as cable services like Comedy Central and FX allow you to log on and watch full episodes of your favorite shows. This is a good place to start to watch the shows that you like. Also, third party websites such as Hulu, Joost, and Veoh offer catalogs of TV shows and movies for users to stream directly to their computers. These services are ideal if you missed an episode of your favorite show, or want to check out other shows that you otherwise don't have to time to watch. They free you from the rigid scheduling of live TV and allow you to watch programs on your own time, but they do not allow you to stream live content.

PC TV Tuner

To gain access to full service live TV on your PC you will need to purchase a TV tuner. Companies such as ATI and Hauppauge specialize in manufacturing TV tuner cards for your PC and external TV tuners for your laptop. A cable line is required to gain reception, but these tuners allow you to watch the same live TV you would on your television directly on your computer. Some of them even come packaged with recording software that allows you to pause, rewind, and record live TV straight to your hard drive. They are a great option if you already have a subscription to a cable service and wish to add another line without buying another TV.

PC Satellite TV

There a number of programs available that allow you to stream live TV directly to your PC. A couple examples include Satellite TV for PC and Direct TV PC. These services can be purchased for a one time fee, with no monthly subscriptions. They offer thousands of channels from around the world and even include some HD channels. Also, they do not require cable connections and can stream directly over the Internet, so you can watch from anywhere in the world. When browsing for this type of service, be careful about which one you choose. Some offer more channels, but have a lower picture quality. Furthermore, these programs do not contain all the channels that a satellite or cable subscription will give you. While they offer thousands of channels, they might not be the ones you are looking for. Finally, beware of the wealth of P2P programs out there, as they are not 100 percent legal. Proceed with caution while searching for this type of program.

Source:

TV Tuners

Satellite TV PC vs Direct TV PC

How to Watch TV on Your PC

Resource:

Hauppauge TV Tuners

ATI TV Tuners