Posted on 04/20/2017 9:18:05 AM PDT by markomalley
It’s no secret that the future of entertainment is streaming, and the future is now. After the meteoric success of Netflix, virtually every content provider on the planet was eager to get in on the streaming game. For many, the arrival of streaming services meant finally ditching their cable companies and their astronomical bills. Unfortunately, would-be cord cutters found that Internet streaming could still be costly. With Amazon, Hulu, HBO, SlingTV and countless others all throwing their hats into the ring, subscription fees can add up quickly.
In addition to these paid options, there are a plethora of subscription-free websites that allow you to stream to your heart’s content. Of course, the legality of these websites is always a concern. The rise of streaming ultimately led to a rise in copyright infringement and piracy. However, this doesn’t mean that every free streaming site is breaking the law. To keep yourself out of hot water, you’ll want to know how to spot a potentially shady content provider.
The law surrounding piracy is complex and can be hard to interpret. Whether or not just watching an illegal stream can land you in prison or have you facing a hefty fine is still up in the air; however, there are other inherent risks. Illegal streaming sites can try to infect your PC with malware, steal sensitive personal information or bog you down with intrusive ads. Have a look at some of indicators of a legit streaming service.
While the world of Internet streaming can be scary, there are many free services that are legitimate. While there are many streaming sites currently in operation, the following list highlights some good places to start.
Crackle is owned by Sony Pictures and offers a good selection of free movies and TV shows from Sony’s back catalog. New content crops up at regular intervals; however, titles are usually only available for a limited time. The site is ad-supported, meaning you’ll have periodic interruptions during your stream.
A subsidiary of Screen Media Films, PopcornFlix has a ton of free-to-watch independent films, so long as you don’t mind the occasional ad. In addition to feature-length films, PopcornFlix also boasts original content.
An ad-supported TV and movie streaming platform, TubiTV has the largest library of free TV shows and movies on the Web thanks to partnerships with Hollywood heavyweights like Paramount and MGM. In addition to the more than 40,000 titles currently available, TubiTV boasts new content uploaded every single week.
Featuring lots of films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, Classic Cinema Online is your one-stop shop. The site features embedded videos from other sites, mainly YouTube. As with a lot of “classic” video streaming sites, its library is mainly comprised of films that have fallen into the public domain.
Have a hankering for real life? Top Documentary Films has you covered. Featuring a wide variety of subjects from conspiracy theories to climate change, Top Documentary Films will undoubtedly give you food for thought.
Viewster has an eclectic library of TV shows and movies to watch with no registration or fees. This ad-supported service features everything from anime to documentaries; however, the titles available change from country to country due to regional licensing agreements.
Do you agree with our list? Which streaming services did we miss that are worth a mention? What is your favorite free streaming service? Let us know in the comments!
Anybody have any other suggestions for legal streaming sites?
bflr
Try KODI (XBMC), Exodus addon
Bookmark
That’s one (maybe the only...) nice thing about Netflix: it doesn’t require much bandwidth. 400MB ought to be plenty.
KB!
400KB ought to be fine!
Has anyone ever been fined for watching ‘free’ content online?
Have never heard of that.
BFL.
Yhankx
BM
24/7 Downton Abbey is now on Channel Pear, though a couple days of binging on it does cause one to consider making hot tea and looking about for servant’s bells to ring.
-pInG!
I agree with your assessment and no, they haven't improved. My biggest complaint about Crackle and Popcorn is the commercials. Typically, a movie will begin with commercials reasonably spaced. As a movie progreesses, commercials become more and more frequent to the point of absuridity, which completely ruins the viewing experience. A 2 hour movie will 3+ hours due to the frequency of commercials.
Like the saying goes, "you get what you pay (or not pay) for."
I know that a few years ago, Charter sent my mother in law a nastygram threatening to cut off her Internet after a grandson downloaded a couple of pirated movies. It said:
Dear Charter Internet Subscriber:
Charter Communications ("Charter") has been notified by a copyright owner, or its authorized agent, that your Internet account may have been involved in the exchange of unauthorized copies of copyrighted material (e.g., music, movies, or software). We are enclosing a copy of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notice that Charter received from the copyright holder which includes the specific allegation.
Under the DMCA, copyright owners have the right to notify Charter’s register agent if they believe that a Charter customer has infringed on their work(s). When Charter receives a complaint notice from a copyright owner, Charter will notify the identifiable customer of the alleged infringement by providing them a copy of the submitted DMCA notice. As required by law, Charter may determine that the customer is a repeat copyright infringer and reserves the right to suspend or terminate the accounts of repeat copyright infringers.
It is possible that this activity has occurred without your permission or knowledge by an unauthorized user, a minor who may not fully understand the copyright laws, or even as a result of a computer virus. However, as the named subscriber on the account, you may be held responsible for any misuse of your account. Please be aware that using Charter’s service to engage in any form of copyright infringement is expressly prohibited by Charter's Acceptable Use Policy and that repeat copyright infringement, or violations of any other Charter policy, may result in the suspension or termination of your service. You may view Charter's rules and policies, including Charter’s Acceptable Use Policy, under the policies section of charter.com.
We ask that you take immediate action to stop the exchange of any infringing material. For additional information regarding copyright infringement and for a list of frequently asked questions, please visit charter.com/dmca.
(yes, that scared the h*** out of the M-I-L)
Haven't heard of a problem because of streaming, though.
there is literally a mind boggling amount of add ons out there for literally everything it seems... its over whelming a bit...
IPvanish is your friend...
bfl
Thanks for the thumbs up.
Lately it’s binging on Fraiser(X-TV, 24/7)
Amazing that after a few years shows which were not of much interest (for whatever reason) become interesting and addictive. Enjoying these episodes much. Great writers and you gotta love Eddie!
Thank you for the thread.
PFL
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