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!
Not wanting to hijack the thread, but what’s up with the streaming of FOX news live (and others) via Youtube? You can watch it live, but it always appears to be a rebroadcast steam.
Sometimes the feed will ask for subscribers?
The other day there was a not so nice thumbnail associated with the FoxNews live stream. Strange.
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bfl
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