Search:

How You Can Watch TV On The Computer: Three Techniques

Not all that long ago, there was one and only one source of television viewing: your TV set. You had to be content with whatever programming the three major networks decided was best for you.

If this situation describes you, maybe it's time to find out what you are missing. Check out the following three ways of how to watch TV on the computer.

1) One approach to watching TV on the computer is to download the entire movie for free onto your hard drive using BitTorrent networking. BitTorrent networking is a form of Internet peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing and is a popular way to share movies on the Internet.

In a peer-to-peer network, the file containing the movie is split up and the pieces are distributed among the different people in the network that want to download the file. Then everyone in the network supplies each other with the various missing parts that they each need until everyone has all of the parts of the file.

This process was 'seeded' by the person who supplied the original intact movie. Before you can download movies like this, you will have to install what is known as bitTorrent client software.

BitComet is a client software that's been around for a while and is more than adequate for the job. Next, use a torrent search engine such as torrentz.com and enter a search query related to the movie you wish to download (like 'Clint Eastwood').

When you get a search result that you like, click on the link. You will end up at a page with the title of the movie and a 'Download Torrent' button or link.

Start the download process by clicking the link. After the transfer is complete, it is time for you to do your good deed for the day by being the next 'seed' and allowing others to share your file.

By leaving your torrent client software running for a couple hours, you will 'seed' the next round of downloads. This is just a general description of the overall download process with some details left out.

Be warned that it is illegal to download material with a copyright. Some people using P2P networks for illegal downloads have been prosecuted.

2) If you want to transfer the TV programming from your TV set to your PC, it can be done with very little fuss with a USB TV tuner. The USB TV tuner is external to your PC or laptop and has ports that connect to both your PC and TV set.

This external setup means that no installation work is necessary. This is unlike the standard TV tuner card which is installed inside your PC. The video signals are conveyed from your TV's output ports to the USB TV tuner's input ports.

The modified signals are then sent to your laptop or PC via its USB port. With most USB TV tuners, TV shows can be fast forwarded, paused, rewound, and saved to your PC hard drive.

Many USB TV tuners can also burn TV shows to DVD. Prices range from $50 to $200.

3) If you don't want to mess with hardware or learn the intricacies of P2P, then another alternative involves installing some specialized software. The software basically connects you to the thousands of streaming TV stations that are on the Internet.

The requirements are fairly basic: a computer with high speed Internet access and a few freely available media players. Given that you probably have these basics already, the only cost is the price of the software itself, between $50 and $100.

Now that you know what's out there and how to get it, its time to take action and try out few of these goodies for yourself. Hopefully this article has opened your eyes to the incredible entertainment opportunities available to anyone willing to take them.