or some reason, accomplishing this is not quite as simple as going the other way (probably because cable companies aren't ready to let go). Nevertheless, we found a few easy ways to stream live TV to your PC.
Websites...Just Websites
Hulu Plus, Netflix, and other subscription streaming services are perhaps the easiest way to get TV on your PC--but not live TV. Such services feature only previously aired episodes of TV shows (Netflix has only already-aired, already-on-DVD episodes). Although that certainly is nice--and the lack of commercials is always welcome--some live-TV events aren't quite as attractive after the fact.
Fortunately, you can still feed live TV to your PC in a supersimple way that requires no downloads, software, or hardware-tinkering: Just try some streaming Websites. Of course, these sites can be volatile--often they're put up and taken down faster than Japanese convenience stores--and your channel selection is usually limited.
Streaming Sports
Sports are one of the biggest reasons for streaming live TV on your computer. Sporting events are really exciting only when you watch them as they happen, and Hulu and Netflix aren't inclined toward uploading every NCAA Division 3 women's golf match just to satisfy your love of the links.
Luckily, programming providers realize that day-old sporting events do not make for good Internet media, and some of them offer easy ways to stream sports to your PC.
ESPN3 streaming sports
ESPN, the old standby for sports programming, has a live streaming broadband channel called ESPN3. The channel streams live sporting events such as college football games, UEFA Champions League soccer, The Masters, and the Australian Open. Unfortunately, ESPN3 is available only to customers of select broadband Internet companies. The good news is that if you're using ESPN3 from a college campus or a military base located in the United States, access is free.
NCAA March Madness basketball
If you're a college basketball fan, listen up: Every year since 2006, CBS and the NCAA have offered March Madness On Demand, live coverage of the March Madness basketball games. The coverage doesn't start until March, of course; but when it does begin, the streams will be located on the NCAA site.
As for other large sporting events (such as the Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup), usually you can find live streaming from major networks, such as NBC, BBC Sport, and CBC Sports.
Other Programming
Not fond of football (American or otherwise)? Don't worry; you can find plenty of Websites for watching live non-sports TV.
For newshounds, CNN Live features round-the-clock live streaming (though in the middle of the night it's just round-the-clock live weather forecasting). Fox News has a live stream that you can view in a browser window or in the downloadable Fox News Live Desktop Player. You can also try the ABC News Now stream.
Ustream.tv
Ustream.tv is a lifecasting and live streaming Website. That means you'll get your fair share of "lifecasters" (people who enjoy having you watch them on camera 24/7) as well as a large number of live events (notable past events include the 2008 presidential election). Channels to check out include CBS Breaking News, PBS News Hour, and Oscars Live.
Websites...Just Websites
Hulu Plus, Netflix, and other subscription streaming services are perhaps the easiest way to get TV on your PC--but not live TV. Such services feature only previously aired episodes of TV shows (Netflix has only already-aired, already-on-DVD episodes). Although that certainly is nice--and the lack of commercials is always welcome--some live-TV events aren't quite as attractive after the fact.
Fortunately, you can still feed live TV to your PC in a supersimple way that requires no downloads, software, or hardware-tinkering: Just try some streaming Websites. Of course, these sites can be volatile--often they're put up and taken down faster than Japanese convenience stores--and your channel selection is usually limited.
Streaming Sports
Sports are one of the biggest reasons for streaming live TV on your computer. Sporting events are really exciting only when you watch them as they happen, and Hulu and Netflix aren't inclined toward uploading every NCAA Division 3 women's golf match just to satisfy your love of the links.
Luckily, programming providers realize that day-old sporting events do not make for good Internet media, and some of them offer easy ways to stream sports to your PC.
ESPN3 streaming sports
ESPN, the old standby for sports programming, has a live streaming broadband channel called ESPN3. The channel streams live sporting events such as college football games, UEFA Champions League soccer, The Masters, and the Australian Open. Unfortunately, ESPN3 is available only to customers of select broadband Internet companies. The good news is that if you're using ESPN3 from a college campus or a military base located in the United States, access is free.
NCAA March Madness basketball
If you're a college basketball fan, listen up: Every year since 2006, CBS and the NCAA have offered March Madness On Demand, live coverage of the March Madness basketball games. The coverage doesn't start until March, of course; but when it does begin, the streams will be located on the NCAA site.
As for other large sporting events (such as the Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup), usually you can find live streaming from major networks, such as NBC, BBC Sport, and CBC Sports.
Other Programming
Not fond of football (American or otherwise)? Don't worry; you can find plenty of Websites for watching live non-sports TV.
For newshounds, CNN Live features round-the-clock live streaming (though in the middle of the night it's just round-the-clock live weather forecasting). Fox News has a live stream that you can view in a browser window or in the downloadable Fox News Live Desktop Player. You can also try the ABC News Now stream.
Ustream.tv
Ustream.tv is a lifecasting and live streaming Website. That means you'll get your fair share of "lifecasters" (people who enjoy having you watch them on camera 24/7) as well as a large number of live events (notable past events include the 2008 presidential election). Channels to check out include CBS Breaking News, PBS News Hour, and Oscars Live.
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