WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Watch classic and recent TV series on-demand for free
• Stream hundreds of live TV channels in your browser
• Sync your viewing across your PC, phone and TV
• Use a VPN to access free US streaming services
• Enjoy thousands of free movies and documentaries
• Watch free films without ads using your library card
• Stream live news from CNN without a subscription
Earlier this year, it was reported that two million UK homes had cancelled their subscriptions to streaming services since the cost-of-living crisis began (www.snipca.com/47542). With Netflix and Disney+ recently increasing their monthly prices, we imagine that figure is now much higher, especially if you include cancelling expensive TV packages from Sky, BT and Virgin Media.
Although there are plenty of shows to stream for free on BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and My5 (though obviously you need a TV licence to watch them live, and on-demand on iPlayer), there comes a point when you’ve seen everything you want and miss the variety offered by paid-for services.
Thankfully, you can save money while enjoying a constant stream of entertainment by tuning into free online TV channels. In the last few years, these services have significantly improved the quality and quantity of their content. Once limited to obscure reality shows and dreadful low-budget movies, they now include TV series and films from major broadcasters and studios, and even produce their own programmes.
In this feature, we recommend the 20 best free web TV channels that will keep you entertained without costing you a penny. They’re all available in the UK (though on page 53 we mention some that aren’t), don’t require a subscription and are supported by an acceptable number of adverts.
Freevee
Freevee is the closest free equivalent to a paid-for streaming service such as Netflix, aside from those provided by UK broadcasters. Owned by Amazon, and originally called IMDb TV, it offers a huge selection of TV shows and films, and numerous ways to watch them.
Freevee is available through the Prime Video app for smart TVs and mobile devices; via the Prime Video section of the Amazon website (at the link above); and as a separate app for Fire TV, Google TV, Roku, Apple TV+, and Android and iOS. This makes it ideal if you like to stream on different devices, and once you sign in with your
