Watching TV online is possible and not illegal. Several broadcasters and services offer the possibility of catching linear programming through websites and applications, offering a way for viewers to be able to catch their favorite productions wherever they are.
Internet TV transmission – known as IPTV – is a legitimate service that is widely used by broadcasters all over the planet. There are services that promise to circumvent subscription plans, however, this type of offer is illegal. In this article, the Technology Refugee explains the operation of services for watching TV on the Internet that are legal, that is, offered or officially licensed by the copyright holders.
Watch TV online on mobile
Using broadcaster applications, it is possible to watch TV online on your Android or iPhone cell phone from anywhere in the world.
It is worth remembering that some devices support digital TV, that is, they are already able to reproduce the content of the broadcasters without even needing an internet connection. However, models without digital TV need to count online streaming.
Watch TV Online on PC
By web browser or in some cases even through specific applications, it is possible to turn your PC into a TV, linear programming transmission and everything else. There are pirated services with illegal links that are often the target of police actions, but there are also broadcasters that offer all programming over the internet at no additional cost to users. If you don't have a TV set or suffer from antenna signal problems, online streaming can be the way to catch a soap opera, or even a football game.
Watch TV online on smart TV
Is your TV smart and you, for some reason, cannot get a good signal through the antenna? Then you can go online to broadcast from some stations to catch the content on your TV. Some channels have their own application compatible with different types of smart TVs, making life easier for those who want to catch up with linear programming over the internet.
Watch TV online on TV that is not smart
Products like the Amazon Fire Stick, Google Chromecast and various set-top boxes allow a TV without smart capabilities to access even content available over the internet. Thus, Globoplay services and the broadcast of Rede Globo's live programming can be watched from an internet connection, in case you are without an antenna or somewhere that does not receive the broadcaster's signal well.
It is worth noting that online TV broadcasts often work similarly to Netflix and Disney+ services, that is, from an application that can be installed on your device. Thus, a TV that is not smart would necessarily need some kind of product to be able to access this content available on the internet.
Websites and apps to watch TV online [free]
Below, we list some of the services to watch TV online for free – that is, access to programming is free even for those who do not have any type of operator subscription or streaming service. In general, the online TV content available is that of the major Spanish broadcasters, but there is also a service with special programming from different production companies around the world.
Pluto TV
Pluto TV is a streaming system that mixes linear programming with on-demand offerings. That is, you can turn on one of the many channels offered and simply watch what is on, or you can select what you want.
Belonging to Via, the same owner of Paramount+, Pluto TV has programming from MTV, edy Central and Nickelodeon. In the various channels offered, it is possible to watch anime, movies, series, children's programming and more. Check out the special article prepared by Technology Refugee to learn more about Pluto TV.
Globe
It is possible to watch Globo programming both through the Globoplay app (available for Android and iOS) and through the service's website. Although Globo requires registration to access the channel online, the transmission is free. That is, even if you are not a subscriber to any of the plans offered by Globoplay, you can watch the channel online via PC or cell phone. Subscribing to the service offers other advantages – access to the content of some paid channels of the Globo group.
SBT Videos
Another of the country's major broadcasters offering a simple way to catch TV programming over the internet is SBT. Just go to the official website of Silvio Santos' channel to be able to watch it on a puter, for example. Or, if you're on your cell phone, the SBT Videos app (available for Android and iOS) not only has linear programming but also gives you access to videos related to the content transmitted by the channel for free.
bandplay
Through the computer's browser, just access the Band's official website to catch the station's live programming. On mobile, the BandPlay app offers access to live programming as well as on-demand content – if you missed an episode of MasterChef, for example, you can simply open the app (available for Android and iOS) to watch it.
Record TV
Record also offers access to linear programming over the internet. Anyone who wants to pick up content from the station on their PC or cell phone will need to access the PlayPlus service, Record's streaming service. Within it, it is possible to watch Record for free on the internet. The service can be accessed via a web browser or via an application available for Android and iOS phones.
Other platforms to watch TV online
In addition to the signal from the main broadcasters being made available free of charge over the internet, there are services that also offer access to paid channels and various other types of content. Check out some of them below:
balloon play
You don't need to be a Globoplay subscriber to watch Rede Globo programming. But, if you subscribe to any of the packages offered by the service, you will have access to extra content – and this may include linear programming of Grupo Globo channels.
The Globoplay package + live channels, which costs from R$42,90 per month (in the annual plan; the monthly plan costs R$49,90), includes the following paid channels: Multishow, GloboNews, SporTV, SporTV2, SporTV3, GNT, Viva, Gloob, Gloobinho, Megapix, Universal, Studio, Syfy, Canal Brasil, Canal Off, Bis and More on Screen. Access is via the app (available for Android and iOS) or the Globoplay website.
DirecTV Go
nearly 90 channels, DirecTV Go is an exclusive pay TV package for the internet. or like that? It works more or less the same as if you hired a carrier package, but exclusive transmission over the internet, either through the DirecTV Go application or through broadcaster apps.
Costing BRL 69,90 per month, a discount for those who purchase the annual plan, DirecTV Go has several sports channels, series, movies, news and much more. Check out all the stations included in the service here.
TNT Go
TNT Go is the streaming service for TNT group channels. Available both through the web browser and through applications for Android, iOS and smart TV platforms, it allows you to watch live programming from TNT, TNT Séries and Space channels. Access is restricted to subscribers of pay TV operators; there is no option to subscribe to the service independently.
For sports content on TNT Sports, which includes, for example, the broadcast of the UEFA Champions League, you need to access a different application, called TNT Sports Stadium, which allows the user to subscribe without depending on any operator.
Guigo TV
Like DirecTV Go, Guigo TV is a pay TV package accessible over the internet. Costing from R$ 20,90, it allows you to watch the linear programming of more than 60 channels, the possibility of adding some specific stations by subscribing to new packages.
Guigo TV's basic offer, which costs BRL 20,90 per month, has 52 channels: SBT; RecordTV; TV network!; BAND; TV Gazette; Disney Junior; ESPN Extra; CNN Brasil; Terraviva; Culture TV; Aparecida TV; Las Estrellas; DW Deutsch; DW Spanish; TV5MONDE; Rai Italia; BBC World News; Al Jazeera English; Al Jazeera Arabic; AZ World; AZ Corazon; AZ Click; AZ Cinema; Nuestra Tele Internacional; RCN Novelas; NTN 24; Metropolis Network; TVVideoNews; PixTV; Access TV; Yeeaah; CTV; Big Christmas TV; Life Channel; MasterTV; Brazil; UTV network; Future TV; Central TV; Mon HD TV; Caxias TV Network; Sertão Diary; TV WTJ Mines; BR Super TV; TV Germana; Prime TV; Polidoro TV; Araruna TV; TV Avivando Nações; MilAgro Brasil and TV Florida USA.
The service also offers four extra thematic packages: for R$ 24,90, users can watch sports channels like ESPN and BandSports; for R$16,90 the Novelas package adds the TLN Network and another on-demand catalogue; for R$12,90, the service adds Disney Channel and Disney XD children's channels; and for R$24,90 the Family package adds AMC, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Film&Arts, Eurochannel, Arte1, BandSports, BandNews, SmithSonian and Agromais.
Claro TV Box
Another pay TV service over the internet, Claro TV Box is an offer from the operator that not only offers access to channels via cell phone and smart TV applications, but also allows users to watch linear programming through a set-top box. channels and services included in the subscriber package.
Costing from R$25, Claro TV Box offers flexibility for the user to choose which channels will be part of the subscription package. The basic plan includes Band, Rede TV, SBT, Cultura, Record, Polishop and TV Brasil, but the Top HD package, which costs an additional R$59,90 per month, includes more than 100 channels. Check out more information on the official website of the service.
Hi Play
As in the case of Claro and DirecTV, Oi Play is a service offered by the operator for those who want to watch TV over the Internet, without the need for a technical visit to install the service. Oi Play is an application for Android and iOS that can be accessed by customers of Oi Fibra, TV or postpaid plans of the operator, or also by those who prefer to make a separate subscription.
From BRL 4,90 per month, Oi Play offers online access to channels such as Band, CNN Brasil, TV Cultura and more. Those who choose the R$ 19,90 package also get Record TV, SBT, Rede TV, Band Sports, Band News and much more. Check out more information on the official website of the service.
Is watching TV online a crime?
Considering that broadcasters offer their own signal over the internet, it is not a crime to watch TV online. However, there are sites that allow you to watch paid content for free, which constitutes piracy. These pirated IPTV services are constantly targeted by police operations, the entire service being taken offline to prevent further copyright infringement.
To recall some of the biggest cases related to pirated IPTV, in November 2020 an action by the Ministry of Justice called Operation 404 overthrew services that reached more than 26 million users in Brazil. Out of here, also in 2020, the European Union brought down a network that supplied more than 50 million users and had 5.500 servers.
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