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15 Best Free TV Channels
Here are the best internet free TV channels to watch online, all of which are both free and legal.
1. BBC Channels
The BBC makes all of its TV license-funded TV channels available for free via the iPlayer service. You can watch BBC 1, BBC 2, BBC 4, BBC News, BBC Parliament, BBC Alba, CBBC, and CBeebies.
Unfortunately, other BBC Studios channels that are not funded by the license fee (Alibi, Dave, Drama, Eden, Gold, W, and Yesterday) are not available. The BBC’s international channels—such as BBC America and BBC Persian—are also not available.
If you don’t live in the UK, you’ll need to use a VPN. We recommend ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.
2. Bloomberg Television
Bloomberg is one of the leading sources for business and market news. It produces four international TV channels which you can stream for free. These are Bloomberg US, Bloomberg Europe, Bloomberg Asia, and Bloomberg Australia.
All four TV channels are online. You can stream them for free via Bloomberg’s website. The US version is also available on Pluto TV.
3. Sky News
The UK-based Sky News is one of the best free internet TV channels for news junkies. You can watch it for free on the Sky News website and via the Sky News YouTube channel; you don’t need a cable package to tune in, and you can watch the YouTube feed from anywhere in the world.
Sky News does not impose any geographical restrictions. You can watch the TV channel online, no matter where in the world you are.
4. ABC
ABC is an American network. It has a focus on talk shows, dramas, lifestyle shows, and news. There is also a smattering of sports content.
ABC broadcasts international versions in many countries. However, if you want to watch the US edition of the network for free online, you can do so via the USTVNow service.
ABC is just one of five TV channels you can watch for free on the service. The other four are CBS, PBS, MyTV 9, and CW. All the channels are only available in standard definition.
The channel is only officially available to American citizens living abroad, but there are several workarounds you can use to gain access.
5. FOX Sports
FOX Sports is a unique internet TV channel that you can watch online for free.
However, it is not the same version of the TV channel that you’d receive via a cable subscription or from an app like Hulu or FuboTV. Although the majority of the schedule is the same as FOX Sports 1, it does not feature any live sports.
You can, however, still enjoy highlights reels, sports commentary and analysis shows, and other regular programming.
You can watch the online-only web TV channel in the US, UK, Germany, and Austria on Pluto TV.
6. Eleven Sports Network
Eleven Sports is a UK-based sports network that’s been steadily growing in popularity and influence since its launch in 2015.
The US edition is called Eleven Sports Network. You can watch it for free on Pluto TV if you’re inside the United States. Other users will need to use a VPN.
The channel has the broadcast rights for the North American Soccer League (NASL), the Big Sky Conference, Spain’s top basketball league (Liga Endesa), the Swedish Hockey League, the World Rally Championship, the Can-Am Baseball league, and some eSports tournaments.
7. France 24
If you like to watch free online TV channels from around the world online, France 24 is worth checking out. It’s a French state-owned national broadcaster with a focus on news and magazine content.
Four versions of the channel are produced: the French edition, along with English, Arabic, and Spanish broadcasts.
You can watch the international TV channels (as well as the French broadcast) for free on the France 24 website and YouTube.
8. CNN
Many people wrongly assume that it’s impossible to watch CNN for free. After all, it’s part of most cable providers’ premium packages.
But it is possible! Again, Pluto TV provides the answer. As long as you’re in the US, you can stream the domestic version of the TV channel for free. Non-US residents will need a VPN.
9. ITV Channels
ITV is another British network. Unlike the BBC, ITV is independently owned. The network makes six of its channels available for free online to anyone with a UK-based IP address. They are ITV 1, ITV 2, ITV 3, ITV 4, CITV, and ITVBe. ITV Box Office and The Store are not available.
The free online channels offer the usual mix of news, drama, talk shows, and children’s programming.
Where the network excels for international cord-cutters, however, is its list of sports content. The network holds the rights to La Liga, the UEFA European Championship, the FIFA World Cup, the Rugby World Cup, the Six Nations, the French Open, the Tour de France, and the Cheltenham Festival.
10. Nick Jr.
Like its FOX Sports channel, Pluto broadcasts a specially adapted version of Nick Jr. to anyone living in the US, the UK, Germany, or Austria. It is another great source of free TV online.
Kids’ programs on Nick Jr. include Dora the Explorer, Wallykazam, Peppa Pig, Bubble Guppies, and Nella the Princess Knight.
11. Fubo Sports Network
Fubo Sports Network launched in June 2019. Originally only available via the Fubo app, it is now available on more than 75 million devices after Plex, Pluto, and The Roku Channel all started offering the channel for free.
You will also find the channel built into some smart TVs, including models from Samsung and Vizio.
The network offers live sports, panel shows, analysis, and more. Check out our list of the best sports streaming sites if that’s still not enough content!
12. Channel 4
Channel 4 is another popular UK network. It was the original home of Black Mirror, The Inbetweeners, Peep Show, The IT Crowd, Da Ali G Show, and many other series that have become famous in the US.
You can stream Channel 4—along with its subsidiary channels such as E4, More4, and Film4—directly on the website. You need to live in the UK to access them, but VPN logins are allowed for people elsewhere.
13. CBC News
CBC is the largest broadcaster in Canada. Its news channel, CBC News, is one of the most widely watched networks in the country.
Cable subscribers in the US and UK will probably be able to find the channel in their program guide. However, you don’t need an expensive TV package to be able to tune in.
CBC News is aired for free on the CBC site. If you don’t live in Canada, you will need to use a VPN to spoof your location.
14. NFL Channel
If you are an NFL fan, make sure you check out the NFL Channel on Pluto.
The channel does not show live games (you’ll normally need a subscription to the NFL Network or a cable TV package for that, though there are some ways to watch the NFL without cable), but it does still offer plenty of quality content from both NFL Films and NFL Media.
For example, you can watch the award-winning Hard Knocks series, dozens of team and season recaps, and replays of classic matches.
In our opinion, it is one of the best ways to enjoy NFL content for free.
15. PBS Kids
If you live in the USA, you can watch PBS Kids for free via the Locast service. PBS Kids offers plenty of content for children of all ages, meaning it’s a useful channel to keep handy if you have little ones.
In case you’re not aware, Locast is a completely free service that specializes in local TV channels from across the USA. Other channels on the app include Comet, CW, NBC, Univision, and ABC, along with their local derivatives. If you live outside the USA, you will need to use a VPN.
PBS Kids is also available directly on the PBS Kids website.
Don’t Forget About Paid Internet TV Channels
Although it’s possible to watch live TV and on-demand TV shows online for free, if you want a complete line-up of premium networks, you can subscribe to one of the many paid live TV streaming apps. Your options include Sling, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, and YouTube TV.
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