Perhaps the most obvious destinations for accessing free streaming are the network websites of NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX. New American episodes are usually posted to the website database within hours of airing on the West Coast. Programming is often limited to the most recent episodes that have aired. Some popular shows, such as South Park, have their own site where episodes are available. Sports broadcasts are rarely streamed live in their entirety because of league copyright agreements.
Hulu is a site that essentially encompasses programming from the four major networks, as well as some others. For most shows, the last five or six episodes to air are the only ones available to view, whether they are new or reruns. High-definition video is available for many programs, allowing the user to connect his computer to an HD monitor or to view on an Internet-ready TV. The site also has a selection of movies. For a fee, you can buy a premium TV service that allows you to access more shows and sometimes an entire series.
Fancast is a website that the major United States cable provider Comcast operates. From a free TV streaming standpoint, the site is designed similarly to Hulu and the major networks' sites. A select number of episodes are available at a given time and are frequently updated to the site upon airing. Additional Fancast features include a selection of free movies and entertainment news. For a charge, you can rent newly released movies On Demand, much like a digital cable provider.
Channel 131 is a free video-streaming website that is hosted internationally. On the surface, the site has had little mainstream publicity and the quality of television and film video is often not as high as more well-known sites. Despite what some might consider low marks, the site is widely-used and was safe and legal as of 2010. Rather than offering hundreds of titles like other sites, Channel 131 typically offers between 20 and 40 of the most popular shows at one time. Program availability varies depending on what site managers upload. Though the list of titles can change without notice, the home page is simple and does not require much navigation. It has also been known to have updated episodes of some cable shows that you cannot find on major sites. The site also allows you to download programs, but that might require downloading a plug-in.