Which device/app for watching recent tv episodes

[youdontwannaknow]

There are a few devices out there - Roku, Apple TV, Fire, Chromecast. My main purpose is to use it as a substitute for DVR so watching episodes of tv shows mainly on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX. There are tons of apps on these devices but not very clear which lends itself better to watching tv show episodes for free. If anyone has any of these devices that have apps that will let me do this without a paid subscription please advise.
Thanks.

 

[dparm]

All of those devices just access existing content. None of them gives you any additional free content beyond what's already out there.

Buy the device that is easiest to use. Their interfaces are all different.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: youdontwannaknow
If anyone has any of these devices that have apps that will let me do this without a paid subscription please advise.
Thanks.

The devices you mention all require paid apps or Hulu Plus subscription to do that.

One way to watch Hulu Free on your TV is to take your existing laptop and hook it up to the TV directly:

http://webtrends.about.com/od/webportals/a/how_to_watch_hulu_on_your_tv.htm

Alternatively, you could try opening up Hulu in Chrome browser and casting it to Chromecast, but the quality isn't good, IME. Obviously this will greatly depend on the quality of your wireless connection.

 

[dlundblad]

Give Crackle a try. It is free so there is a lot of hit and miss, but they do have movies and shows. I have it on the iPad and the PS3. You should be able to access it through your PC too if you make an account and prove you are over 17. Lol.

Not too sure what the listed stations play because we don't have network TV at home.

 

[Texan4Life]

It wont make a good DVR sub.

Hulu and Amazon Prime (prefer prime got rid of hulu cuz of their ads) both require a subscription.

I have a roku

 

[MrHorspwer]

Originally Posted By: youdontwannaknow
...will let me do this without a paid subscription please advise.


That's gonna be your sticking point. If you want up-to-the-minute episodes, you're going to pay for them. Either you're going to pay for them through a subscription service like Hulu Plus (which still may not have the shows you want) or you're going to pay for a season a la carte through something like iTunes.

You could always get an OTA antenna and get your own DVR. TiVo requires a subscription, but there are others like the Channel Master DVR+ that don't. You could also build a HTPC with a TV tuner card in it.

My family's home watching consists of a ClearStream OTA antenna, a TiVo, and an Apple TV. For subscriptions, we are Amazon Prime subscribers (not because of the streaming service), as well as Netflix (both streaming and disc).

Even with all this, I still pay to watch The Walking Dead through iTunes.

 

[rjundi]

If you don't have cable TV already for your purposes $8/month gets you a DVR from https://www.aereo.com/ with reception. It can play from apple device to Apple TV and Roku. No chromecast app yet(my device and $30).

Alternatively I concur with Quattro Pete on Chromecast with free stuff. I get an excellent connection using a powerhorse laptop(i7) hooked to ethernet and decent wireless router for Chromecast in home. Using Chromecast with two devices on wireless is not as good of quality.