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How to Watch The Bachelorette Online
How to Watch The Bachelorette Online
| Top 3 VPNs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Our Top Choice! |
ExpressVPN |
|
Check Best Price → |
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Surfshark |
|
Check Best Price → |
 |
NordVPN |
|
Check Best Price → |
The Bachelorette is a dating show that is a spin off of The Bachelor. In the Bachelorette a pool of men dates the same woman. That woman decides episode by episode to eliminate one of the candidates, until there is only one man left, who is the season winner. Find out how to watch The Bachelorette online.
Where to stream The Bachelorette online
The Bachelorette first aired in January 2003. It is a reality dating game and is a spinoff of The Bachelor. This show has the same format of its forerunner but with the sexes reversed. In this version a pool of men competes to win the approval of one woman.
The distributors of The Bachelorette sold the format of the show abroad rather than recorded episodes. Thus, there are local versions of The Bachelorette in many countries rather than rebroadcasts of the original US TV show. These national versions of The Bachelorette are aired in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, New Zealand, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland.
US viewers
The Bachelorette is now into season 16. The latest season was expected to air on ABC in May 2020. However, due to Coronavirus, this season has been delayed until further notice. The series is a property of ABC and can be watched online at the ABC.com website. When the show is airing, it can be watched live at ABC.com and also the latest five episodes are available on the website for catchup.
In order to watch The Bachelorette on ABC.com you need to be in the USA and you need to enter the details of your cable TV package. If you don’t have a cable TV service at home, you can get ABC online through Hulu + Live TV, AT&T TV Now, or YouTube TV.
UK viewers
The Bachelorette (US version) is broadcast on ITV Be in the UK. The ITV streaming service, ITV Hub makes the latest four episodes as they are broadcast each week. The channel is showing its first airing of season 15 during the summer of 2020.
Confusingly, Channel 5 in the UK shows The Bachelorette Australia, but it doesn’t make it available on its video streaming service, My5.
Worldwide
The US version of The Bachelorette is available in Canada on City TV. The Bachelorette Canada is shown on W Network.
In Australia, Network Ten has The Bachelorette Australia and it is available on the 10Play website. The US version of the show is not available in Australia. The local version of The Bachelorette in New Zealand is shown on TVNZ and is available at TVNZ On Demand.
Free The Bachelorette streaming channels in 2020
In most countries, the local version of The Bachelorette and is shown on terrestrial channels all of which can be accessed for free on the corresponding website of the station.
Why use a VPN to stream The Bachelorette
The Bachelorette doesn’t travel. Many US TV shows are aired in other countries but The Bachelorette is remade for each country. TV streaming services only have the rights to show a TV series in specific countries. In most cases, that is just the home country of the service. The computers that send out the video streams from those services check on where a request for a video comes from. This is possible because the standard addressing system for the internet, called the IP address, can be referenced to a physical location.
A VPN is a connection privacy service that hides the origin of a request delivered over the internet. A user of a VPN downloads an app, which is the “client.” That service connects to a remote “server.” Then all of the internet traffic from the protected computer gets sent to the VPN server, which forwards the traffic on to its final destination. Leaving the VPN, all requests have the return address of the VPN server on them rather than the real IP address of the protected device.
By selecting to connect to a VPN server in a different country, the4 customer of the service can make it seem that they are in that country. Thus, the VPN gets the video streaming service to send out a video stream to a viewer who would otherwise be blocked because of location restrictions.
For the record, BestVPN.org does not condone copyright infringement but promotes online privacy and security inherent in legitimate VPNs.
How to stream The Bachelorette with a VPN
Getting overseas access to a video streaming service in order to watch The Bachelorette is very easy with a VPN.
- Subscribe to a VPN – the following sections list some good ones.
- Install the VPN app on your device. Open the app and log in.
- Scroll through the server list and click on an entry in the country of the video service that you want to connect to.
- Open a browser or the dedicated app for the streaming service.
- Connect to the streaming service.
- Log into your streaming account.
- You can now watch The Bachelorette.
The VPN doesn’t get around the membership requirements of a video streaming service. It can only change your perceived location. So, if you access a streaming service that requires a login, you still need to set up an account at that service in order to get access.
The 5 best VPNs for streaming The Bachelorette from anywhere
1. ExpressVPN
- More than 3,000 servers in 94 countries
- Unblocks most streaming sites, including Netflix
- High speeds for streaming
- Customer support available 24/7 via online chat
- Highest level encryption
- Kill switch to prevent unprotected connections
- Allowance of five simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Monthly plan costs $12.95
- Lowest plan price is $8.32 per month
2. Surfshark
- More than 1,700 servers in 63 countries
- Unblocks most streaming services, including Netflix
- IP address leak protection and a kill switch
- Good speeds for uninterrupted streaming
- Kill switch to prevent unprotected connections
- Unlimited simultaneous connection allowance
- Ad blocker included
- Customer support available 24/7 via live chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Monthly plan costs $11.95
- Lowest plan price is $1.99 per month
3. NordVPN
- More than 5,513 servers in 59 countries
- Six simultaneous connections
- Streaming speed accelerator
- CyberSec online security included
- Kill switch
- Gets past Netflix location detection
- A no logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Monthly plan costs $11.95
- Lowest plan price is $3.49 per month
4. IPVanish
- More than 1,500 servers in 55 countries
- Very high speeds for streaming
- A strict zero logs policy
- Kill switch
- Private DNS system
- Gets into Netflix and other streaming services
- Allowance of 10 simultaneous connections
- Includes SugarSync secure cloud storage
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Monthly plans cost $10.00
- Lowest plan price is $3.70 per month
5. CyberGhost
- More than 6,300 servers in 90 countries
- Good speeds for streaming
- Zero logs policy
- Full account anonymity
- Simultaneous connection allowance of seven devices
- Free 24-hour trial
- Very strong encryption
- 45-day money back guarantee
- Monthly plans cost $12.99
- Lowest plan price is $2.75 per month
How to Watch The Good Place Online
How to Watch The Good Place Online
| Top 3 VPNs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Top Choice! |
ExpressVPN |
|
Check Best Price → |
|
Surfshark |
|
Check Best Price → |
|
NordVPN |
|
Check Best Price → |
The Good Place is a comedy set in a post-life paradise. The plot follows the experiences of Eleanor Shellstrop, played by Kristen Bell, and her efforts to learn the rules of living in heaven. Eleanor is guided by Michael, who is played by Ted Danson. Other stars of the show include William Jackson-Harper, D’Arcy Carden, Jameela Jamil, and Manny Jacinto.
Where to stream The Good Place online
First airing in September 2016, The Good Place recently completed its fourth series, which was the last. That fourth season ended in January 2020, bringing the total number of episodes of The Good Place to 53. While there won’t be any more opportunities to watch new episodes of The Good Place, the series is still recent and there are places to watch all four seasons back-to-back at video on demand streaming services.
US viewers
The Good Place was produced by NBC and first airing of all episodes occurred on that network. It is still available for streaming at NBC.com. the series is also available on Hulu.
Netflix has the first three series of The Good Place.
The series is available for purchase per episode or per series at Amazon but it is not part of the library for Amazon Prime Video.
UK viewers
All seasons of The Good Place are available in the UK library of Netflix.
Worldwide
You can get The Good Place in Australia and New Zealand on Netflix.
Free The Good Place streaming channels in 2020
In Canada, terrestrial TV channel Global TV has the rights to broadcast The Good Place. The service streams the video for free on its website but only to viewers who are physically located in Canada.
Why use a VPN to stream The Good Place
A VPN is a subscription service that enables customers to appear to be in another location. This service is of interest to those who want to access video streaming services from different countries.
The entertainment industry issues broadcast licenses based on territories – which usually means countries. That means that even though you can access a US streaming service on the internet from anywhere in the world, it will only play its videos for you if you are physically located in the USA.
So VPNs are ideal for getting around those location restrictions. Regional restrictions on video streaming sites don’t disappear if you pay for access. For example, if you subscribe to Hulu in the USA, it won’t stream any videos to you if you travel abroad, even though the subscription you paid is ticking down.
A VPN service usually has many servers spread around the world. The system requires a client program running on the protected device, which the user downloads from the service’s website after subscribing. On logging in to the client interface, the user needs to pick a server to connect to. The servers are listed by location. So, in order to get into a US streaming service from another country, the user just needs to select a VPN servicer in the USA and press the connect button.
Once the VPN connection is active. All traffic to and from that device will pass through the VPN. The address on all of the requests traveling out of the VPN server will have that service’s IP address on it, so, if the server is in the USA, the request for a video will arrive at the US streaming service with a US return address on it and the video will be sent. The VPN server then forwards the video stream on to the requesting device.
For the record, BestVPN.org does not condone copyright infringement but promotes online privacy and security inherent in legitimate VPNs.
How to stream The Good Place with a VPN
- Get a VPN subscription – the best VPN providers are listed below.
- Install the VPN client on your device, run it, and log in.
- Select a server from the location list. Make sure it is in the country that you want to appear to be in.
- Open a browser or the dedicated app for the streaming service.
- Connect to the streaming service.
- Log into your streaming account.
- You should be able to stream The Good Place.
A VPN won’t get you into a pay streaming service without an account. It just changes the location that you seem to be in and protects your internet communication. It can’t break into systems that require login credentials.
The 5 best VPNs for streaming The Good Place from anywhere
1. ExpressVPN
- More than 3,000 servers in 94 countries
- Unblocks most streaming sites, including Netflix
- High speeds for streaming
- Customer support available 24/7 via online chat
- Highest level encryption
- Kill switch to prevent unprotected connections
- Allowance of five simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Monthly plan costs $12.95
- Lowest plan price is $8.32 per month
2. Surfshark
- More than 1,700 servers in 63 countries
- Unblocks most streaming services, including Netflix
- IP address leak protection and a kill switch
- Good speeds for uninterrupted streaming
- Kill switch to prevent unprotected connections
- Unlimited simultaneous connection allowance
- Ad blocker included
- Customer support available 24/7 via live chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Monthly plan costs $11.95
- Lowest plan price is $1.99 per month
3. NordVPN
- More than 5,513 servers in 59 countries
- Six simultaneous connections
- Streaming speed accelerator
- CyberSec online security included
- Kill switch
- Gets past Netflix location detection
- A no logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Monthly plan costs $11.95
- Lowest plan price is $3.49 per month
4. IPVanish
- More than 1,500 servers in 55 countries
- Very high speeds for streaming
- A strict zero logs policy
- Kill switch
- Private DNS system
- Gets into Netflix and other streaming services
- Allowance of 10 simultaneous connections
- Includes SugarSync secure cloud storage
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Monthly plans cost $10.00
- Lowest plan price is $3.70 per month
5. CyberGhost
- More than 6,300 servers in 90 countries
- Good speeds for streaming
- Zero logs policy
- Full account anonymity
- Simultaneous connection allowance of seven devices
- Free 24-hour trial
- Very strong encryption
- 45-day money back guarantee
- Monthly plans cost $12.99
- Lowest plan price is $2.75 per month
Best Free Movie Streaming Sites – 2020
Best Free Movie Streaming Sites – 2020
| Top 3 VPNs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Top Choice! |
ExpressVPN |
|
Check Best Price → |
|
Surfshark |
|
Check Best Price → |
|
NordVPN |
|
Check Best Price → |
There are many options for video streaming entertainment today. So much so that many people now don’t bother with a cable TV subscription in order to watch movies and TV shows. However, you don’t need to pay to watch movies online because there are plenty of streaming sites that offer free movies.
Some streaming sites that charge people to watch movies or TV shows also have free movies available. Other streaming services offer free movies and TV series but charge a premium for the latest entertainment.
You probably know about fee-charging streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. Those big streaming services have big advertising budgets, which streaming services that offer free movies don’t have. So, you are less likely to have heard of free movie streaming sites, which is why we decided to make this guide available.
The expensive video streaming sites have the money to pay for the exclusive broadcast rights to the very latest movies. The high costs of those rights to popular movies are out of the reach of free movie streaming sites. So, don’t expect to be able to watch the latest Hollywood movie blockbusters or new releases from Disney. Free movie sites are more likely to show classic movies, original content that is in the public domain, and different genres that cater to niche markets, such as anime or Bollywood movies.
The best free movie streaming websites
You can waste a lot of time looking for movie streaming sites that will let you watch free movies and TV shows. However, we have tracked down the best site to save you from trawling through all of the streaming services out there. Here is our list of the best free movie streaming site in 2020:
- Crackle
- Popcornflix
- Vudu
- Tubi TV
- Pluto TV
- CONtv
- Classic Cinema Online
- YouTube
- Kanopy
- Hoopla
You can read more about each of these options to stream movies in the following sections.
1. Crackle
Crackle used to be a division of Sony, so you might see it referred to as “Sony Crackle.” However, Sony has sold off a majority stake in the free streaming site and now it is just called Crackle. The company that took over Crackle is called Chicken Soup for the Soul and it specializes in publishing self-help and motivational books. This ethos extends to the Crackle free video streaming service.
What makes it different
Most of the streaming site’s original content is streamed in HD quality. The user-friendly homepage makes searching for your favorite movies as easy as ABC. The TV shows are mostly in the real-life motivational and self-help TV series category, which are high quality productions. It includes reruns of TV series and movies.
Pros
- You can watch free movies on this streaming service.
- You don’t need to set up an account on this free streaming service in order to what free movies and TV shows.
- Signing up for a free account gives you features such as a tailored video library on your homepage.
- You can watch Crackle through a web browser, straight to a smart TV, through a streaming device, such as Roku or Fire TV and there are also mobile apps for video streaming on Android and iOS devices.
Cons
- Crackle is only available in the USA and Australia.
2. Popcornflix
Sometimes written as Popcorn Flix, this free video streaming service is ad-supported. It has a large library of full-length movies, with most of them being old. However, the site does also have original content and, although it has TV shows, the new release free movies on this streaming service are its biggest draw.
What makes it different
Signing up for an account isn’t compulsory in order to stream movies through a web browser. However, accounts are available and they are free.
Pros
- All of the content on Popcornflix is free
- Popcornflix includes short films from new directors as well as popular movie genres such as Thriller, Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Family, and Comedy
- You can watch movies through a web browser, a mobile app for iOS devices, Roku, and Fire TV devices
- You can stream movies through an Xbox or PlayStation 3 game console
Cons
- Popcornflix will only allow video streaming to people located in the USA and Canada.
3. Vudu
Vudu is a video rental service that delivers through a streaming service. It is owned by Walmart. The majority of the content on this movie website is charged for, but you can also watch free movies here. Look out for the Vudu Movies on Us section, or just search for free movies – there are quite a lot on there. The video quality is good, with a lot of movies in HD quality or above and there are also videos of TV shows available to watch.
The new release blockbusters are all for rent or buy, but there are a lot of classic movies on the site and even some different genres, such as anime and Bollywood movies.
What makes it different
Signing up costs nothing and you can also just browse the popular movies for rent even if you don’t intend to watch them.
Pros
- Vudu will stream straight to smart TVs and you can also watch movies from Vudu on a TV set through Roku, Apple TV, Android TV boxes, and Fire TV devices
- Vudu will stream through an Xbox or a PlayStation games console as well
- You can watch movies at the Vudu site through a web browser or through a mobile app for Android or iOS devices
- It is possible to stream from a web browser or the mobile app onto a TV set with Google Chromecast
Cons
- Vudu will only stream movies to locations within the United States
4. Tubi TV
Tubi TV is really just called Tubi, but everyone refers to it as Tubi TV. It is the largest free movie and TV series streaming service in the USA. The service has recently been acquired by Fox corporation.
The video streaming library of Tubi TV contains more than 20,000 free movies and TV shows. The streaming service is available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, India, and Australia.
What makes it different
Signing up to the service is very easy. You need to give your name, date of birth, and email address. The email address has to be real because you will be sent a verification email before your account is activated.
Pros
- You can stream free movies and TV series directly through a smart TV or channel it from the internet through Roku, Amazon Fire TV devices, Android TV boxes, and through an Xfinity or Cox hub
- Xbox and PlayStation games consoles can be used to stream movies from Tubi TV onto a TV screen.
- It is possible to watch Tubi TV through a website or a mobile app, which installs on Android and iOS.
- Video streams through web browsers or the mobile app can be sent to a TV screen through the Google Chromecast system
Cons
- The service isn’t accessible from Europe
5. Pluto TV
Pluto TV is completely free of charge and you don’t need to go to the trouble of signing up because you don’t need an account to watch movies or TV shows with this video streaming service.
The homepage of Pluto TV is organized as a live TV service. Although Pluto TV doesn’t carry well-known TV channels like cable TV providers do, Pluto TV creates its own channels with some very good free movies and TV series.
What makes it different
There are more than 200 live TV channels in this free video streaming service and many of them are movie channels. This is one of the best free movie sites around and it includes many popular movies and Hollywood movie blockbusters, although you won’t get those big new releases until they have been in circulation for a while.
Pros
- Pluto TV has a large video on demand library so you can watch movies to your heart's content and pay nothing
- You can watch Pluto TV on the website through a web browser
- Popup blockers don’t block the video streaming player
- There are mobile apps for Android and iOS from Pluto TV and you can send the stream from a browser or the mobile app to a TV with Google Chromecast
- Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV devices, Android TV boxes, Xfinity hub, Xboxes, and PlayStations can all stream video from Pluto TV, and smart TVs can get the streaming service directly from your internet connection
Cons
- The TV guide menu doesn’t work very well in a browser
6. CONtv
If you have heard about Viewster and wonder where it has gone, it has shut down and it has been bundled into CONtv. you might have heard about Viewster if you are a big anime fan because that streaming service has its own anime channel. However, CONtv would be your best bet for anime now.
The CONtv streaming service is ad supported. This movie website is great for Sci-Fi, thriller, and Horror fans. The website was originally set up to serve the attendants of Comic-Con events.
What makes it different
You need to go through the process of signing up for an account to watch movies on CONtv, but it’s a very straightforward process and there’s no charge.
The homepage is organized to look identical to Netflix. You scroll through the categories of free movies and then click on a title that interests you to get more information. Click on it again to watch the movie in your web browser.
Pros
- As well as being available through web browsers, this free movie streaming service can be channelled directly on a smart TV
- CONtv can be streamed through Roku, Amazon Fire TV devices, Android TV boxes, and mobile apps for Android and iOS
- Forward the video stream from your video browser or mobile app onto a TV screen with Google Chromecast
Cons
- The service stops working on mobile devices when you travel outside of the USA
7. Classic Cinema Online
As the name suggests, Classic Cinema Online shows classic movies. These are not just old movies but very old. However, the site has a large library of free movies from the 1930s and before. It even has a whole segment for silent classic movies. Movie types include Horror, Thriller, Comedy, and some very clunky low-tech Sci-Fi.
What makes it different
If you are into old movies then this is the movie website for you. The video stream is of high quality so, the lower resolution of these old films is still watchable.
Pros
- The video stream plays on the movie site through a video player, which you can expand to full screen on your computer
- TYou can stream the classic movies from your web browser to a TV with Google Chromecast
Cons
- There isn’t a mobile app for this streaming service
8. YouTube TV
Cord cutters are turning to live TV streaming services or on demand movie streaming sites as an alternative to cable TV services. One of the competitors in the cable TV replacement market is YouTube TV. That is a subscription service. However, back on the old YouTube, you can watch movies and TV shows for free.
YouTube has been around for a long time and it has a winning formula. Although the site is meant to show user-generated original content that is in the public domain, there are a lot of movies and TV series on there, too.
YouTube is a property of Google and its big money backing and longevity means it is a survivor in the video streaming industry and has ended up being a host for other streaming services. For example, SnagFilms used to run its own free video streaming service but has now shut down its movie website and just operates a channel on YouTube instead.
What makes it different
You don’t need to sign up for an account in order to watch movies on YouTube, you just have the challenge of finding them. However, once you have found one free movie that you like, the system will organize a playlist of similar content for you to watch. The homepage of the streaming site also has suggestions for videos that are popular.
Pros
- YouTube can be picked up directly on smart TVs
- A YouTube player is loaded onto most Android TV boxes
- The site can be accessed through any web browser
- There are also YouTube mobile apps for Android and iOS
- You can channel YouTube through Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices and you can also get it on a TV screen from your web browser or mobile app by using Google Chromecast
Cons
- There are millions of videos on the site, so you would need to know the name of a movie and search for it in order to find something to watch
- A lot of the videos on YouTube are not streamed in high quality
9. Kanopy
Kanopy doesn’t show Hollywood blockbusters but you should be able to find some great popular movies on the site. The HD quality of the video streaming system makes for very enjoyable viewing.
What makes it different
Kanopy has a special niche, shared with Hoopla (below). It rents videos for free on its streaming services and charges local libraries for the exposition. You need to have a library card to set up an account with this movie website but it costs nothing to join.
Pros
- You can watch videos on the site through a web browser
- There is a mobile app for Android and iOS devices
- Roku, Apple TV, and Android TV boxes and it can also be picked up on smart TVs
Cons
- Not every local library subscribes to the service
10. Hoopla
Hoopla has the same business model as Kanopy – its streaming service is free to users, but the local library of the viewer pays a fee for each play. If your local library doesn’t subscribe to Kanopy, it might use Hoopla instead.
What makes it different
As well as movie streaming, Hoopla has a library of audiobooks, music, and eBooks and all of these can be accessed through the rental concept that mimics the lending library book borrowing methodology.
There are some popular movies to choose from on the site as well as short films, children’s entertainment. There is even some good Hollywood-level blockbuster content on there because
Pros
- The streaming service has broadcast contracts with Disney, Starz, and Warner Bros
- Video streams are high quality
- The service can be streamed through web browsers or mobile apps for iOS and Android devices
Cons
- You can’t join if your library hasn’t signed up for the service
What about Popcorn Time and Putlocker?
Popcorn Time and Putlocker are torrent-based movie websites and streaming services. They don’t hold any of the movies that they make available. Instead, they are torrent tracker hosts and the videos streamed through them are sourced from many private computers all over the world. Each of these movie websites includes a video player. So, really they are torrent clients fronted by video players that stream the file immediately rather than saving it.
Unfortunately, like most torrent systems, Putlocker and Popcorn Time don’t have the broadcast rights to any of the content that they stream and neither do any of the sources of the movies that you might watch for free on those systems. So, these are pirate video streaming services.
Best Streaming Services for Sports – 2020
Best Streaming Services for Sports – 2020
| Top 3 VPNs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Top Choice! |
ExpressVPN |
|
Check Best Price → |
|
Surfshark |
|
Check Best Price → |
|
NordVPN |
|
Check Best Price → |
Sports networks are usually included with cable TV and satellite TV premium packages. The quality of sports fixtures offered by basic cable or free TV channels usually isn’t too good. Live TV broadcasts of sporting events are now almost exclusive to high-cost sports channels and many headline live games are now even being excluded from those high-priced sports channels, only available to view live as pay-per-view ticketed events.
Live TV and on-demand streaming services offer some of the best opportunities to get access to live sports fixtures and watch the experts give insights into how games can be strategized.
When considering streaming services for sports, there are two topics to consider:
- What are the best streaming services for sports?
- What are the best streaming TV packages for sports?
In this guide, I will cover the best sports streaming services and then which TV streaming service packages are the best options to get those specialist sports channels online.
What are the best sports streaming services?
Even within the category of sports streaming services, there are two divisions: sports channels run by specific sports organizations and sports networks that cover a range of sports.
First, here are the best streaming services for specific sports that gives access to live games streaming and sporting event virtual tickets:
- MLB Network
- NHL Network
- NFL Network (including NFL RedZone)
- NBA TV (including NBA League Pass)
- UFC (including UFC Fight Pass)
Here are the best TV sports networks that offer streaming services:
- ESPN (including ESPNU)
- NBC Sports Network (NBC SN)
- Fox Sports
- CBS Sports Network
- BEIN sports
- SEC network
Getting access to live games is a complicated pursuit. Many leagues sell off the rights to certain fixtures to one network, other rights to other channels, and retain rights to some games for live streaming on their own streaming services. Live TV coverage of sporting events is the most sought-after service for sports fans. Possessing the exclusive right to show live games can make or break a broadcaster and bidding is fierce for headline sporting events.
The winners of the rights to the big sporting events have to bid high and they pass that cost on to their customers. That applies to live streaming services, cable TV channels, and over-the-air channels, such as NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox. In the case of streaming services and satellite and cable TV channels, that cost is passed on in higher prices for those premium sports channels. ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox recover their costs by increasing the price of advertising slots during the broadcasting of live sports events.
Which are the best TV streaming services for sports?
The best sports streaming services are those that have the most licenses to top sporting events and they are more expensive to subscribe to. Each individual subscriber needs to examine the channel lineup in each package and decide on a budget. If you are prepared to opt for second-chance recorded coverage of sporting events rather than watch live games, the cost of the TV service becomes much cheaper. While the specialist league sports streaming services can be subscribed to directly, general sports channels usually don’t sell to the public directly. Even when they have live streaming or on demand libraries on their sites, they require visitors to log in with their TV package details before allowing them to watch any content.
The best TV streaming services for sports fans are:
- FuboTV
- AT&T TV Now (DirecTV Now)
- Hulu + Live TV
- Sling TV (Sling Orange or Sling Blue)
- YouTube TV
In all of these cases, you get the option of different TV channel lineups at different subscription prices per month. These TV services also include general entertainment channels, such as ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, TNT, and the Disney Channel.
Look into the add-on options that some of these TV services offer. Some special interest sports channels, such as the Golf Channel or the Olympic Channel might be part of a higher channel lineup package or could be available as add-ons. Premium entertainment channels such as HBO, Showtime, or Starz are also available as add-ons to these TV services.
These TV services also often include local channels that have local sports features and regional sports networks. They fully substitute for satellite or cable TV packages. These live TV streaming services are becoming increasingly attractive to people looking for an alternative to traditional TV service. This movement is called “cord cutting” and involves getting a TV service over the internet with a live TV streaming service.
No doubt, you will have noticed that the big-name streaming services Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max are not on our list. That is because these three streaming services don't include live TV and they have almost no sports extras to offer sports fans.
You can read more about our seven recommended TV services for sports fans in the following sections.
1. FuboTV
FuboTV is probably the best cord-cutting TV service for sports fans and their families. It originally started out as a streaming service for soccer fans. It then expanded to cover more sports and then added on TV shows and a channel lineup to please all of the family. So, unless you live alone, you are going to need a full live TV service like fuboTV in order to get approval for the subscription from other family members.
This is a great streaming service for sports fans.
What makes it different
The channel lineup of the top package available from fuboTV includes 173 channels and addon packages can bump that number up even further.
The standard package includes NBC SN, PAC and BEIN Sports channels, Fox Sports, the NFL Network, MSG, MSG+, and CBS Sports Network. Sports extras include a Latino sports networks package and international sports channels. Entertainment TV channels on the service include live TV from ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS, and TNT.
Pros
- Showtime is available as an add on.
- All plans include a cloud DVR with 500 hours of cloud DVR storage space.
- Each account is allowed simultaneous streams to two or three screens, depending on the package chosen.
- FuboTV is available on any computer through a browser and there are fuboTV mobile apps for Android and iOS devices. It is possible to send the TV stream from those devices to a TV with Google Chromecast.
- Smart TVs can receive fuboTV and streaming devices including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV boxes can all channel the streaming service to a TV.
Cons
- The menu of addons is quite complicated because some plans include some of the addons.
2. AT&T TV Now (DirecTV Now)
AT&T TV Now is what used to be called DirecTV Now. This is a cord cutting service that competes directly with cable TV plans. The channel lineup of this TV service is organized into two plan options: Plus, which has 45 channels and Max which has 60 channels.
What makes it different
General entertainment channels in both plans include ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CNN, TNT, the Disney Channel, MTV, and local channels. Sports channels include NBC Sports Network, ESPN, MSG, MSG+, and regional sports networks. The Max package includes HBO, Cinemax, and NBC Golf.
Pros
- HBO is available as an add on
- Other add ons include a Spanish TV package, Starz, and Showtime
- AT&T TV Now also includes catch up TV
- AT&T TV Now has an on-demand video library
- Can be watched on a computer through a browser or with a mobile app on Android and iOS devices – these can also send the TV stream to TV sets with Google Chromecast
- Smart TVs can connect to AT&T Now TV over the internet and streaming devices that are compatible with AT&T TV Now include Roku, Apple TV, Android TV boxes, and Amazon Fire TV devices
- A free cloud DVR service that can store 500 hours of TV for up to 90 days
- Each account is allowed three simultaneous streams
Cons
- Quite expensive
3. Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is the higher plan of the Hulu streaming service. While Hulu is an on-demand streaming service Hulu + Live TV adds on a cord cutting cable TV replace live TV streaming service. The Live TV plan is one standard package with 65 TV channels. This can be enhanced by addons.
What makes it different
The entertainment channels in the Live TV plan include ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, TNT, TBS, The CW, Discovery Channel, Investigation Discovery, MSNBC, Disney Channel, CNN, and Telemundo. The sports channels in the plan include NBC Sports Network, Fox Sports, CBS Sports Network, the Olympic Channel, Golf Channel, Marquee Sports Network, and ESPN. The Fox and NBC services give access to regional sports network.
Pros
- College sports are available in Hulu + Live TV through ESPNU, ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, CBS Sports Network, Big Ten Network, and SEC Network.
- Addons available with Hulu + Live TV include Showtime, Starz, HBO, and Cinemax. There is also a Spanish language channel package add on, which includes ESPN Deportes.
- Hulu + Live TV will play directly on internet-connected smart TVs.
- Hulu + Live TV has a mobile app for iOS and Android devices and can be watched through any browser. Those devices can channel the streaming service onto TV sets with Google Chromecast.
- Roku, Android TV boxes, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV devices, the Echo Show, Xfinity Flex and Xfinity X1, Xbox 360, the Xbox One, Nintendo PlayStation 3, and Nintendo PlayStation 4 can all be used as streaming devices for Hulu + Live TV.
- All subscribers get access to a free cloud DVR with 50 hours of storage, upgradable to 200 hours.
- The standard package includes two simultaneous streams, but that can be upgraded to three.
Cons
- Add ons an really bump up the monthly price
4. Sling TV (Sling Orange or Sling Blue)
Sling TV is one of the leading TV services that caters to cord cutters. Its channel lineups are offered in two plans: Sling Blue and Sling Orange. Both include sports networks, but the sports channels in Sling Orange have higher value. Consequently, though both packages have the same price, Sling Oranges has fewer channels.
What makes it different
Sling Blue offers 50 channels, which include NBC, Fox, AMC, TNT, TBS, Bravo, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network, and Nick Jr, Sports channels in the package include NFL Network, NBC Sports Network, and Fox Sports. Sling Blue subscribers get access to regional sports networks.
Sling Orange has 32 TV channels, which include AMC, TNT, TBS, Bravo, CNN, MSNBC, Disney Channel, and Disney Junior. The sports channels in Sling Orange include ESPN and ESPN2.
Pros
- Sling Blue and Sling Orange cost $30 each and you can get both for $45
- Addons to Sling TV include MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, NFL RedZone, and NHL Network. BEIN Sports, Tennis Channel Golf Channel, Olympic Channel, and ESPNEWS are other addon options
- Both packages offer college sports through PAC-12 Network as an addon. Sling Orange has the edge in this category because it also offers addons for ESPNU, ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, SEC Network, and Longhorn Network
- Sling TV streams straight onto smart TVs
- Sling TV can be accessed through browsers and mobile apps which will forward the stream to a TV with a Google Chromecast streaming device
- Subscribers get access to a large on demand video library and a free cloud DVR system
- Sling Blue has an allowance of three simultaneous streams
Cons
- Each Sling Orange account holder can only stream to one device at a time
5. YouTube TV
YouTube is a cable TV replacement service for cord cutters and is owned by Google. YouTube has been running since 2005 and is a very successful free on demand streaming service. Although it shares the same name, YouTube TV is a completely different concept to the original YouTube. This is a TV streaming service that competes with Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV and it is the third largest TV streaming service in the United States.
The TV service has one base package and then a number of addon options. This streaming service is a good option for sports fans because it includes some high-quality sports channels.
What makes it different
YouTube TV is particularly rich in college sports networks. These include ESPNU, ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, SEC Network Big Ten Network, and CBS Sports Network, which includes college sports programming along with its professional sports service.
Other sports channels are ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, MLB Network, NBA TV, Golf Channel, the Olympic Channel, Tennis Channel, Fox Sports 1 and 2, and NBC Sports Network, which gives access to the regional sports networks. Fox Soccer Plus is available as an add on.
Entertainment TV channels in the YouTube TV package include ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, TNT, TBS, AMC, Bravo, Discovery, Investigation Discovery, FX, FXX, CNN, MSNBC, The CW, Telemundo, the Disney Channel, and Disney Junior.
Pros
- In total, the base package of YouTube TV includes 70 TV channels.
- Addon channels available with YouTube TV are Starz, Showtime, EPIX, Sundance Now, and Shudder.
- YouTube TV can be accessed from a computer through any browser. There are also YouTube TV mobile apps available for Android and iOS devices. Web browsers and mobile devices can stream YouTube TV onto a TV screen with Google Chromecast.
- Smart TVs that are connected to the internet can access YouTube TV and a number of streaming devices are compatible with the TV streaming service. These include Roku, AirPlay, Apple TV, Android TV boxes, Amazon Fire TV devices, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
- Each account gets access to a cloud DVR player that has unlimited storage space and will retain TV shows for up to nine months.
Cons
- Doesn’t work on the internet when you leave the USA.
Other sports streaming services
This guide doesn’t attempt to review all of the sports streaming services out there. We have concentrated on presenting the best TV packages for those who want to switch from a cable TV service to a more sports-rich TV streaming service. If you are happy to keep your cable TV deal and you are just looking for extra sports channels, then you could consider the professional sports league networks, most of which have plans that give access from the streaming services website through a direct subscription.
Be aware though, that most of the sports leagues have sold of the rights to their biggest games to the major sports networks. So, surprisingly, you won’t be able to watch the big NFL games on the NFL Network.
Another issue to watch out for is blackouts. No doubt, you want to sign up to a sports channel so that you can watch your favorite team from the comfort of your own home. If, like most people, your favorite team is the one closest to you, there won’t be much joy to be had from subscribing to the professional sports network for that team. This is because they won’t show you live streams of the team closest to your home.
The local blackouts imposed by professional sports league streaming services are due to the initial objections that franchise holders raised when the creation of these streaming services was proposed. They argued that live streams would damage ticket sales. As a compromise, they don’t allow subscribers to watch their local team play live on the streaming services.
The MLB is particularly bad in this respect. You can’t watch your local team play at home or away. If you are traveling, you can’t watch any game involving the team that is closest to where you are located at the time of trying to access the streaming service. In short, it is better to watch sports on live streaming services through the major sports networks.
Best Free Ad Blockers for Web Browsers – 2020
Best Free Ad Blockers for Web Browsers
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Advertisements on websites can be really annoying and some sites overwhelm their content by drowning them out with ads. The good news is that it is possible to filter out most of the ads on websites and improve your browsing experience by installing an ad blocker.
Ad blocking isn’t illegal but it does annoy the people who run websites. To clarify, placing advertisements on a website is not illegal. Many ad blockers are also tracker blockers, but trackers are a separate issue. Ad blockers just strip the ads out of web pages. Many of them also block trackers. They don't remove cookies -- that's also a separate issue. With retargeting, ad blockers will remove the ads in most cases.
Many information-based businesses, such as newspapers, rely entirely on the intrusive ads on their sites for revenue. The use of ad blockers has seriously damaged the profitability of those businesses. However, they need to find different income models because the use of ads on websites has gotten out of control.
As a response to ad blockers, some prestigious news sites have switched to a subscription model. They allow the general public to see their main websites, but block access to individual articles to those who haven’t paid (known as a paywall). However, they still plaster ads all over the websites that people pay to access. Others block access when they detect an ad blocker and insist that the viewer whitelists their site (excludes it from the ad blocking action) before allowing access.
Video ads that take a while to load and have high-volume sound on them can be particularly embarrassing if the viewer of that web page is in a public place or place of work at the time. They are the most intrusive ads on the web. Fortunately, video ads are particularly easy to block.
Free ad blockers
Amazingly, most of the best ad blockers available are free to use. The usual format deployed by these systems is the browser extension. These free ad blocker plugins:
- Hijack all of the code for a web page as it arrives at the web browser
- Run that code through a scanning program
- Pass all code for the page on to the browser, except for the code that loads ads
With most free ad blocker browser extensions, some acceptable ads will still get through, particularly if they are embedded in the text of the web page. However, one or two ads are not as distracting as the ads-soaked websites that people without ad blocking utilities have to put up with.
Web browser security
Systems that block ads aren’t just catering to anti-capitalists. Malware can infect computers by hiding in online ads and downloading onto the viewer’s computer as the code for ads loads into the web browser. Popular ad blockers don’t just block ads, they are also pop-up blockers and they block trackers as well. These handy add-ons are actually cybersecurity tools.
Social media buttons are not as likable as people think. They are trackers because the images for them have to be fetched from the sites that they advertise. That action gives the social media companies the opportunity to log the visit to a website from your IP address. So, Facebook and Twitter can compile a profile of your internet surfing even if you don’t have an account with those platform.
The best ad blockers will strip out social media buttons (called “widgets”) from your favorite websites as an added blocking feature. This task is performed while also blocking banner ads, pop-up ads, video ads, trackers, and other adware and malware from your favorite sites.
Ad blocker add-ons for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and other web browsers
Whereas most cybersecurity tools are written to work on specific operating systems, ad blockers run in web browsers, so you don’t have to worry about whether the service will run on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS (for iPhones and iPads), or Android. However, you need to pay attention to which web browser they are made for.
As Google Chrome is the most widely-used web browser, there are more ad blocking extensions available for that browser than any other. The next best catered for web browser is Mozilla Firefox.
Many anti-adware producers don’t bother to create versions for Internet Explorer because that web browser has been replaced by Microsoft Edge. The Edge web browser is the third most catered-for browser in the ad blocking market.
Safari and Opera web browsers have far fewer ad blocking add-ons available. The Opera web browser’s producers have resolved the problem of their utility being overlooked by the creators of ad blocker extensions and built their own ad blocker app into settings of the web browser.
Best ad blocking web browser extensions
Here is our list of the best ad blocker plugins available for the major web browsers:
- AdBlock
- Adblock Plus (ABP)
- AdBlocker Ultimate
- uBlock Origin
- Ghostery
- AdGuard
- Poper Blocker
- AdLock
- TunnelBear Blocker
- Opera Ad Blocker
You can read more about these popular ad blockers in the following sections.
AdBlock
AdBlock is a very popular ad blocker with more than 40 million users all over the world. This useful tool blocks ads on websites in a variety of formats, including banner ads, pop up ads, and video ads. The ad blocker features include whitelisting and the option to allow acceptable ads.
The plugin has a handy icon that sits at the end of the address bar in your web browser. This reports on its activities while it blocks ads. It will also block trackers. It is the most widely use ad blocker as a Google Chrome extension. The free add-on is also available for Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Opera. There is also an ad blocker app for Android, iPhone, and iPad.
Adblock Plus (ABP)
Despite similarities in the name, Adblock and Adblock Plus are not related and they are produced by two different software houses. So, which is better AdBlock or AdBlock Plus? Honestly, it is very hard to choose between these two excellent ad blocking add-ons. However, the social media widget blocker in ABP pushes it ahead slightly.
ABP is a free ad blocker and is available as a Google Chrome extension. It is also possible to add this plugin to Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Opera. The tool add-on includes whitelisting and an acceptable ads setting. Otherwise, it will block banner ads, video ads, and any other adware and malware contained in websites. It is also a pup up blocker and it will block trackers. Another ad blocker feature of this plugin is the ability to remove special media buttons from websites. Look for the secure web browser produced by ABP for Android devices and iPhones in your app store.
AdBlocker Ultimate
This ad blocker is a good choice for those who insist on only using open source software. An open source project is one that allows anyone to see its programming code. This enables users to be sure that there is no hidden malware within the system.
This is a Chrome extension and is available as a plugin for Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Yandex. A version for Safari will run on iPhones and iPads. there is also a secure AdBlocker Ultimate browser for Android devices and a version that runs on Microsoft Windows, protecting all internet connected software from adware and malware. All versions of this anti-adware system block banner ads, video ads, phishing attempts, pop-up ads, and trackers. The Windows-based version is more of an anti-malware system and it is charged for by subscription. The web browser extensions are free.
uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin is a free, open source ad blocking system that is available as a Google Chrome extension and as a plugin for Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Opera web browsers. Users with advanced understanding of how ad blockers operate have the option of switching between pre-installed filter lists or installing a new one. Ad blocking features include the blocking of banner ads, popup ads, and video ads. The system will also pre-filter URLs and block trackers.
Ghostery
Ghostery was designed to block trackers, including social media widgets, but it also functions as an ad blocker. The web browser extension is free to use. It is a product of the company Cliqz, which produces a secure web browser. There is a Ghostery add on for the Cliqz browser and also a Google Chrome extension. Ghostery is also available as a plugin for Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Safari. There are secure Ghostery ad blocker apps for Android devices and iOS (iPhones and iPads).
This is free, open source software that is easy to install. It controls the use of JavaScript in websites, which reduces the opportunities that malware has to infect devices through web browsers.
AdGuard
AdGuard is free as a browser extension. The company behind the add-on also producers operating system-based security services for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS (iPhones and iPad). The Android and iOS free versions provide a base level of protection with upgrade options available for a fee. The web browser plugins are available for Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Opera, and Yandex. There is also a Google Chrome extension version of AdGuard.
This ad blocker will block trackers and spyware as well as all types of adware. It has a blacklist that warns about phishing websites and it has extra procedures to trap ad blocker circumvention attempts. It offers users the opportunity of both whitelisting and blacklisting. The Chrome extension has been installed more than 4 million times, so this is a very popular ad blocker.
Poper Blocker
Poper Blocker’s user rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on the Chrome Store, where it has been downloaded more than 2 million times. The free pop-up blocker prevents websites opening new tabs or creating a new browser window, so it scuppers a lot of the annoying tricks that infected websites get forced to perform, not just those sites that intentionally launch pop-ups.
The service will also block overlay ads, which cover up the content of a web page that you want to read. This browser add-on won’t strip out ads embedded in web pages but it is better at blocking pop-ups than standard ad blockers. It is available for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Baidu.
AdLock
AdLock produces system protection for Windows and Android which are charged for. However, it also provides free browser plugins. There is a free Google Chrome extension and a free add-on for Safari. These web browser extensions will block banner ads, pop-up ads, and video ads. The utility will also protect your privacy by blocking spyware and trackers. The AdLock system also detects damaging elements in websites such as phishing strategies and malware and blocks them from loading in the web browser.
TunnelBear Blocker
The TunnelBear Blocker is an awesome ad blocker and privacy system. TunnelBear is a VPN system and it is charged for by subscription. However, the TunnelBear Blocker is free to use and you don’t have to install the VPN in order for it to work.
The TunnelBear Blocker goes a little further than most blockers. It will block ultrasonic tracking methods. This little-known tracking system plays as invisible signals under the soundtrack of videos in websites. The system also blocks regular trackers and affiliate links. This blocker also scans websites for malware and phishing strategies before allowing them to load into protected web browsers.
The one problem with the TunnelBear web browser extension is that it is only available for Google Chrome.
Opera Ad Blocker
Although most of the ad blockers in this list produce add-ons for Opera, the makers of the Opera web browser didn’t realize that their web browser would be so well catered for when the concept of ad blockers first arose. They decided to stake their pitch for new users by making their web browser a very secure service.
The idea of an ad blocker within a browser makes sense, which is why all of the successful ad blockers operate as browser extensions. Google Chrome has a built-in ad blocker, but it isn’t very good because it doesn’t work too well to block Google Ads. Opera doesn’t get an income stream from placing ads in websites, so its ad blocker is a lot more effective.
Block Ads in websites
Once you have an ad blocker installed, you will find that quite a few websites will just block your access entirely until you whitelist them. Some features that you want to access won’t work anymore. For example, many online streaming video players won’t run if you have an ad blocker in place.
Ad blockers fix one problem and create others. Thanks to whitelisting, ad blockers allow you to be in control. You will be able to decide when to allow pop-ups and ads and when to block them. You will be in control of what happened on the devices you own.
