There’s a lot of cool stuff on the internet. Most of it is free.
Except TV. Networks have been mysteriously stingy when it comes to offering things that used to be free. No downloading, not even any streaming. After all — we can buy the DVDs for exorbitant amounts, right?
Technically, networks have for a while now been offering streaming versions of their shows online following the original airdate. That’s been a nice thing, especially these days where the online streaming quality beats that of my VCR (yes, VCR. We haven’t moved up to TiVo yet).
Still, what about older stuff? Well, kudos to CBS for at least taking a step in the right direction. Now on their website, in addition to current shows, you can catch full seasons of some of the classics. I’m not too psyched about Hawaii Five-O or Melrose Place, but The Twilight Zone is a nice touch.
What’s really got me excited is the full first season of MacGyver and all three seasons of the original Star Trek series. Seriously. All that, for free, online.
I sure don’t have a problem purchasing a season of TV on DVD if it’s something I’m a little rabid about, like LOST or Firefly. But some there’s a lot of stuff that I’d just enjoy seeing again once in a while.
So thanks, CBS, for keeping at least a little bit of classic TV free!
But… do they have Star Trek Remastered?
I should let you know that Hulu is up live and out of beta as well. It’s a partnership between NBC and News Corp (FOX), and they’ve got a lot of new shows with everything from “The Office” to “Terminator” plus more recent old shows like “The Pretender” or older like “The A-Team”. Plus they have some movies as well like “Titan A.E.” or a film I enjoyed for the first time last night “The Usual Suspects”. And it’s free too. Check it out if you want. Oh man, I just read what I wrote…I feel like FOX and NBC should send me a check.
Good job CBS!
Yay, internet!
Oh heck yes, MacGyver! I use to crush on him BIG-TIME. What’s not to love? A guy who can free himself from a situation with a stick of chewing gum and the wrapper. I’m going to check that out for sure, thanks for the tip!
Yeah, just want to echo mr lanser’s comments on Hulu. I’ve been doing the beta since december, and the quality is generally very nice, the ads aren’t any more intrusive than any other online movie thing, and they have a lot of old Fox and NBC shows. Things like the tick, firefly, Battlestar Galactica (70s), simpsons, etc.
Also, when you only get tv on dvd when it’s cheap (like fifteen bucks) it works out to pretty cheap per hour.
Yeah, I checked out Hulu after mrlanser’s comment. I was quite impressed! I was waiting for some audio files to mix down and started watching an episode of The Office. It was quite nice!
Maybe now I’ll get around to finally watching the Jonah VeggieTales movie.