How to find Free TV online and how to Stream from Hulu or Netflix in Jamaica

Thanks to the spat between CBS and Time Warner Cable over how much Time Warner Cable pays for CBS programming and their online rebroadcast of said content, there’s now a blackout of CBS content on Time Warner Cable users for their content as explained in “Watching on laptops and mobile devices, customers are finding workarounds to TV blackouts”, August 9 2013 By Ryan Nakashima, The Associated Press via Winnipeg Free Press.

Granted, albeit this has no bearing on us here in Jamaica, It’s still interesting to take note of what happens when Content Providers and Cable Networks or even TV stations that want to carry said content can’t agree. Especially if you’re into animation-for-hire, as this’ll occur very often, as you’re not gonna part with your hours of sweat and tears for monkey money especially as animation is labour and cost intensive.

But as for Jamaicans watching free American TV via Streaming , that’s not possible due to a block on content for non-US IP (Internet Protocol)Addresses for a lot of recent content, as the aim is for American viewers to see it first and then resell it to countries later, thus making more money from the same content. 

Free TV –Myth and Legend

For now, the only Free TV options online based on the article “Find and watch free TV on the Internet”, published Aug 8, 2013 7:05 AM by Lincoln Spector, PC World are as follows:

1.      YouTube

2.      Hulu Basic

3.      USTV

4.      Website for the TV Station or Network e.g. ABC News, CBS News

Locally here in Jamaica, our TV Stations already have their own Web Streaming:

1.      Television Jamaica

2.      CVM TV

But it also highlights what lengths people will go to watch content that’s inaccessible in the US of A, such as here in Jamaica where we only have access to older content on Netflix and Hulu, with the latest content being blocked, resulting in Jamaicans streaming decade old content as noted in Horace’s Geezam article entitled Is “Netflix a Netjoke?”.

Watching blocked US Content – Proxies are fun

To get around this and Stream the US versions of Hulu and Netflix is easy via using either Proxy Sites or VPN (Virtual Private Network) as described in “How to Watch Streaming Video Anywhere in the World” published 12/15/10 11:00am by BRYAN GARDINER, Gizmodo.

A Proxy is basically a Website based service that routes your traffic through a series of Servers, effectively hiding your true location. VPN is similar, except it involves giving you access to a different ISP (Internet Service Provider) and encrypting your Data traffic. Both allow you to log on from anywhere in the world and appear to be somewhere else e.g. Jamaica and appear to be in the US, thereby allowing you unfettered access to American Website and their Content.

This List of Best Free Proxy Sites are as follows:

1.      NewIPNow

2.      Blewpass

3.      Proxify

4.      Anonymouse

5.      Ninjacloak

6.      Kproxy

7.      Hidemyass

8.      Edilly

9.      Zend2

10.  Turbohide

11.  IP Hider

Watching blocked US Content – VPN Access and Setup

VPN is a paid service; you’re basically logging on to the Internet via another ISP in another country and it’s best to go the paid route, as the free route results in very poor bandwidth inadequate for Streaming.  Here’s a list of VPN Connections:

1.      StrongVPN

2.      HideMyAss Pro

To connect to a VPN or Create one is also very easy to do as stated in the article “How to Set Up VPN in Windows 7”, published Nov 12, 2010 6:00 PM By Mark Shea, PCWorld. To connect to a VPN in Windows 7 is as follows:

1.      Click the Start button

2.      Type VPN in the search bar

3.      Select Set up a virtual private Network (VPN) connection.

4.      Enter the IP address or domain name of the server to which you want to connect

5.      Select Don't connect now If you want to set up the connection, but not connect

6.      Enter your username and password you had received from the VPN Service, or leave it blank

7.      Click Connect

8.      Click on the Windows Network logo on the lower-right part of your screen

9.      Select Connect under VPN Connection

10.  Enter the appropriate domain and your log-in credentials in the Connect VPN Connection box

11.  Select Properties on the Connect VPN Connection screen

12.  Navigate to the Security tab

13.  Select the specific Type of VPN from the drop-down list.

14.  Click OK and Connect

Hint: You may also have to unselect Include Windows logon domain under the Options tab. Then click OK and Connect.

Hint: If you can't connect, the problem could be due to the server configuration as there are different types of VPN. 

As an added bonus, here’s how to create your own VPN at work on your company’s Network:

1.      Click the Start button

2.      Type Network and Sharing in the search bar

3.      Click Change Adapter Settings in the left-hand menu

4.      Click File

5.      Select New Incoming Connection

6.      Select the users you'd like to give access

7.      Click Next

8.      Click Through the Internet

9.      Select Next

10.  Select the Internet Protocol you'd like to use preferably TCP/IPv4

11.  Click Allow Access to complete set up an incoming VPN connection

Once the Proxy or VPN is set up, you should basically be on the Internet. Launch your browser and check a few sites that were restricted before. Then proceed to watch Hulu or Netflix content, being mindful of the fact that if they require you to sign up, you’ll have to use a US Address and Zip Code along with your Scotia VISA Debit Card or Credit Card to sign up for the Service.

That’s basically it. Enjoy being a Pirate of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) Streaming Restricted US Content.