You have all seen the adverts proclaiming to offer FREE SATELITE and CABLE TV on your PC or Laptop. What is the truth? Well if ever there was a ‘Half-truth’, these glossy, enticing adverts portray it.
HOWEVER, don’t get despondent – you CAN get most of what you’ve been promised – IF YOU ARE SMART!
“Live Football on PC” – “Live Satellite on PC” “TV on your LAPTOP for FREE”
HERE IS THE REAL TRUTH about these claims:: The fact is “There is no such thing as a Free Lunch: ALL SITES CHARGE A FEE.
And if you think you are going to watch those advertised “1,000 plus channels” just like watching your TV then MISTER, you are living in ‘Cloud Cuckoo Land’.
What WILL you get for your money?
Truth is, you will more likely get around 200 channels. And if you are lucky – about 100 will be watchable. (Most of those will be in Japanese, Chinese, French, Italian, Arabic, or other none English language). Some will have subtitles. MOST of them will most likely at best only be of good enough quality to watch in a frame occupying a quarter of your screen, using “Media Player” or “Real Player” viewers, or other free to download viewer.
Another problem you may experience is that the software is either already out of date, or soon will be. (Software needs updating regularly. That costs a lot of research and expertise. ) Beware of ‘Cheap-Jack adverts selling ‘obsolete’ information.
That’s the BAD News
Here’s the GOOD News:
You CAN get to watch Satellite TV on your Desktop or Laptop. It will NOT cost you a fortune. You CAN get supplied with regular updates without extra charge.
So how much will it really cost?
Well if you buy from one of the more expensive sites (aimed at Americans) you will probably pay from $39.95 through $99.99, and up to $399.99cents. If you buy from sites aimed at the U/K European market, the glossier adverts with – to put it mildly - somewhat over-stated claims. will charge you around £18 to £39. Or you can go for one of those adverts seen on EBay offering as low as £1.99p - £2.99. You could be lucky and get a bargain – BUT BEWARE! You will more likely be stuck with exactly what a sensible person would expect for that price!
(My old Papa used to say, “Son, there is a fool born every minute.” Well maybe that was true in HIS day, but believe me it is more like “One every second” today.
BASIC SOFTWARE SUPPLIED FROM ANY SITE IS MUCH THE SAME – IT IS THE REGULAR UPDATES WHICH ARE IMPORTANT.
If you are happy to accept that you will mostly be watching stuff in a quarter screen frame, and that at any one time your 100% reception-quality programs that you can watch (whatever country you are in), will number nearer fifty than three thousand, then you CAN get yourself a bargain. (Well paying a one-off payment of around £10 is a bargain in anyone’s eyes when you think what you get.)
What DO you get! – The ability to watch LIVE SPORT of all types all over the world. Also other live programs streamed from Satellite, including variety shows, pop music, and even those “naughty XXX-rated adult channels. And there are usually several films either showing in English, or with English sub-titles.
Often you will get to see live football, soccer, baseball, ice hockey, etc. showing the team YOU support playing live when it is not being televised in your own area. (For instance: Many Premiership games and cup games are not shown on English TV live, but are beamed to other countries
This is true of many sporting events – and if you think: You can pay £10 to watch ONE world heavyweight boxing match on Satellite - or watch them ‘free’ on your PC or Laptop, then that alone has been worth your fee!
Bottom line is that if you don’t expect miracles, and you choose a seller that provides updates FREE, then you really do get a bargain.
That needs mentioning again: A SITE THAT PROVIDES UPDATES FOR FREE.
Buying the software off many sites is like buying LAST YEAR’S CALENDAR – You WILL get it at a knock-down price – but it is already out of date. That is why they sell it so cheap and give you free re-sale rights. (You are not going to fall for that are you!)
How do you know which one to buy? You can do one of two things – pay out and try them all, and see which ones have suckered you, or take my word for it and buy the best. (They are only best because they provides regular free updates - which are essential - and sell at a fair price.) The basic programs are all much of a muchness.
As I said, “There is no such thing as a “Free Lunch” and although these updates are free to YOU the consumer, the vendors have to pay for them. Many sites sell you the basic stuff at a knock-down price, but don’t supply updates - and look for the next unwary punter.
The few more honest vendors have no choice but to charge for supplying updates. They either do this by charging a regular update fee, or set the price to include regular free updates.
As a vendor I KNOW what a fair price is – and what is a RIP-OFF. Below are details:.
Using advertising means like ‘Adwords’, and selling off my site I originally needed to charge £19.95p to make a small profit. HOWEVER, a group of us banded together and were able arrange delivery of regular updates at wholesale price. Due to this, we have been able to slash that price right down. (Some, of course still sell at the old prices they charged ranging from £18 to £40). I am one of those that can (and does) sell at £7.95p on my site and still show a reasonable profit.
Unfortunately, so many punters go for the cheapest offers, end up disappointed, and don’t risk trying again. The result is that enticing punters to pay £7.95 is like trying to get a Guinness-drinking Irish Navvy to buy Champagne at £85 a glass. HOWEVER, with the world-wide-web ever expanding, the number of punters smart enough to pay a couple of quid more for the real McCoy make it worth my while continuing to advertise the service..
Honesty pays in any business - if you want to keep your good reputation. Genuine vendors MAY be a bit over the top in the way they advertise what they are offering, but they will NOT rip you off.
If you’ve read this far you must be interested in TV on your PC, so do yourself a favour – DON’T expect ANYONE to be able to supply you with thousands of Satellite and Cable channels of TV quality on your computer, with software regularly updated for a few pence or cents.
EQUALLY, don’t allow yourself to be CONNED and RIPPED-OFF by highly exaggerated glossy adverts full of pretty pictures, or claims of 3000 plus reviews by those with a vested interest. And don't be conned by ridiculously low Ebay prices.
If you do want to watch the DISCOVERY Channel, Hollywood Movies, United versus Real Madrid, or ‘The Big Fight’ live, whilst working on your computer, and with no aerial needed: no Boxes or gadgets to fit: No further payments: And always have updated. Software, then there are a few honest sites supplying this at a FAIR PRICE. And that fair price is approximately £8 to £10 ($15 -$20)
I WILL REPEAT THAT - £8 to £10. Pay over that and in my book you've been ripped off.
You can search on the Internet for such sites (make sure they supply free updates), or go straight to one of the here: http://www.TVoverPC.com (One Off payment of £7:95p)
Don't expect miracles - or to get more, or better pictures by paying more - BELIEVE ME, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.
However, for a 'one off' of £7:95 you will get to watch live matches, films, other live sports and programs that you may never have broacast on your own TV. And watch them whilst working on your Laptop or PC.
Do not worry about the legality of watching for free what others are paying through the nose for. It is quite legal as these programs are ALSO broadcast 'FREE-TO-AIR' to countries that have not yet got 'Pay-per-View' Satellite or Cable set-ups yet. It is from these free satellite feeds that you will be recieving your pictures.
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