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May 26, 2012

Five television networks' streaming compared

by Brett Love, posted Sep 15th 2007 7:00PM

ABC Web Player - Lost
As we all get ready to dive into fresh new seasons of our favorite shows, it's worth taking a look at the streaming options available from the networks. In this day and age of Tivo, DVRs, PVRs, and holdouts like myself that still have functioning VCRs, there's no reason to actually miss an episode. However, in the event that the cable company bungles your service at a quarter to 8, or the power goes out, or you just totally drop the ball, it's nice knowing that the streaming option is available for an increasing number of shows.

Last 100 has a pretty good look at the streaming options from each of the big five networks. They aren't completely sold on them, and I do agree with a lot of their points. But I also remember the state of this technology just two years ago, so I think good progress is being made. Having tried all of the network streaming options, the ABC player is my favorite of the bunch. It's just the most polished. They have all made great strides in improving their interfaces though. My only real complaint with any of them is for CBS. Real? Really?

Which network streaming solution is your favorite?
ABC305 (73.5%)
NBC45 (10.8%)
CBS21 (5.1%)
FOX22 (5.3%)
CW22 (5.3%)

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7 Comments

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Brian

ABC... fire up their "HD" player and kick back and enjoy. Its even better if you've got a widescreen display to get the maximum video goodness.

September 17 2007 at 8:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Televinita

The ABC player gets my vote...easy interface, pausing/fast-forwarding are no problem, and it loads quickly and rarely if ever buffers.

I've never used the CW player, NBC doesn't have the shows I watch (Law & Order, ER), FOX refuses to work on my computer most of the time, and while I like the CBS one when it works, especially since that's where most of my shows are, it has a tendency to break down while I'm watching and mess up the visual/audio quality.

September 16 2007 at 3:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
AJ

abc ftw. NBC doesn't have good servers i guess and a half hour show is in like 4 parts. Fox doesn't have any good shows to watch. CBS always just shuts my web browser down for some unknown reason. I don't like any shows on the CW anymore

September 16 2007 at 1:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jake

ABC is superior. NBC is OK, CBS sucks because they only have the most recent episodes. So if you want to go back, you have to do it within 5 episodes.

September 16 2007 at 1:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jen

ABC is definitely the best. The rest kinda bug me.

September 15 2007 at 10:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
24

EZTV FTW! :D beats streaming anyday!

September 15 2007 at 8:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MagerValp

ABC: Only viewers within the United States can watch these full-length episodes.

CBS: Commercials loop continuously

NBC: We're sorry, but the clip you requested is not available from your location.

FOX: I can't find any full episodes, just clips.

CWTV: Thank you for your interest in The CW. This service is currently available to viewers living in the United States.

Meanwhile, on certain other sites, I can download full episodes without commercials in about 20 minutes...

September 15 2007 at 8:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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