Free Videos on the Internet
Ablang
Suranga Chandratillake
Network TV shows, video how-to segments and daily newscasts are now
available on the Internet, many of them for free.
In December, US Internet users watched a record 10 billion videos
online, according to the research firm comScore. It does not take a
great deal of computer skill to watch a video online -- anyone who
surfs the Internet can do it. You will need a broadband (not “dial-
up”) Internet connection, and if your computer is more than a few
years old, you might have to download some free software. (Most sites
offering video can steer you through the download process.)
Among the best video Web sites today...
Television sites. All of the major broadcast networks now make many of
their shows available for free on the Internet, including a limited
number of back episodes. Head to ABC.com
, CBS.com
, NBC.com
or Fox.com
, then click the button labeled “Watch Full Episodes” or “Watch
Video.” Expect to sit through a short advertisement before the program
begins.
Most cable channels feature some video on their Web sites, but few
offer a wide range of complete episodes. Discovery Channel has a
handful of its shows online (www.discoverychannel.com
).
Other cable sites providing free video include Comedy Central
(www.comedycentral.com
), MTV (www.mtv.com
) and VH1 (www.vh1.com
).
How-to video sites. A huge number of informational and educational
videos are available for free on the Internet. Videojug.com
is a great place to start. The site has thousands of well-made how-to
videos, most two or three minutes long. Subjects range from how to tie
a bowtie to how to improve a golf swing. The site is well organized,
making it easy to find what you want.
Food site Epicurious (www.epicurious.com
) is a great site for how-to videos about food preparation.
News sites. Watch news channel feeds or video feeds of the day’s top
news stories for free from CNN (www.cnn.com/video
) or Bloomberg Television (http://Bloomberg.com/news/av
).
Sports. Fans of obscure sports often can find news and highlights on
official league Web sites or through my site, www.blinkx.com
.
Examples: Open-wheel racing fans can find highlights, press
conferences and other free clips on Indycar.com
. Bike-racing fans can find a wide range of videos on Cycling.tv
, some for free.
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Suranga Chandratillake, CEO and
founder of blinkx plc, the Internet’s most extensive video search
engine. www.blinkx.com
.