Free UK online TV on demand via the Internet - Web TV

As well as FreeView (FTV) and FreeSat, you can now also watch free UK TV online on the internet - Web TV - with the extra added bonus that you can watch programmes as and when you want to on demand (streaming). Sadly, not all programmes aired are always available but a great number are and if you find yourself in a position where you cannot find something of interest on your normal TV, you will now almost certainly be able to find something via the internet.

To provide a one stop portal to these services listed below are the major players in this great media.

BBC iPlayer provides the most comprehensive service from which you can watch all the channels that the BBC provide - BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC Parliament, BBC News, BBC Alba and BBC HD whilst also providing listings for, and direct links to, programmes available on the following channels - ITV 1, ITV 2, ITV 3, ITV 4, Channel 4, E4, More4, Film4 (not free), Channel 5, 5*, 5 USA and S4/C.

BBC iPlayer
BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC Parliament, BBC News, BBC Alba and BBC HD

ITV Player
ITV 1, ITV 2, ITV 3, ITV 4, CITV

Channel 4
CHANNEL 4, FILM4, MORE4, E4, 4MUSIC, 4oD

Channel 5
CHANNEL 5, 5*, 5 USA, DEMAND 5

Tips:-

With a minimal broadband connection (1.5+ Mbps) and by todays standards, run of the mill PC, you should be able to stream and view the standard TV shows as clearly as you do on your normal television.

To successfully stream and watch HD TV shows you will need a reasonable broadband connection (3.5+ Mbps). Windows XP and Vista based systems will need a reasonable graphics card or the picture will just keep jumping. Windows 7 based systems and Intel based Macs should have no problems in this department.

Test your broadband connection here - BBC iPlayer Diagnostic tool.

After a programme has started playing, for the best viewing experience click to Full Sreen Mode. This is also advantageous because video decoding and scaling uses a large amount of processor power. To minimise processor usage, watch in full screen mode. Use your Esc key to exit full screen mode part way through a programme.

For best results make sure you have the latest version of - Adobe Flash Player.