Free home,garden,food,creative TV shows

[lucille]

One of the nifty things about the DTV transition, PBS expanded their broadcasts. Now most state PBS stations broadcast three channels. Main PBS, Create and World.

We are planning on putting up an antenna this spring but in the mean time we switched cable providers. The new one rebroadcasts all three state PBS stations in HD.

I am an admitted home and garden type channel addict. I really like the content on Create and don't really miss losing DIY and Fine Living due to the provider switch.

Create has varied enough content and the shows seem to have a much different feel to them than the pay cable shows do. The first thing I noticed was the sound levels were not as in your face. Some of the cable shows have really loud poppy music and show personalities that are practically shouting or it just sounds that way due to the audio producing. Create is also devoid of the string of loud obnoxious commercials every ten minute. The lack of constant commercials is a serious plus.

What I found even more interesting was the tone of the shows. The shows on Create seem to be more geared towards teaching you something or giving you information on ways to improve how you do things. This is in contrast to some of the shows on the cable channels that feel like the sole purpose is to make you desire something. So many of the cable shows seem intent on trying to make you feel like you need high end appliances, 3000+ sq foot mega homes, expensive gadgets etc. This is probably more so with DIY network and Fine Living than with FoodTv and HGTV.

[Cubicle Person]

We get create, but not World.

[starshard0]

I don't think I've ever watched any of them. Too busy with the history channel. Also I don't have a tv. If I ever get one I'll check them out.

[hermione]

You can watch PBS FRONTLINE and FRONTLINE/World videos online for free:

• FRONTLINE
• FRONTLINE/World
• PBS Videos

For more sites where you can watch free online TV epsiodes, check out my blog post:
Go on, cut that cable! Websites for Watching Free TV Full Episodes, Movies and News Online

It includes sites for more home and garden channels.

I have a TV on which I watch DVDs but haven't had cable since 2001 (never been able to get antennae to work with it for some reason). But since last year, I've been catching up an all the shows I've missed these last 8 or so years online. I love the internet.

[starshard0]

I found that with access to the internet television is becoming less and less relevant to my life. There are so many more things I can do on the internet than I can on television, and it offers a lot more avenues for learning than I think PBS could ever offer.

[hermione]

Originally Posted by starshard0

I found that with access to the internet television is becoming less and less relevant to my life. There are so many more things I can do on the internet than I can on television, and it offers a lot more avenues for learning than I think PBS could ever offer.

I do just about everything online with the exception of eating, sleeping and exercising, though I exercise and eat in front of the computer with an online video.

[starshard0]

I figure with the cost for cable rising more people will discover the magic of internet. Hopefully it will increase traffic and make ads more profitable.

[lucille]

The great thing about Create is that you only need an antenna to watch it. Oh, some of the shows from that channel are on the PBS website to watch online.

I heard that XM/Sirius is filing for bankruptcy. If they end up totally shutting down I hope that infrastructure might be used by PBS to bring some sat content to the public under a free/affordable format. Maybe the ability to use any sat radio and pay a $10 subscription fee. They could also offer free rebroadcast for other stations.

I really like the idea that PBS is expanding to meet more needs that have had a high cost for access via private industry before.

[Xin Lu]

Some HGTV shows are free on Hulu.com. I really like Deserving Design with Vern:
http://www.hulu.com/deserving-design