You're on the go, but want to keep up with your favorite shows. What can you do? If your smart device (phone or tablet) has the Android operating system, there are a variety of ways you can watch your favorite shows. You can download individual episodes or watch them on live streaming TV, watching your shows on the bus, plane, or train has never been easier. See step 1 below for how to do this.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Using the Google Play Store
Step 1. Open the Google Play Store
You can get a lot more apps from the Google Play Store. Many popular TV shows are available for purchase or rental from the store. Even if this isn't live TV, you can quickly catch up on old episodes of your favorite shows.
Step 2. Find the show you want
Use the search bar to enter in the name of the show you want to download. Scroll down the search results to see "Movies & TV" results.
Step 3. Choose how you want to buy
Most television shows can be purchased as entire seasons or as individual episodes. You will see a price listed next to each episode of the season. Use the Season drop-down menu to switch between different seasons.
You must have valid payment details linked to your Google account. If you've never purchased anything before, you'll be prompted to set up your Google Wallet account
Step 4. Choose between HD or SD
Newer shows often offer you the "buy HD" or "buy SD" option. HD stands for High Definition, and will result in better image quality. HD format is not supported on all devices, so make sure your device can play it.
- HD usually costs a little more than SD (Standard Definition).
- Older shows are only available in SD.
Step 5. Watch your episodes
Once you have purchased the episodes, you can start watching them immediately. There is no need to download them to your device. Press the Play Store menu button and select "My Movies & TV". The menu will change, allowing you to select "My TV Shows". This will have a list of all available episodes.
- You can click on any episode to start streaming. Be aware that streaming can take up a lot of data, so try to avoid streaming when not on a wireless network if you have a limited data plan.
- Tap the Pin icon next to the show title to add the show to your device. This will download the show to your device's memory, allowing you to watch it anywhere, even without an internet connection. This is perfect for air travel or other places where you won't have the service.
Method 2 of 5: Using Netflix and Hulu +
Step 1. Download the applications
Both Netflix and Hulu + have a variety of shows available to stream at any time. And it's not live TV, but you can get access to hundreds of shows and episodes for a monthly fee. Applications can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
Netflix and Hulu + are separate services and require separate subscriptions
Step 2. Log in to the app
When you open the application for the first time, you will be prompted to enter your account information. Once logged in, you will be taken to the main application screen.
Step 3. Browse to find your show
Check the interface to find the program you want, or use the search function. Hulu + is organized on TV or movies, and Netflix has a variety of genres that you can browse through.
Step 4. Watch your show
Once you have selected an episode, it will start streaming. Hulu + is ad-supported, so you'll likely see an ad or two at first, with ads during regular ad breaks. Netflix works like a DVD, and there are no ads during playback.
- On Hulu +, the likelihood of having new episodes is higher, including episodes that aired the night before.
- Streaming requires a significant amount of data, so try to avoid streaming if you have a data limit and aren't on a wireless network.
Method 3 of 5: Using Airplane
Step 1. Sign up for Aereo
Airplane is a local channel streaming service for your Android device. You can watch these channels live or you can set your favorite shows to record, so you can watch them later. Airplane only works for local over-the-air channels, non-cable channels.
- Airplane costs about $ 8 a month, and is not available in all areas.
- You can sign up from the Airplane website.
Step 2. Download the app
Once registered with Aereo, you can download the app for your Android device. Open the Google Play Store and search for "airplane". Select "Airplane (Beta)" from the search results and install it on your device.
Step 3. Open the application
You will be asked to log in with your Aereo account information. Once logged in, the channel guide will appear, showing the programs that are broadcasting.
Step 4. Start watching
Tap the show you want to see. After a few moments of buffering, your show will play from the beginning. You can pause and rewind the show as many times as you want.
Aereo only broadcasts individual shows, not the entire channel. This means that if you want to keep watching the same channel, you need to select the next show on the guide
Method 4 of 5: Using the Cable Service App
Step 1. Download your service provider's TV app
Most major cable providers release apps that you can download that allow you to watch TV directly on your device. These applications are free, but you need to have an account with the cable provider.
Step 2. Log in with your account
You will need to have created an account via the cable provider's website to log into the app. Accounts can be created from the homepages of each cable provider.
You will need your account number in order to create an account
Step 3. Find the program you want to see
The features of your app vary from provider to provider. Some provide a limited number of streaming channels, while others only allow you to watch recorded videos.
Video streaming takes up a lot of data, so make sure you're on a wireless connection if you have a limited data plan
Method 5 of 5: Using streaming websites
Step 1. Open a streaming site in your device's browser
As a last resort, you can try using streaming sites on your Android device. This can be difficult as most of these sites are not designed for mobile use and are often obstructed with ads.
Some of the more popular sites include World Wide Internet TV, Live TV Cafe, and Stream2Watch
Step 2. Find the program you want to see
Most sites list all the shows that are currently on the air, and you can use the search function to find exactly what you want. Many of these sites specialize in programming from around the world.
Step 3. Watch out for popups
Clicking on a stream usually opens another tab that attempts to trick the user into downloading something. Close the new tab to return to streaming, which can take a few minutes to load.
