Christmas TV doesn’t just have to be about passing out during The Queen’s speech or pondering why someone has to cark it on Eastenders every festive season. With the string of on demand goodies up for grabs, you can spend this Yule choosing the shows you want to watch, even while the rest of the family cackle at the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special. Here’s our guide to enjoying feative telly, wherever you happen to be.
Use your phone
Just because you’re schlepping between inlaws’ houses this Christmas doesn’t mean you can’t catch up on the best the box has to offer. If your train’s packing Wi-Fi, you can use your iPhone or Android blower to get BBC iPlayer. You’ll be up to speed with Albert Square before you settle down on the sofa.
Watch the footie highlights on Sky Player on Xbox 360
Sky Player on Xbox 360 has been one of this year’s hottest stories. And with football parties and easy access to Premier League games, it’s a winner this Christmas, when all the big boys go head to head in a string of games. Rants about fixture congestion may not be available.
Give ITV Player a go
ITV’s oft-overlooked service rocks the same style as iPlayer, with seven days of shows available for you to spy at your leisure. Who’ll give who a fat lip in Corrie? What were the best bits of X Factor 2009? Has Harry Hill still got TV Burp Best Bits to wheel out? Find out whenever you want on your PC or Mac.
Tuck into iPlayer on Freesat
Freesat’s new BBC iPlayer offering is ideal for Christmas. Make sure you’re packing the right box and you’ll be able to swerve clear of any Strictly Come Dancing nonsense and instead chow down on some meaty BBC Four docs or reruns of Young Butcher of The Year. Who said the BBC makes drivel?
Get an Elgato EyeTV DTT Deluxe for your Mac
Folks delight in Family Fortunes on Christmas day? Then treat yourself to an Elgato EyeTV DTT Deluxe for your Mac and take it home. It’ll pick up a Freeview signal so you can head upstairs and catch up on Dave while your Ma and Pa delight in ITV’s tawdry lineup. It’ll record show too, and stream them to other computers, or an iPhone over the web.
Indulge in 4OD
Channel 4′s on demand service is a stunner and can be nabbed not only on your Mac or PC, but also on the likes of Tiscali TV. If you want the alternative Queen’s speech or simple reruns of Deal or no Deal, it’s all here, plus there’s whole series to nab, not just the last seven days of TV. Gorge your peepers with Father Ted marathons, or indulge in Black Books absolutely free!
Tune in live for free!
You don’t need extra kit to tune into live TV. Install TellyBox on your Mac and you’ll get live BBC streams in a dedicated window, as well as on-click access to replay TV. Try Zattoo and you’ll get plenty of non-BBC channels too. Not satisfied? Head to TVcatchup.com and you’ll get a screen-full of shows, with over 50 channels to watch, absolutely free!
