It has never been more difficult for parents to monitor what their kids are exposed to right under their roof than it is today. The litany of services many of us subscribe to for our entertainment, combined with unbridled access to the internet on so many devices in our home, makes it pretty much impossible to keep kids from experiencing things you don’t think they’re ready for.
The ‘Parental Controls’ Of Over-The-Air TV
That’s where over-the-air TV can be a concerned parent’s best friend. Unlike streaming networks like Netflix and Hulu, OTA TV is moderated by the Federal Communications Commission.
That means the lineup of channels is more kid-friendly. It’s true that violence and light adult language can be regularly viewed on the broadcast networks, but anything above a rating of TV-14 is rarely ever seen on them and almost never before 10 p.m.
Censorship is required by law for the networks you’ll find on OTA TV, including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS. The whole reason these networks are free to watch in the first place is that the airwaves they use are owned by the American public and regulated by the federal government. The FCC has rules in place regarding what can be said and shown on these networks, with the rules being slightly relaxed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., during the so-called “safe harbor” hours.
What you do get with the content on OTA TV are many of the most popular shows and virtually all of the top live sporting and entertainment events every year. From weekly NBA, NFL and college football games to the Academy Awards to “Dancing With the Stars” and “The Voice,” you’ll be able to watch them with your antenna.
What You Need To Access OTA TV
Ready to start watching free over-the-air TV? First, take this short quiz to find out which antenna is best for you. To make it easy to get started, we’ve put together two bundles of recommended equipment for watching free TV, including OTA DVRs that let you record and pause live TV.
If you live in an urban area or nearby suburb:
Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse Amplified TV Antenna
$64.99 from Amazon
This highly-rated indoor antenna is designed to receive frequencies 50+ miles away from broadcast towers. It easily grips smooth surfaces like walls or windows for optimal placement to pick up as many channels as possible.
Recommended antenna if you live in a far suburb or rural area:
Antennas Direct ClearStream 4V TV Antenna
$130.20 from Amazon
This powerful antenna has a range of 70+ miles and can be installed inside, outside or in the attic. It has UHF and VHF multi-directional elements designed to deliver reception in remote areas.
Pair your antenna with an OTA DVR to record your favorite shows:
Here are the products we recommend:
- Tablo DUAL 128GB Over-the-Air [OTA] DVR: Record up to 80 HD hours and stream up to two free broadcast channels from your HDTV antenna simultaneously.
- Tablo QUAD 1TB Over-the-Air [OTA] DVR: Record up to 700 hours and stream up to four free broadcast channels from their over-the-air HDTV antenna simultaneously.
If you have an external hard drive sitting at home collecting dust, consider these options as cheaper alternatives. Simply connect your antenna and portable hard drive to these Tablo DVR devices and you’re ready to go.
- Tablo DUAL Lite: Equipped with built-in Wifi, it lets you position the antenna and DVR for the best signal reception.
- Tablo QUAD: Record up to four OTA channels simultaneously. This model connects to your router rather than your TV, giving you the option to stream live TV to any device.
If you need to purchase a portable hard drive, we recommend USB-connected portable hard drives (USB 2.0 or 3.0, 1 TB to 8 TB in size). These are the ones we recommend: WD 1TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive and the WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive.
