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In the 21st century, it would be unthinkable in a Western, First World country, that someone doesn't actually have access to cable or satellite TV.

Even more unthinkable would be such a person who was also involved in the news media.

Yet, guess what people, that person would be me!

So, you'd be rightly thinking, how on Earth could I be expected to do my job if I don't have access to those millions of channels, particularly the sporting ones, considering I'm a sports journalist?

Very valid question. The facts are, I NEED to be able to watch live sport in order to do my job properly.

However, since I haven't yet hit the big time, and my name isn't Dan Patrick or Tony Kornheiser, I don't yet have the disposable cash to be able to afford the $115 a month that High-Definition cable costs here in Australia.

So, I have a bit of a dilemma on my hands, don't I?

A-ha, that is where you are wrong!

Praise the Lord for that little invention: THE INTERNET! Without it, not only would I not be writing this article on this website, but I also wouldn't be able to do my job as a sports journalist very well at all!

There are now a multitude of websites offering free streams of sport right around the globe.

Due to anti-siphoning laws here in Australia, most mainstream sports are still on network, or as we say "free-to-air" television, so thus I don't need cable.

However, when it comes to certain, less mainstream Australian sports, or indeed major world sports such as the National Football League or English Premier League, I have to look to the internet to give me my fix.

One website I frequent is called justin.tv, where many channels specializing in many different genres exist.

Often, you will find, when it comes to sport anyhow, that on this website, a particular game isn't being successfully streamed, for whatever reason.

However, in such cases, in the comment box next to the feed there will be web links to places that are successfully streaming particular games, so I'll always find an active stream of a game I'm looking to watch.

Depending on the user controlling the feed, sometimes the streams can be of quite poor quality, and sometimes they can continually freeze.

As the old saying goes: Beggars can't be choosers, I'm getting the feed for free, so I can't really complain.

Mostly, though, I get to watch sport from around the globe live, and on a reasonably good quality feed.

I've not watched other TV genres on justin.tv, but there is a huge array of TV on this website, so any type of show that would take one's fancy would either be shown on justin.tv, or a valid link for another website showing a particular TV program would be posted on the website.

If someone is a real pauper, and can't even afford internet access - then I'd suggest taking up Monopoly, or something else, but you cannot get your genuine TV fix in this modern age any longer, not when all the major dramas and comedies and the like are all migrating, slowly, to cable.

But, as long as you've the internet, as we say here in Australia: the world is your oyster. You'll never miss a beat of your favorite show/s, cable or no cable.

Learn more about this author, Aj Brady.
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