what you can (or can't) watch without a cable subscription

I guess this is covered in other posts, but I'll start fresh.

Yes, you can watch a lot of TV without a cable (or DSL or satellite) TV subscription.  But there's still certain shows that you would need a TV subscription to watch.

First of all, live sports.

I'm talking NFL football.  So far I've only able to view it legally on the FoxSports app on my ipad which required me to sign in with my TV provider (Time Warner Cable).

[11/16/14 -  I see they're streaming the Sunday Night Football game at nbcsports.com/liveextra.]

You can actually watch most NBA games using NBA League Pass, but the video still looks choppy.  Don't know if this would improve with a really fast internet connection.  Once in a while, they have games on TNT.com, but a different feed from the TV.

[11/16/14 - tried twcsportsnet.com.  Hey the Lakers game is on.  But then died.  Requires subscription to Time Warner Cable, but actually also supports Hawaiiantelcom and DirectTV.  Doesn't work very well with my cable connection.  Keeps buffering, plays a little, buffers some more, etc.  And eventually dies.  Would probably work better if I had higher bandwidth.  OK, back to watching on my TV.]

Ditto for MLB.

Not sure if you can watch the NFL and/or NBA on ESPN3.  I'll have to check.  But don't see any replays currently available.  Looks like the NBA will be shown tomorrow.  Turning to Monday, it says the Carolina vs. Philadelphia game will be shown, but device restrictions apply (which means or meant available on desktop, XBox, iPad, but not iPhone or Android).  [Yeah, I'm now accessing today's NBA game on the web.]

TBS and TNT.  You can watch online, but only if you have a subscription to a participating service.  They don't support Time Warner Cable.  DirectTV and Hawaiian Telcom supported.

What works for free?

ABC.  The website works for free.  And most, if not all, shows are also available on Hulu.

NBC.  The website works for free.  And most, if not all, shows are also available on Hulu.

CBS.  The website works, though you get more episodes with the All Access subscription.  Current shows, not available on Hulu.

Fox.  Some episodes available for free.  More with cable TV subscription.  Time Warner Cable supported, don't see HawaiianTelcom or DirectTV (this is like the only one where I don't see HawaiianTelcom supported).  Available on Hulu.

FXX.  Oddly, I see HawaiianTelcom listed for FXX and Simpson's World, but not Direct TV.  Available on AppleTV but not Roku.

CW.  Website works for free.  Available on Hulu.

So what's not available.  I don't see CBS, TBS, TNT on hulu's list of popular networks.

TNT.  Not playing in my IE.  Website requires TV Service Provider.   HawaiianTelcom and Direct TV are listed. Time Warner Cable not supported, which I find kind of odd since they are owned by Time Warner (not Time Warner cable).

TBS.  Ditto.

However Conan O'Brien is free on the web.  (Also available on Roku via Nowhere TV.)

NatGeoWild.  Need to unlock with TV provider.  HawaiianTelcom and Time Warner Cable listed, but not DirectTV.

History Channel.  A few episodes free.  The rest need to be unlocked.  Time Warner Cable, HawaiianTelcom, DirectTV all supported.

PBS.  Asks to confirm your local station.  Works.  Asks you to sign in for HD, but doesn't ask for authentication.  Also available on Roku and AppleTV.

ESPN3.  Some content free.  Getting Error #2032 on Chrome.  Works in Firefox.  Some content requires sign-in with TV provider.  DirecTV not listed.  Time Warner Cable and Hawaiiantelcom are supported.  Also available on Roku and AppleTV.

Not sure if content is free because I'm on Hawaiian Telcom.  Have to try it on my mom's wifi.  Well, it turns out that she's on Hawaiian Telcom too.

Fox Sports.  You can't watch it live on your computer, but you can on your mobile device (even the nfl).  Requires authentication.

TWC TV app is available for computer, iPad, Roku.  I don't see a comparable app for Hawaiian Telcom

            free?  Hulu  TWC  HT  iPad  Roku  AppleTV
ABC           y      y              y
NBC           y      y              y
CBS           y      n              y   clips
PBS           y      n              y     y      y    
FOX          some    y    y    n    y     y      y
FX            n      n    y    y    y            y
CW            y      y
ESPN3        some   n/a   y    y    y     y      y
Fox Sports    n     n/a   y    ?    y
TBS           n      n    n    y    y
TNT           n      n    n    y    y
NATGEOWILD    n      y    y    y
HISTORY      few     n    y    y    y     y      y
CNBC          n     few   y    y    y   clips    y

So it looks like between Hulu and HawaiianTelcom, you can watch just about all the current content on your computer and/or mobile device (except for some live sporting events).

For archival content, add Netflix and CBS All Access.

[12/13/14] I see they're streaming the North Carolina vs. Kentucky basketball game at cbssports.com.  I don't think it's on  the ipad or Roku app though.

[12/14/14] Checking my ipad, I see they're showing the NFL game on the Fox Sports app (Manziel isn't doing too good in his starting debut so far).  However, they're not showing the CBS game on the app.