Google TV’s Freeplay channels have been the ultimate substitute for cable ever since I cut the cord. It includes hundreds of channels with thousands of hours of content, and with these free channels, you’ll never run out of new shows to watch.

10

BBC Earth

If you’re like me and love nature documentaries, I can’t recommend BBC Earth enough. It’s the ultimate place to widen your horizons with shows like Planet Earth or hear Sir David Attenborough give you the details on a particular species.

My personal favorite aspect of BBC Earth is that it keeps me informed on global warming, and the efforts being made to slow it down and reverse it completely.

9

MovieSphere

Since I cut the cable for good, I’ve missed being able to turn on a movie channel and decompress. Liongate’s MovieSphere channel has been my go-to for filling that gap, and since it’s free, I’m not adding yet another subscription to my bill.

MovieSphere features a wide range of movies from every genre. It isn’t limited to low-budget movies, either—it has blockbusters, too. It’s one movie after another, so there’s always something to watch.

8

Ion

Crime shows are my guilty pleasure. Blue Bloods, Bones, FBI, Criminal Minds, Chicago P.D., NCIS, Law & Order: SVU, you name it. Luckily, Ion has those shows on tap. The episodes are only ever loosely tied together, which means I can usually drop in anytime and have a good time.

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My one gripe with Ion is the library of shows is limited and don’t include every season. There are a lot, but it would be nice to revist the original Law & Order as opposed to just SVU. Still, it’s free, so I can’t complain too much.

7

Doctor Who Classic

Google TV’s Doctor Who library is massive, containing 26 seasons for you to watch to your heart’s content. It’s not only the perfect way to reconnect with the show, but also dive right into why it has such die-hard fans. I had never seen an episode of Doctor Who until now.

I’d like to note Doctor Who Classic stops at the Seventh Doctor, so don’t expect to see Matt Smith, David Tennant, Christopher Eccleston, or even Jodie Whittaker. For that, you can catch up with the newest Doctor on Disney+.

6

iHeart90s

I’ll admit, I’m a little biased when it comes to iHeart90s. A good deal of the music I listen to comes from that decade, so naturally, I gravitated towards it, especially for grunge and punk. You can’t go wrong with Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Green Day, Soundgarden, and Rage Against the Machine.

iHeart90s also has podcasts, like History of the 90s, which I like to play in the background whenever I’m getting chores done. And if 90s music isn’t your thing, iHeart has other Freeplay channels on Google TV, like iHeartCountry and Stingray Classic Rock.

5

The Price is Right: The Barker Era

I can’t think of anyone better to host The Price is Right than Drew Carey, now that Bob Barker passed away. But, come on, it’s Bob Barker! If I’m going to catch up on The Price is Right, Drew Carey it is, but when I want to watch the most entertaining episodes, then I go with Bob Barker.

The Price is Right: The Barker Era is exactly how it sounds. They’re reruns of the show when Bob Barker was still the charismatic host he once was.

4

Hallmark Movies & More

My heart isn’t made of stone; I like sloppy rom-coms and feel-good movies, as does my partner. As it turns out, Hallmark is pretty good at making both. Whenever my partner and I want to turn our brains off, we pick Hallmark (or Lifetime) more often than not. It’s also a good place to delve into delicious drama without, you know, involving actual people.

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3

FilmRise

Like MovieSphere, FilmRise features movies, but TV series as well. On Google TV, FilmRise is split into multiple Freeplay channels focusing on a particular genre, like FilmRise: Free Movies, Forensic Files, Unsolved Mysteries, and World’s Most Evil Killers. Interestingly enough, there’s also a FilmRise: Hot Ones, which features celebrities eating hot chicken wings and answering questions.

2

America’s Test Kitchen

I love writing, video games, and cooking, the latter of which has become a passion of mine over the past couple of years. I’ve got cookbooks, magazines, recipes handed down generation to generation, and America’s Test Kitchen, which I like using as a way to improve my skills. Plus, I use easy meal planning sites to avoid getting overwhelmed.

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However, what makes America’s Test Kitchen particularly good is that I’m not just learning new skills, but the hosts and guests also explain why something works together. Before America’s Test Kitchen, I never realized that the texture of the greens in my salad could affect my dressing.

1

Xumo Free Kids TV

Having two kids means I’m obligated to have at least one kid’s channel in my back pocket when they’re in the mood. Xumo Free Kids TV has a couple of gems that even I watch without my kids. You’ll find Yu-Gi-Oh! on Xumo, which surprised me, but also Science Max, Barney and Friends, and Pee-wee’s Playhouse. For toddlers, Xumo has Dino Ranch Nursery Rhymes and Little Baby Bum, and the lovable Dr. Panda.

I’m sure I missed a few gems among Google TV’s hundreds of Freeplay channels, but I’ll find them eventually. Just these 10 channels alone scratch the itch cable left behind. As long as Google keeps this up, I may never have to worry about cable again.