If it’s for Free, it’s for Me!
Here we are again. I am back here, telling you how to score free TV channels. Sensing a pattern? Good. It’s all a part of the continuing series ‘A Closer look At Streaming’.
Last time, we dove into Tubi, one of the largest FAST platforms, and this time we’ll go to Pluto. Before we look at Pluto in detail let’s check out what else is over here in the FREE bin.
Do you frequent Wal-Mart? Subscribe to Wal-Mart+? Now, this is not a solicitation for the service, but if you are already using it, did you know you can get either Paramount+ or Peacock FREE as a bonus? That’s right, the ad-supported versions of the streaming services are free. Not sure which one to choose? You can change every few months (90 days, to be exact)! Binge what you want on one, then switch to the other. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. If you prefer a no-ad version, you even have the option to upgrade for an additional fee.
We now return to our regularly scheduled programming, Pluto TV.
Like Tubi, Pluto is a standalone FAST (Free Ad Supported Television) platform available to everyone. This one, however, is owned by CBS/Paramount and the depth of programming from those catalogs stands out, and of course, there is more. For example:
- There are 21 channels dedicated to News/Opinion including Newsmax2, OAN Plus, The Blaze, and The F1rst
- Looking for Holiday favorites? There are 11 – that’s right – 11 channels dedicated to Christmas and Holiday programming. Not to mention all the Hallmark Holiday movies On Demand!
- There are 30+ Sports themed channels featuring everything from baseball and tennis to MMA and darts!
- The available ‘Kid’s Mode’ allows you to set a PIN to ensure the little ones are safe from seeing any programming you’d rather they didn’t.
- Like ‘Classic’ TV? There are entire channels dedicated to Andy Griffith, Little House on the Prairie, Murder She Wrote, Mission Impossible, The Love Boat and more.
- Game Show Fanatic? You can catch up on current shows or watch classic game shows, like The Price is Right: The Barker Era, or Wheel of Fortune: Shopping Era (I’ll take the Ceramic Dog for $132).
As you already are aware, the only catch to watching programming on this platform is the need to watch commercials. That is how Ad-Supported TV works. Surprisingly, approximately 66% to 74% of U.S. TV viewers are ad-tolerant, preferring ad-supported streaming services to save money over ad-free options, while 73.6% of all TV viewing time in the second quarter of 2025 was on ad-supported platforms.
With over 250 channels and thousands of On Demand titles, Pluto has something for just about everyone.
The only question I need to figure out is whether Pluto is a planet or not these days.
Next Up in the Streaming 101 Series: The Jolly Streamer
