How to Watch TV on an Android

1. Install the PlayOn application on your PC. PlayOn was originally developed to be used with gaming consoles and other devices capable of streaming to a television. The most convenient way to watch TV on your Android is to install the software on a computer that has a permanent Internet connection. This turns your PC into a server that will stream videos from sites such as Hulu, Youtube and Netflix. To make it work, you will need to install the PlayOn app from the Android Market. PlayOn has frequent updates. If there is an update for the app, an update is required on the PC or it will no longer work.

2. Use the Orb Live app if you have a TV tuner on your computer. The app will stream the same channels that are picked up by your antenna or cable provider. This is one of the only ways to watch live TV from local stations on a mobile phone. The quality of the video in Orb isn't great, but it is watchable. To use Orb, you will need the software installed on your computer, in addition to the app on your Android phone.

3. Find full episodes from the TV.com app. This app has a number of short clips and a few full length episodes. The providers available include CW, Showtime and CBS. The episodes are streamed in real time, and therefore an Internet connection is required. The shows available are from recent, popular shows and a few classics. The app is free and can be quickly downloaded using a Bar Code Scanner app or directly from the Market.

4. Find DroidTV in the Market and install it. DroidTV plays TV episodes in high definition from major TV networks. The episodes are not streamed, but played directly from your phone's SD card. This eliminates the buffering associated with streaming, so their are no wait times. The shows will start instantly and are available to watch at any time, even without an Internet connection. The number of episodes available at one time is limited by the amount of space on the SD card.

5. Navigate to TV on Android from your mobile browser. There are approximately 100 live channels available on the site, and they are viewed directly from the website without any additional software. However, Flash Player is required and a fast Internet connection is recommended. Flash is found in the Android Market if it is not already on your phone.