Binge-worthy TV at no cost! (Picture: Getty/YouTube)
It is no shock to hear that streaming services are starting to rapidly replace broadcast TV, so what can you watch instead without the hassle of paying a premium?
Last year, Ofcom reports showed that more people watched Netflix than BBC One, and only half of young people tuned in to linear TV channels on a regular basis.
Streaming services are becoming a staple in most homes, with figures going from 83% of people tuning in to cable television to 79%.
While broadcast television has not disappeared yet, it does appear to be declining significantly as the years go on.
Netflix and Prime Video figures are constantly on the rise with statistics showing that 14 million households in the UK are paying for more than one streaming service.
These subscriptions do not come cheap, with the average household spending £42 on entertainment services.
Despite its popularity, it does come at a vast cost – so here are the top seven best TV shows you can watch from your sofa with no subscription required!
NPR Tiny Desk
Sabrina Carpenter performed hit songs from her album Short’n’Sweet (Picture: NPR music/YouTube)
Live music on television is fizzling out, that is just a fact… but not to worry, as over on YouTube, radio network NPR hosts regular Tiny Desk Concerts, and they are thriving.
In each episode, world-famous artists perform for an intimate audience with an acoustic band behind them and a little desk in front.
The first Tiny Desk concert was posted 15 years ago and the channel has since gained 10.6m subscribers, with Dua Lipa’s concert receiving 133m views.
The American music radio project has hosted huge stars to perform at the tiny desk, including the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and many more.
Sabrina praised NPR for giving her the opportunity to perform and reminisce, saying that there was ‘something so real and special about performing in a room just like the one I used to write songs in when I was 10’.
Chicken Shop Date
Amelia’s date with Andrew Garfield has racked up 10m views (Picture: chickenshopdate/ameliadimz)
Amelia Dimoldenberg first started her hit series Chicken Shop Date a decade ago, when she went on a first date in a tiny chicken shop in London to quiz rapper Ghetts.
The pair recently reunited for a 10-year special, during which they reminisced on the start of Amelia’s 2.82m subscriber empire on YouTube.
The internet personality has gained millions of loyal viewers due to her deadpan, dry sarcasm that often catches her world-famous guests off-guard.
She’s gone on to date the likes of Aitch, Paul Mescal, Dave, SZA, Lando Norris and even Sesame Street’s very own Elmo!
However, arguably her most iconic date to date was with Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield, after a clip of them flirting on the Golden Globes red carpet in 2023 went viral.
Chicken Shop Date fans were beyond excited to see the pair reconnect at the end of last year in Sam’s Chicken in Harlesden, London.
‘This video is either an absolute masterclass in acting or a public declaration of true love, there’s no in between.’ one viewer commented.
Geowizard
In Geowizard`s most recent video he attempts to make his way home with no guidance – oh and he’s wearing a blindfold! (Picture: Geowizard/YouTube)
Tom Davies (AKA Geowizard) makes regular ‘travel diary’ style videos – but there is always a twist.
Geowizard keeps fans hooked as he takes on peculiar and brave challenges, with his most recent adventures seeing him attempting to walk through England in a straight line and travelling up the Cornwall cost with just a tenner and a sleeping bag.
His bizarre lifestyle has gained him 1.6m subscribers on YouTube, where he boasts a number of different series to binge, from his mission across Wales to how to NOT travel America.
His most recent video ‘Blindfolded and Stranded! Can I find my way home using no map, compass or main roads?’ has already racked up 291,000 views in a day.
One subscriber said, ‘Dude is just walking home and it’s the best thing in months.’
Pasta Grannies
103-year-old Irma is the oldest grandmother to grace the show, making her classic tagliatelle for millions to enjoy (Picture: pasta grannies/YouTube)
What could be more wholesome than comfort food and lovely old ladies with beautiful stories to tell?
For the past 15 years the show has filmed Italian Nona’s making their family recipes and sharing them with an audience of 1.03 million subscribers.
The YouTube channel pledges to teach life saving skills and share wonderful traditions one recipe and Granny at a time.
One subscriber, @nope_nope_nono, shared their love for the show, ‘There is nothing more heartwarming than watching grannies making food.’
Defunctland
The show is known to delving in to the history of Walt Disney and his parks (Picture: defunctland/YouTube)
Defunctland unpacks the history of extinct theme parks and themed entertainment experiences.
The channel produces niche, detailed feature-length documentaries and it has been a hit!
Their ‘Disney fast pass complicated history’ video has 23.4M views, with viewers left wanting more, ‘I’m realizing that my favorite video genre is throwing shade at Disney for making dumb, greedy decisions.’ @nostrnum said.
If you’ve ever wondered what Walt Disney’s biggest secrets are or why Alton towers has a black hole, then tune in to this show.
Yoga with Adriene
Adriene is often joined by her adorable dog Benji (Picture: Yoga with Adriene/YouTube)
Adriene’s at home yoga tutorials have created a loyal fanbase of 13m subscribers.
She aims to make yoga accessible for all bodies, genders, souls. Her high quality videos feature varied workouts and have been helping out yoga-lovers since 2013.
Her at home beginners’ mat workout has 54m views, so if your New Year’s resolution was to save money and be more active, then Adriene’s channel is for you!
Great Art explained in 15 minutes
James Payne unpacks some of the greatest pieces of art history (Picture: greatartexplained/YouTube)
The great thing about YouTube is the way there is no need to make a conscious effort to appeal to a wider audience, creators can be as niche as they wish.
Curator, gallerist and art lover James Payne makes videos whilst on a mission to discover the stories behind the world’s famous paintings and statues.
Each episode features one particular piece of art and breaks down the stories behind the beauty.
James avoids art jargon to ensure his videos are accessible to all, art lovers or not.
The channel has racked up 1.64m subscribers and his Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night video has accumulated nearly 6m views.
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