Free Videos-On-Demand Streaming

1) Video producers/distributors and internet TV channels that offer video streaming (these are not-for-profit sites offering free access):

  • CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; public broadcaster and public producer) - Note: Episodes of television programs are usually available within Canada for only a limited time (e.g., 1 month after television broadcast). [Note: Ads appear alongside video content. The website interface is ad-supported.]
  • TVO (Television Ontario; public broadcaster and public producer) - Ontario's Public Educational Media - make sure you visit the videos-on-demand section
    • one of our evolving projects is curating lists of videos (playlists) - stay tuned.
    • check out "The Agenda with Steve Paiken" (from the TVO website: "...current affairs program offering in-depth analysis and intelligent debate on issues of concern in the rapidly changing world around us.")
  • NFB (National Film Board of Canada) - Canada's public producer and distributor - free streaming of documentary and animated films as well as interactive stories exploring the world from a Canadian point of view. Search entire NFB collection here.
    • one of our evolving projects is curating lists of videos (playlists) - stay tuned.
    • check out "The Green Channel" (from the NFB website: "A close look at our world, the environment and sustainability")
  • PBS (Public Broadcasting Service; American public broadcaster and public producer)
  • Knowledge Network (British Columbia's (Canada) public broadcaster)
  • National Geographic
  • BBC TV (British Broadcasting Corporation; public broadcaster and public producer) [Note: The website interface is ad-supported.]
    • one of our evolving projects is curating lists of videos (playlists) - stay tuned.
    • BBC One (TV channel BBC ONE)
    • BBC Two (TV channel BBC TWO)
    • BBC Earth (check out their YouTube channel)
    • Note: BBC iPlayer TV programs are available to play (i.e., stream) in the UK only. If you are lucky you know someone who travels between the UK and Canada (or elsewhere) frequently and downloads interesting programs to the BBC iPlayer (on their laptop or mobile device) before they leave the UK!
      • check out BBC iPlayer Exclusives as well
  • TED Talks (TED=Technology, Entertainment, Design) - one of our evolving projects is curating lists of videos (playlists) - stay tuned.
  • Democracy Now (Note: videos are uploaded to BitTorrent (peer-to-peer sharing) community as well. Click/tap here.)
  • Daily Kos TV (beta version) - [Daily Kos is ad-supported.]
  • The Extraenvironmentalist (nonprofit organization and media production company) - documentaries, interviews, and lectures

Note: Due to copyright and distribution restrictions (geoblocking), depending on where you live you might not be able to access all of these. We would suggest you check back in the future - the service might be in the process of adding new territories and rights agreements.

2) Video producers/distributors and internet TV channels that offer video streaming (these are for-profit sites offering free access):

3) Video hosting (video sharing) internet sites that offer video streaming (these are ad-supported sites offering free access):

  • YouTube - one of our evolving projects is curating lists of videos (playlists) - stay tuned.
  • Vimeo - in the future we will create playlists

4) Video aggregator internet sites (sites offering free access, almost all [exception noted] are ad-supported):

5) Event video, conference/lecture video, and program distributors that offer video streaming (some videos have free access; some videos are ad-supported):

  • fora.tv - check out specific URLs (e.g., http://library.fora.tv/topic/environment; http://library.fora.tv/subtopic/climate_change; http://library.fora.tv/partner/National_Geographic_Live) {last checked 22/3/15}

Subscription-Based or Pay-Per-View Videos-On-Demand Streaming

Some of the more well-known services offering videos-on-demand streaming of feature films (or, alternatively, video downloads if you want to rent or own videos via online delivery) include Amazon, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Hulu Plus (within the USA only), iTunes, and Netflix. 

  • documentary (internet TV channel from Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)) provides subscribers award-winning documentary films and television series from Canada and around the world.  Films include box office hits and festival favourites. A list of featured programs is here.  (To subscribe, you must have digital cable or satellite service.)
  • Fandor provides subscribers unlimited access to videos-on-demand streaming from a database with thousands of independent, international, and classic films.  (Many of the independent films are hand-picked by Fandor's curators who scope out film festivals worldwide. We think it is noteworthy that this company generously supports the film community. [from their website] "Half of your purchase will go to support the community of filmmakers and film providers."  {last checked 20/5/14})  Check out specific sub-genres of the documentary genre, i.e.,

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