Where Can I Watch Old TV Shows for Free?

You can watch old TV shows like The Andy Griffith Show and Perry Mason again without cable. Free apps such as Tubi and Pluto TV work on a smart TV or a device like Roku. They show ads but have no monthly fee. A TV antenna may also pick up classic TV channels where you live.

Below, compare free apps and antenna channels, then find where to watch Columbo, Perry Mason, Andy Griffith, and more. I’ll also help you get them playing on your TV, one easy step at a time.

Watch Old TV Shows With an Antenna

A TV antenna may let you watch old TV shows without internet or a monthly TV bill. Depending on where you live, you may get channels such as MeTV, Antenna TV, and COZI TV. You pay for the antenna; the channels it picks up are free.

Check your local channels first. Enter your home address at AntennaWeb to see which stations may reach you. The results are estimates, so reception can vary. My guide to what channels you can get with an antenna explains what to look for.

To get started, connect the antenna to your TV and run a channel scan. Follow my indoor TV antenna setup guide for each step. These channels show ads and play shows at set times, much like regular TV.

Another free classic TV option is Great Entertainment Television, formerly getTV.

New to Classic TV? Start With a Show You Already Like

Have an old favorite in mind? Start there. If you want to try something new, choose a kind of show below. Pick one full episode to see whether you like the characters and pace.

Comedies

For familiar faces and a few laughs, try The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Love Lucy, or Leave It to Beaver.

Most stories wrap up in one short episode. These shows are easy to try when you want a quick break without keeping track of a long plot.

If you like a small-town setting, start with Andy Griffith. My Andy Griffith viewing guide lists ways to find full episodes.

You can start with a favorite character or story instead of watching from Season 1. My best Andy Griffith episodes guide gives you a few places to begin.

If you would rather keep the show on your shelf, my Andy Griffith DVD guide explains the set and what to check before buying.

Westerns

Try Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, or Wanted: Dead or Alive. Many episodes tell a full story, so you can try one without starting at the beginning.

For family stories, try Bonanza or The Rifleman. For cases involving lawmen and outlaws, start with Gunsmoke or Wanted: Dead or Alive.

Bonanza follows the Cartwright family and life on their ranch. You can watch selected Bonanza episodes free on Tubi. Check the episode list before you start, since a service may carry only part of a long-running show.

Mysteries and Detectives

Try Columbo for a clever detective, Perry Mason for courtroom drama, or The Rockford Files for a private eye with a sense of humor.

Start with one case to see whether you like the main character and the pace. Then check which seasons a service offers before starting a longer run.

Columbo

You often see the crime before the detective arrives. The puzzle is how Columbo will prove what happened. Watch for the small details he notices.

Use my Columbo viewing guide to find a way to watch.

If you need help choosing a first case, my best Columbo episodes guide gives you places to start.

Perry Mason

Perry Mason works to clear people accused of murder. Watch how a witness’s story or a small clue can change the case in court.

Follow my Perry Mason viewing guide for viewing choices.

For a first case, try my best Perry Mason episodes. Each pick includes a short summary to help you choose.

Find More Detective Shows by Decade

Choose a decade to find more shows and ways to watch. These guides bring streaming, antenna TV, and disc options together. Paid streaming is marked where it is listed.

• 60s detective shows Perry Mason, Mannix and more
• 70s detective shows Columbo, The Rockford Files and more
• 80s detective shows Murder, She Wrote, Miami Vice and more
• 90s cop shows NYPD Blue, Nash Bridges and more

Rare and Forgotten Shows

Some older shows are hard to find in the main streaming apps. You may need to search more than one place. Use the full show name and check the year so you choose the series you remember.

For more show ideas, browse my forgotten TV shows from the 60s and 70s. Pick a title that sounds familiar, then check its viewing choices.

On YouTube, check who uploaded the video and how long it runs. My classic TV shows on YouTube guide helps you look for full episodes.

My Internet Archive viewing guide explains another place to search. Picture and sound can vary, so test a few minutes before settling in.

Viewing options can change. Check the service or seller’s page for the episodes, seasons, or sets you want. Streaming needs internet, and most free services show ads. Options may differ outside the U.S.

How to Watch Old TV Shows on Your TV

Choose the option that fits your TV. Free streaming apps need an internet connection.

If You Have a Smart TV

Use your TV remote to open the Apps menu or app store. Look for Tubi or Pluto TV. If the app is available, install it, open it, and search for your show.

For help, follow my guide to installing streaming apps on a smart TV. Available apps depend on your TV’s brand and model.

If You Have an Older TV With an HDMI Port

Look for a socket marked HDMI on the back or side of your TV. You can plug in a streaming device, such as a Roku or Fire TV Stick, to add apps. Connect the device to power and your home Wi-Fi, then install a free viewing app.

Follow my guide to streaming on a non-smart TV. Need help choosing a device? See my Roku vs. Fire TV Stick comparison.

If You Want to Send a Show From Your Phone to Your TV

Some apps let you send a show to a compatible TV. Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network. Open the app, look for Cast or AirPlay, and choose your TV. Follow my guide to casting from your phone to your TV for the steps that fit your devices.

Can’t Find a Full Episode?

A video with the right show name may still be a short clip. Before watching, check:

• The title: Does it name the show and episode?
• The length: A video lasting only a few minutes is often a clip.
• The source: On YouTube, start with the show’s official channel or its studio’s channel when available.

For help finding episodes, see my classic TV shows on YouTube guide. For rare older programs, follow my Internet Archive viewing guide.

When a Paid Service or DVD Makes More Sense

Can’t find your favorite show free, or want more seasons? A paid service, library DVD, or DVD set may be worth checking.

Check Paid Streaming Services

Search for the exact show before subscribing. Check which seasons are included, whether the plan has ads, and whether it works on your TV. Look at the current price and cancellation rules, too.

A subscription gives you access while the service carries the show. It does not mean you own the episodes.

Check Your Public Library

Your library may lend DVDs of older shows. Search its catalog or ask whether it can borrow a season or DVD set from another library. This can save you a purchase.

Consider a DVD Set

DVDs let you watch without an internet connection or a monthly streaming bill. You will need a DVD player that works with your TV.

Before buying, check whether the set contains the complete series, one season, or only selected episodes.

Looking for a favorite detective show? Start with my 60s detective shows guide, or explore more crime-solving classics in my 70s detective shows guide. For Murder, She Wrote, Matlock, Miami Vice, and other later favorites, visit my 80s detective shows guide and my guide to cop shows from the 1990s. . Each guide covers ways to watch without cable, along with DVD purchase options.

If you also want to drop your television package, see how to cut cable and keep watching your favorite shows.

Trouble Hearing Classic TV Dialogue?

If voices sound muffled, start with your TV’s dialogue or voice setting, if it has one. Follow my guide to making TV voices louder and clearer for adjustments to try before buying anything.

If you still need help, explore soundbars for clearer dialogue or wireless TV headphones. Headphones may suit someone who needs a different volume from everyone else.

For more background, read why classic TV was mixed for mono sound.

Frequently Asked Questions

Start With One Show

Pick a show you’d like to watch, then use the links above to find it and get it playing on your TV. For more show ideas and easy viewing help, browse my Start Watching Classic TV guides.