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svtplay.se
The more I learn about the free TV streaming services that exist abroad, the more I wish I could expatriate myself from the United States. Okay, maybe that is a little bit of an extreme act just to be able to watch tons of high-quality free TV programs and take advantage of the great free TV streaming services that are available in countries like Sweden.
Many Americans might think that Sweden looks very alluring, free TV streaming services aside, due to the many reasons why Swedes know so much about their country. You're telling me that if I became a Swedish citizen, I would have access to amazing free TV streaming sites like SVT Play, free health care, free college education (all the way through a Ph.D.), and free daycare services for my kids? Where do I sign up?
I know that Swedish citizens typically pay a high tax rate and a hefty consumption tax, but I am willing to pay these taxes in order to have a comfortable and healthy life.
Considering the options available on the market, it is hard to argue that SVT Play is not a great free TV streaming site. However, it should be noted that this service is not open to everyone in Sweden and, as a result, those who do not pay taxes may feel short-changed. After all, if you are not using SVT Play at least once a month, then you're essentially wasting your money! In the end of this review we will have a better understanding of whether or not this service is truly one of the best free TV streaming sites available.
SVT Play offers users the ability to watch TV shows and movies that were previously aired live, "catch-up" style. This differs from the typical way of watching content that is available on, say, Netflix, where a series or movie is made available for a prearranged, contractually mandated amount of time (usually at least 1 year).
The Catchup TV streaming services like SVT Play are designed specifically with the regular, Over The Top cable TV viewer in mind. If you missed the airing of your favorite TV show, you can catch up with SVT Play. The duration of time during which these broadcast programs will remain available varies from service to service, but SVT Play makes content available for 30 days after airing (which is fairly typical of catchup streaming sites like this one). After that 30 days, if you haven't caught up by then, well, unfortunately, you are out of luck (unless you can find it on another streaming service elsewhere).
Although most of what is available on SVT Play take the form of episodes from TV series, there is a wide range of content that goes far beyond simply sitcoms and drama series. If it has aired on one of the SVT cable channels within the last 30 days, well, you will be able to find and stream it on SVT Play. This results in plenty of movies, documentaries, news programs, standup comedy specials, broadcasted events and ceremonies, and even (previously) live concerts. As far as free TV streaming sites go, SVT Play certainly has one of the most consistently impressive lineups ? but that is because, lucky for all of you TV lovers in Sweden, SVT has always provided engaging entertainment.
History
Although SVT Play as we know it today was not launched until December of 2006, the Swedish Broadcasting Company (SVT) can trace its roots back to the 1920s. In 1924, the Swedish government decided to adopt a media structure that was very similar to that of the British Broadcasting Company. This meant that radio would be a monopoly that was funded through licensing fees and structured as a limited company. At this time, it was known as Radiotjänst, or ?Radio Service Ltd.?
In 1954, technology became affordable enough for a public/private media entity to begin running test transmissions on TV. The very first television transmission occurred on October 29th of that year, from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Nevertheless, regular television programs did not air in Sweden until 1957, three years after the first test transmission. Meanwhile, at the same time as these changes were taking place within SR, ownership was shifting among the State and the press. SR now held 40% of the company shares; the remaining 20% belonged to SR themselves.
With their restructuring and advances in technology, Sveriges Television, or SVT, was born. This led to a steady pace of growth and expansion that would soon be put into motion. SVT expanded the number of channels it offered which naturally resulted in a broader range of regular programming. By the middle of the 1960s, SVT had gone from primarily a newscaster to a multi-channel media monopoly with everything from feel good sitcoms to stoic dramas.
Today, SVT Play makes it so that you can watch any and everything aired on SVT no matter when or where you happen to be. This is great news!
Design
I appreciate the minimalistic approach to site design at SVT Play. It is very clean and user-friendly, which are attributes that I tend to appreciate in any streaming site. One thing that I have noticed about free TV streaming sites (and premium ones too) is the fact that they tend to be too cluttered, like they are trying to do too much or cram way too much content onto every page. SVT Play, thankfully, understands the value of the adage "less is more."
SVT's website layout is nicely paced and spaced, incorporating an underrated and underdiscussed element to good site design - alternation. You might also call it patterning. What I mean is that, as you scroll down the SVT Play home page, you start to notice a pattern of alternating thumbnail sizes. One category presents content with smaller thumbnails, the next with longer ones. The page then volleys back and forth in this nature. I think that, in addition to providing a sense of stylistic organization, it also tricks the eye into believing that it is taking in a dynamic user experience, even though it is just a matter of alternating the dimensions of rectangles.
Entering the TV show or movie page reveals a large, cinematic-looking media player that takes up nearly the entire page. The background is black, providing an eerie feeling and creating a sort of movie theater effect. Beneath the media player are scrolling lists of similar shows to watch - everything I could want from a TV streaming site, at least from a design perspective. Everything is conveniently located where I want it to be.
Content and Features
SVT Play does have great content, but it lacks features. In particular, it does not have any features that would make it easier to find and watch the content you want.
There are not many user-friendly features, though. I can browse by channel, by category, and by genre. That is about all that I am able to do on SVT Play. I would have liked to have seen some customizable features - such as the ability to add shows to a list, rate them, mark them as ?watch later,? or maybe leave comments. Aside from viewing tons of great content, there is not a whole lot that you can do on SVT Play.
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