Don’t let primetime television schedules determine YOUR schedule! Once you learn how to watch tv on your mac computer you will never watch television the same way again.

Now there are lots of websites out there that offer streaming television shows, but I am a fan of a quality program that is not subject to poor bandwidth connections and choppy grainy low quality picture. That is why this tutorial will show you how to watch top quality television shows on your mac computer.

Here is what you will need to get started downloading television shows to your mac computer for FREE

First, you will need a Bit Torrent Client. These are programs that are free and are used to help you download large files. They work by taking pieces of the large files from many different peers and putting together a whole picture from many smaller parts.

The best torrent software for mac is Transmission. Transmission is fast, convenient, and looks good too. This is the only torrent application that displays real time download and upload information on a badge overtop the dock icon. This is pretty convenient as you can always keep a close eye on how fast your download is going.

Because Transmission sometimes doesn’t pick up all of the trackers you need a backup plan. I like to use Vuze when such a time arises. I rarely have to use this client but it works pretty well.

I would suggest downloading and installing Vuze first, then Transmission this way you will be able to make Transmission the default application for opening torrent files. You can always change this via other methods but this way is easiest for right now.

Once you have downloaded your Torrent Application you are ready to get started shopping for you favorite television shows online for FREE.

Right now my absolute favorite website for getting televisions shows on my computer is EZTV. You should bookmark this site right now as you will make this part of your morning routine in no time.

Once you visit EZTV you will see how simple is. EZTV lists the television shows by their air date. You can also type in the search field for your favorite program and it will display results for the entire season depending on if they are still available (which they almost always are).

Click on your television show of choice and it will download your torrent file which will automatically open Transmission. Transmission will present you with a menu that lists all of the files in the torrent. Usually it is just one file or sometimes several depending on the type of torrent file. You can uncheck any files that you don’t want to download and then click ok.

Your Torrent will take a little while to download depending on the speed of your internet connection and the amount of peers who are sharing the television show torrent. More popular shows will usually take less time to download. For example I like to download The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. It usually only takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete the download. This show is popular, is only 20 minutes long, and I have a fast internet connection.

Once your show is finished downloading you will need to watch it. Most of the tv shows downloaded come in .avi format. Quicktime should be able to play these files. I have downloaded the free Perian extension for Quicktime which allows it to play a ton of different file formats.

I like Quicktime in that it is a slick interface that looks pretty good. It also has nice effects when resizing the window pane and other nice experience things that make you feel like you’re using fictional software in a movie. I’m not really sure why but I tend not to use Quicktime all that much for playing my video files.

My default program however is VLC Media Player which is a free media player that plays everything and anything. VLC looks pretty good on a mac, it’s butt ugly on Windows but does the trick and once you’re in full screen mode it doesn’t really matter anyway.

So in the morning before you head off to work do a quick check to see what shows you want to watch that night and have them download throughout the day. When you get home all you have to do is hook up your mac to your hdtv and start watching the shows like they were meant to be watched – without commercials! You can also just watch it on your regular screen but the hdtv option is a better experience.

In the past the method would be to burn avi files to a recordable dvd. Not only does this process take forever, it also doesn’t work that well if you don’t know how to do it properly. Another problem is that DVD-R’s cost money. Why on earth would you need copies of the vast majority of the shows or movies you download. I would say 90% of the movies I download and watch are not worth watching again, so why would I waste more time and money on them?

So download your shows and movies and watch them directly from your computer on your HDTV. If you like it you can then burn it, if you don’t you can delete it.

GATHER THE NECESSARY MATERIALS

• Video: DVI to HDMI Cable (length depending on your needs)
• Audio: 3.5mm to RCA Cable (length depending on your needs)

What cable to do you need to hook up a Macbook Pro to an HDTV?

My Macbook Pro has a DVI port on it. You can buy a cable that is called a DVI to HDMI. The DVI end (which looks a little wider than a standard PC Monitor Cable -VGA) hooks into the Mac. The HDMI end hooks into the television. A DVI to HDMI cable is your best video quality option for hooking your Mac up to an HDTV.

If you are looking for a good deal on these types of cables I would suggest the Apple Store – either online or in person (more options online). You can get a cable for about $20 which is cheaper than the other options available at Best Buy or other electronic stores.

You will also need an audio cable that goes from the speaker out on your Mac to the audio in on your television. This cable is called a Stereo 3.5mm to RCA Cable. You may already have one kicking around if you use it to connect your ipod to a larger speaker system.

How to Hook Up your Macbook Pro to an HDTV

Step 1: Turn it On
Turn on your HDTV and make sure that you select the proper source channel. There should be a source button on your remote where you can select the appropriate input. On my Samsung LNA550 the source menu reads HDMI/DVI which is the correct channel for the type of cable that we are using.

Step 2: Plug It In
Plug in the HDMI end of the cable into the appropriate section of your HDTV. This HDMI connection will be different than the others because it will also have the audio input next to it. While you are behind your television you should also plug in your audio cable. Neatly run the cables to where your Macbook Pro is kept. Plug the DVI end into the DVI out of your Macbook Pro. Plug the 3.5mm end of the audio cable into the headphone jack of the Macbook Pro.

Step 3: Set Up Your View
Your Macbook Pro should automatically detect the new display. If it does not you must force it to detect displays. To do this you must go to System Preferences -> Displays and then press the button that says “Detect Displays”. This should refresh the screens and both should be tied into the Macbook Pro.

Once both screens are active, you have a few different options.

• Mirroring: Both screens show the same thing
• Dual Monitor: This setup allows you to move different windows to whichever screen you choose. This can really expand your real estate. You can also choose which monitor will be primary through your Display Settings under System Preferences. Go to the tab marked Arrangement and you will see two blue windows or screens. One of the screens will have a white rectangle across the top. This represents the menu bar. Drag the rectangle to the screen that you want to be primary. (Note: When using full screen applications like Quick Time or VLC I make the primary monitor the HDTV otherwise when you enter full screen mode it will switch back to the Macbook Pro screen thus defeating the purpose.)

You should now be setup to enjoy your Macbook Pro through your HDTV. You just need to learn how to watch television shows on your mac computer for free. Now here are some things that will make this setup even more convenient.

GATHER THE UNNECESSARY MATERIALS

Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
If you are planning on sitting well back from your HDTV then you are going to want a way to interact with your computer from the comfort of your couch. There are many wireless keyboards and mice available. Obviously Apple makes some pretty slick wireless devices for your Mac. The choice is up to you – just make sure that the device will be able to offer the range you are needing.

Cooling Pad (if you are using a Macbook)
Running video on your Macbook Pro can make it warm up pretty quick. You can also start to hear the fan at this point. Laptop cooling pads are designed to be silent and keep the Macbook or Macbook Pro cool and quiet. You can also look for laptop cooling pads that offer extended functionality like memory card readers and extra usb ports.