Television, the Internet, and South Park on the BlackBerry PlayBook

on 13 Nov 2011 03:10 PM

South Park plays nice on the BlackBerry PlayBook

Though I may not be a child of the internet generation, I've lived the vast majority of my life with a keyboard under my fingers. Yes, I remember a time when Yahoo! was just a collection of blue-underlined links and my favorite search "engine" was Metacrawler. Over the years, it seems that I've developed a craving for being entertained and informed at all times.

My BlackBerry PlayBook is a perfect way to satisfy those cravings; it pretty much goes everywhere with me. From the smallest room to the living room, the BlackBerry tablet is an invaluable tool for connecting to the internet and getting information quickly and easily. Even while doing the dishes. But with my hands covered in soap suds, it's not exactly easy to browse the latest offerings from CrackBerry.com and the like. That's why I like watching TV on my BlackBerry tablet.

Major networks in the US like CBS, NBC, and Fox all have a presence on the Internets, and if you want to watch The Price is Right in High Definition on your PlayBook, well, that's totally do-able. One of my favorite shows to watch on the Internet is South Park. The crass, foul-mouthed, and preachy show has been entertaining me for over a decade. It's not a show for everyone, but I like it. Especially if it's an episode featuring Butters (those of you keeping score at home might remember my cat has the same name).

What's unique about watching South Park online is that at SouthParkStudios.com, you can watch nearly every episode of the series' fifteen-season run - for free, and legally. Using Flash video, the site plays nice with the PlayBook, and full-length episodes are easily enjoyed in full-screen. Double-tap the video to go full screen; another single tap makes the video controls disappear.

The internet is a vast resource of both knowledge and entertainment, and the BlackBerry Playbook is perfectly suited to make use of both. After all, the biggest and most important SuperApp of them all is the awesome browser contained within.

Since I live in the US, it's not exactly easy to check how many of these sites still work in other parts of the world. Drop us a line in the comments and let us know what works and doesn't work in your country. What sites do you visit to watch videos, TV, and movies legally?

Filed Under: Help, How-To & Tips; Tags: BlackBerry Playbook, internet, televison

64 Comments

Posted by thecondor33 Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

I use ESPN3.com to watch live sports. Pretty awesome!!

Posted by bjw408h Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

indeed. and live NCAA D3 soccer at www.d3soccer.com, app-free!

Posted by carey965 Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

well southparkstudios.com does not work in canada

Posted by FIVEFIFTYWHAT Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

Aww...that's too bad for you buddy;)

Posted by gbester Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

You're not my buddy, guy.

Posted by FIVEFIFTYWHAT Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

I'm not yur guy, pal!

Posted by Jake Storm Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

I'm not your pal, buddy!

Posted by FIVEFIFTYWHAT Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

I'm not your buddy, friend!

Posted by robtanz Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

I love all of you.

Posted by skxj Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

try allsp.com it works in canada

Posted by DaveTheA Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

Thanks for that!

Posted by JonManu Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

don't need it, comedy channel streams almost all of their content, southpark included. For sports I use www.livetv.ru/en then I get to pick what sport and what game I want. The site looks a bit sketchy, but I have never had an issue with it. I highly recommend it.

Posted by NFLPLAYBOOK Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

I just use the Orb app. That way I don't have to search around for a live feed of a show. It's not as good of a picture but I get what's on at the time.

Posted by mugen27 Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 193 days ago

I use Orb also to stream movies and cable tv to the Playbook. Works quite well!

Posted by jtash Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

It would be nice if Hulu-Plus would work on the BB Playbook. Has anyone been able to port that Android Hulu-Plus app to the playbook yet?

I can't get the TNT shows like the Closer to run on the Playbook because we use Time-Warner for our cable and TNT doesn't have an online access agreement with TNT :(

Posted by TAG1 Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

hmmm....that's interesting....the major networks allow free access to their show....I barely record with my dvr anymore

Posted by TAG1 Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

most US networks do not stream outside the US.....copyright, money, etc... try to find a Canadian network that streams the programs you want to see

Posted by CrackBerryHarry Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

Maybe you're unfamiliar with the quality of Canadian tv... There is no tv in Canada anyone wants to see. That's why we're trying to see US tv.

Posted by The_Adventist Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

Thanks to the CRTC (Crappy Radio Television in Canada)

Posted by thymaster Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

I found most of the American TV shows through the Canadian partner sites like... CBC.ca, CTV.ca, GlobalTV.com, SpikeTV.ca and MTV.ca.

This is what I love about my Playbook, catching up on TV shows, in the library, on the train and coffee shops without being glued to the couch.

Posted by jamesjmunro Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

+1
I get all the shows from the American stations streaming through the various Canadian ones.

Posted by WIdo Tuesday, Nov 15, 2011 192 days ago

Bad TV in Canada? Not exactly true. In English Canada, CTV and mostly CBC produce excellent and popular television shows for all tastes: Flashpoint, Being Erika, InSecurity, Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, Mercer Report, Doc Zone, Dragon's Den, Battle of the Blades, Heartland, Nature of Things, etc.

And French Canadian television is extremely popular among francophones in Canada and around the World. In fact, translated great US shows have now much lower ratings than locally produced shows. Radio-Canada (CBC in French) has even made 2 apps for the Playbook. The app TOU.TV presents all of their current shows and vintage series. Great to watch on my Playbook!

Posted by Lonestar Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

rogersondemand.com is a good site if you're in canada and suffer from a rogers tv subscription. you can even fast forward and rewind on line which is something that their in home on demand service no longer allows.

Posted by DarshOne Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

lol or u could buy an ipad and just watch all those streaming sites thru their dedicated apps

Posted by TAG1 Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

nope....no matter what device still need to login through your cable service provider...if you don't have access to TNT on TV no dice

Posted by sk8er_tor Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

We don't want an iPad, moron.

Posted by thecsman Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 193 days ago

"because it has the coolest appz" *spits saliva*
"it gives access to all sites lulz" *spits more saliva*

I'll just leave this here for you, fanboy, it is exactly how we picture you (yeah, like the kid in the middle).

http://allsp.com/l.php?id=e210

Posted by DarshOne Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

just fyi, i have a bold 9930, and guess what?

besides its keyboard, its a piece of shit.
just like all my other blackberrys i foolishly wasted money on so i could use bbm.

know whats worked since day one and hasnt spontaneously bricked itself?
my iPhone 4s.
know what has worked since day one and hasnt suffered any outages?
imessage
know what takes great pics and has autofocus?
my iPhone 4s camera
know whats a great resource, is fun to browse and provides entertainment as well as useful tools?
my iPhone 4s' app store

total shocker..i know!

sorry i am a working electronics with a smooth UI fanboy.. :( i know our types arent welcome here in 2005 on crackberry...

im really sorry youre still stuck in denial about your crappy pager (blackberry) and your fancy tip calculator (playbook) but yes, "because it has the coolest appz" is why the ipad is outselling the playbook all over the world, just like the iphone "has the coolest appz" and is outselling blackberry all over the world. only a complete fool (read: blackberry fanboy in 2011) would, or could, deny this.

the playbook is a failed effort, and guess what? if the ipad didnt exist, niether would the playbook, or any other failed attempt by RIM to compete with apple. (did somebody say storm??)

so keep defending your fancy tip calculator, im sure its super rad to watch south park thru its browser! keep telling urself u dont need or want any apps too, it makes it easier to deal with using RIM products. ( i know from experience).

you will realize one day like i did as youre doing ur second battery pull on your 300$ 2011 flagship blackberry you signed 2 yrs of ur life away to, that there is a better way to stay connected. one that does everything a blackberry does, only get this, it does other stuff well too! and it doesnt even need to reboot for 8mins after you unistall or update an application! wow!

Posted by balth Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

I wouldn't usually respond to stuff like this, but I just can't resist. Here is my response;

LOL

There's a reason I don't frequent websites dedicated to dogs. I don't like them...

Thanks for the early morning chuckle. You are either trolling or very very sad and either way your rant cheered me up with my morning cuppa :-D

Posted by dasser74 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

I used to hate people like you. I always accepted the BlackBerry for what is WAS; a reliable communication device that did other things (browsing, sat nav etc) well enough. Truth is, it's a pos that bricks spontaneously (like my battery pull in the car because exiting Telmap 5 on a 9900 leads to a blank unresponsive screen) and hardly ever gets anything right. I bought this pos for mega bucks the first day it came out, and browsing through the crappiest expensive apps i knew this pos was already dead in the water. 69.99 for a fking clock app? Are you fking seriously telling me we even rate anywhere close to the iTWAT (i still hate them even though they wee-wee all over our bricks) or Android phones. The 60 yr old CEO in my company last week - 'i think either iPhone or Android for company phones'. Guess what? He didn't even mention BlackBerry!!!! Even the old timers are abandoning the crappy phones.

They suck badly. I'll keep the pos but only in the knowledge that it's ok for calls and emails, in an age where smnartphones are supposed to be so much more. Up yours (ARSE) RIM.

Posted by Toasterg Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

This conversation is kind of disturbing - So someone likes Apple, while someone likes Blackberry, there is nothing wrong with that.

So someone enjoys the freedom of having lots of apps and games and medias, while someone just needs good email, a few apps for particular task and a keyboard, there is nothing wrong with that.

I believe that BB fans have to stop defending RIM for the the apparent weakness in their products, but to push RIM to have the BBs to progress with the market; on the otherhand, Apple fans should stop bashing the devices that they belive to be stupid,and especially stop bxtching the bb users who they think is stupid.

Truly smart people don't intimate and bash those you think is inferior than you, if you want look smart and feel good, don't waste your time, just concentrate on your ios, apps and games and go compare yourselves to the other smart people in the Apple territory.

Posted by TeaBoy Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

just fyi, i have a bold 9930, and guess what?

besides its keyboard, its a piece of awesomeness.
just like all my other blackberrys i love it.

know whats worked since day one and hasnt spontaneously bricked itself?
my blackberry
know what has worked since day one and hasnt suffered any outages?
blackberry
know what takes great pics and has autofocus?
my blackberry camera
know whats a great resource, is fun to browse and provides entertainment as well as useful tools?
my blackberry playbook

total shocker..i know!

sorry i am a working blackberry.

im really sorry youre still stuck in denial about your crappy pager (iphone) and your fancy tip calculator (ipad) but yes, "because it has the coolest appz" is why the blackberry is outselling the ipad all over the world, just like the iphone "has the childish appz" . only a complete fool (read: ios fanboy in 2011) would, or could, deny this.

the ipad is a failed effort, and guess what? if the rim didnt exist, niether would the ipad,or any other failed attempt by apple,to compete with rim. (did somebody say i need a pad??)

so keep defending your i's, im sure its super rad to watch i touch myself thru its browser! keep telling urself u dont need or want any flash too, it makes it easier to deal with using RIM products. ( i know from experience).

you will realize one day like i did as youre doing ur second iphone6 on your 300$ 2011 flagship apple you signed 2 yrs of ur life away to, that there is a better way to stay connected. one that does everything a apple does, only get this, it does other stuff well too! and it doesnt even need to reboot for 8mins after you unistall or update an application! wow!

Posted by thecsman Thursday, Nov 17, 2011 189 days ago

Just WOW. I didn't expect the former BB user turned Apple fanboy rant. He must have been pretty sore and full of envy while looking at people being 'WOOHOOED!' on launch date at the Apple store. I also didn't expect the counter argument by the BB fan.

But you know what?
Probably the fanboy is now happy with a crappy 8mp camera that he believes can perform better than a $200 point and shoot camera. Get it right folks, a smaller sensor cannot outperform bigger ones! It's physics.
Probably he is also happy with the 6 hours he can get of battery life while trying to do the very same stuff he used to do with his BB (permanent connection to IM, continuous push email, leave alone tethering).
He might even happy now that he can play Angry Birds on his 4S and feel he is part of the Apple crowd. Good for him.

FYI, I own a 4s. I use it as an alarm clock. Yeah, 'Siri, wake me up at 6:30'. I use my 9900 tethered with my Playbook and both play together for 12 hours almost non stop. I use it to read any kind of MS Office document, PDFs, web site testing, among other things (some Bejeweled 2 from time to time, a game of chess, maybe Duke Nukem to remember the old times). I didn't even know there was a tip calculator app! :D

Finally, I don't sign my life to contracts. It's not my game to be owned by the operators. And you know what, Blackberry data plans are cheaper (like 50% cheaper) than plans for iphones. At least that's my case, and I can end the contract any time, no strings attached. =)

Posted by dagerlach Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

Sorry Joesph, but it doesn't make the Playbook anymore appealing to the tablet market. Every laptop and even some high-end TVs can stream Hulu and Netflix, but the Playbook can't.

And then of course there is the question of what will become of Adobe Flash Player? Yes, Yes, the Playbook has Flash. The average consumer has no idea what Flash is nor do they care as evidence by the Apple iPad sales.

If RIM wants to give us a gift for slow progress give us Hulu and Netflix! You can keep South Park.

Posted by buckwylder Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

this reply is useless, has no place on the crackberry site about a playbook device that people are a fan of

what kind of personal joy does a person receive from "trolling" ?

what makes one take time out of a day to be a clown? i say clown because a guy clearly not a fan of the playbook, but actually take time out of a life to post some challenged negative content in a positive blog post meant for playbook enthusiasts, meaning there would be just as much relevance in a guy dressing up as a clown and attending strangers funerals or weddings

why don't people set up a new thread that is relevant to hulu or netflix, oh, wait, wouldn't get all this attention if they did that, by bad, i give up... lol
__________________________________________________________

in the time of your life, live so that in that good time, there should be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life that your life touches, seek goodness everywhere

Posted by JasW Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

What do you mean the guy's reply "has no place on the crackberry site about a playbook device that people are a fan of"? OF COURSE IT DOES!

Just because one is a fan of BBs doesn't mean one leaves common sense at the door. The lack of Netflix and Hulu (and Kindle) on the PB is HUGE.

It's why I won't buy it, in fact.

This little blog piece is an attempt at a sop to people with PBs who can't watch Netflix or Hulu.

Posted by buckwylder Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

this isn't a post about hulu or netflix

this would be a very useful link for southpark fans in the usa - i enjoyed reading this, good show

it does not work in canada, but probably will soon, unless a person uses a proxy

the playbook is and always has been a great tablet for your "tablet market" kiddo
____________________________________________________________

in the time of your life, live so that in that good time, there should be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life that your life touches, seek goodness everywhere

Posted by WrightWords Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

Netflix.ca *adds to list of companies to write* Hulu, of course, doesn't work much in Canada.

Posted by robtanz Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

Does Netflix have any decent shows in Canada. Last time I was on the site it had a terrible selection.

Posted by Thunderbuck Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 193 days ago

Netflix.ca now carries the full catalog for The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad. I'd pay $9 a month for either one of 'em.

I like the documentaries, too. Have trouble finding them elsewhere.

Posted by WrightWords Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

Netflix.ca is much improved, and is ALL streaming and only $7.99 CAD per month. My college student kid lives on it, and I am (re-)watching Firefly atm.

CTV.ca and globaltv.com between them carry the most popular shows, and most of the major cable channels are online.

[ btw, SPACE.com's background rocks http://www.spacecast.com/ctvresources/images/spacebg2.jpg ]

Posted by gam1970 Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

This is amazing i live outside the US in the Caribbean and i can watch the TV via Internat via the Playbook from the channels you wrote in this site. PLAYBOOK Rocks

Posted by Heavens1 Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

Pardon my ignorance on how to successfully watch a tv program via the hdmi cable attached to the pb ....

I'm in Australia and tried to watch SBS on Demand which is their version of allowing access to various news, documentaries, other programs etc after they have been aired on tv.

With the hdmi cord plugged into both the tv and the pb it doesn't show up on the tv - just on the pb.

When I use the hdmi to watch vids that I have made with the pb, then I have no probs watching these on the tv.

So - do I need to do something different to watch the tv programs - other than already have the program showing on the pb and plug pb into tv via hdmi cord?

Posted by Heavens1 Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

Ok I've answered my own question - for whatever reason I have to have the HDMI cord that is attached to my pb on HDMI port 1 on my tv for it show on the tv. HDMI 2 port won't play from pb.

Posted by thecsman Thursday, Nov 17, 2011 189 days ago

You, sir, are funny. xD

Posted by buckwylder Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

irrelevant post:

i'm gonna head over to the webos blogs and make comments about hp and their handling of webos and palm related devices of late, just to see how it's going

then i am going to the tipb blogs to mention how much i love the playbook because of flash, even though people suddenly believe it to be irrelevant in itself since adobe's announcement

however, i am sure there will be a continued need for flash on the web for some time, as indicated by the initial post here, and the fact it doesn't just disappear over night bros and broettes
__________________________________________________________

in the time of your life, live so that in that good time, there should be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life that your life touches, seek goodness everywhere

Posted by buckwylder Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

mondays are the best days to go to the food bank
____________________________________________________________

in the time of your life, live so that in that good time, there should be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life that your life touches, seek goodness everywhere

Posted by buckwylder Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

best thing about regina is how nobody notices me driving around in this loraas disposal bin
____________________________________________________________

in the time of your life, live so that in that good time, there should be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life that your life touches, seek goodness everywhere

Posted by bcbbanga4l Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

i use the playbook to watch person of interest on their sites page works awesome

Posted by Yamcha Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

I agree, the browser on the Playbook has to be the best out there.. Infact I feel a bit silly finding this out a couple days back, the Playbook can easily play web based games that require a mouse, an example is Plants Vs Zombies, or Angry Birds online, I've tried many mouse based games and they work wonderfully on the Playbook..

I wish RIM would advertise that specifically.. Most apps that I've seen in the AppStore were once Flash based games.. And although there are ads when you play web based flash games they are still free..

Posted by markbb99 Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

I travel and have to use a VPN to connect back to watch sites from home when overseas. For this I have to use a laptop or my iPad as for some bizarre reason that I don't understand RIM is too good to support IPSEC or mainstream VPN technology. The browser on the Playbook is great but please can some explain why it's only specific vendor VPNs that are supported?

Posted by cas118 Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

Well, unfortunately Cartman tells me that I cannot watch South Park in the UK or Ireland. Nevermind.

In the UK, all of our major TV stations have Flash-based content. The BBC uses iPlayer, which they also have app sites for when you are using iOS.

But I know that I can go and watch Dennis Potter's 'Karaoke' on 4OD happily with my PlayBook.

As a video content device - for me - the PlayBook hits the spot. Every month it is getting better and better with updates and apps. Granted, I expected February to be last month, but there IS progress.

It's just a shame that sites like Netflix in the US don't realise that restricting their audience is turning them off. The word 'ubiquity' doesn't seem to mean anything.

Posted by pkcable Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

EpixHD works GREAT, but you need to get it on your cable system to use it for more than the 14 day trial. :)

Posted by The_Adventist Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 194 days ago

sidereel.com is my favorite site for watching tv stuff.

Yes, it works in Canada.

Posted by masseyowl1 Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 193 days ago

This couldn't get better!

From Masseyowl1

Posted by Thunderbuck Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 193 days ago

Oh, one other thing for us Canucks: YouTube Movies does movie rentals, some of them pretty decent. And they look AWESOME on a Playbook.

Quite a few free ones, too, and not the total garbage you'd expect. Totally worth a look...

http://www.youtube.com/movies?feature=mh

Posted by Olukunlea Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 193 days ago

Works great over here in Lagos Nigeria!

Posted by thecsman Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

Not related to SP, but I thought you might enjoy this on your Playbooks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU&feature=watch-now-button&wide...

Posted by lotuslanderz Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

The PlayBook also streams Hockey Night in Canada from the CBC site. It works great!

Posted by juacas Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

I'm very surprised to find out that the videos can be played here in Colombia. Thanx for the link, I'm gonna watch whenever I have free time...

Posted by dasser74 Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

"The internet is good" - thanks dude, i didn't know that.......

Posted by thudpaul Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

Narutoget.com, since I'm also NARUTO fanatic =)

Posted by westcoaststyle Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

For fans of Korean shows, I go to www.dramafever.com to catch up on my favorite Korean dramas.

YouTube also has a page with free movies: http://www.youtube.com/movies?fl=f&pt=fm

Crackle is a good site as well for TV shows and movies: http://www.crackle.com/

(not sure if these work in Canada or not, but worth a shot)

Posted by d3adcrab Monday, Nov 14, 2011 193 days ago

Contrary to what the blog post says, my PB doesnt play nice with southparkstudios.com. No sound or sound controls on the eps! Youtube works fine :/

Television, the Internet, and South Park on the BlackBerry PlayBook

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