Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way to Watch
A South African Forensic Files fan tweeted last week to say he couldn’t watch the show in his country anymore.
CBS Reality, a network that broadcasts in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, had stopped airing the shows in South Africa.
Deprived of Forensic Files? Now there’s a crime.
I can relate. My access to the show seemed severely limited after I cut the cord about a year ago.
Along with the monthly cable bill of $125.51 to $172.59 (depending on whatever deal Time Warner was offering or yanking away), I also had to say farewell to the HLN TV network — the Forensic Files mother lode.
HLN has daily Forensic Files marathons anywhere from 4 to 12 hours long.
If you have basic cable in the U.S., chances are you can bask in all the chromatography and rifling impressions patterns you like via HLN’s generous schedule of back-to back Forensic Files. I miss HLN.
Fortunately, there are also many other sources of the show.
Update: Forensic Files exited Netflix on Jan. 1, 2022.
But you can still stream episodes on Pluto, Discovery +, HBO MAX, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Tubi.
You can also find many of the episodes on the internet. Just enter “Forensic Files” and the name of the episode or even just the name of the perpetrator in a browser window, and the right one should materialize.
The producers made a deal to distribute the show on YouTube via a company called FilmRise. So if you see “FilmRise,” you’re watching a legally procured episode.
I’m not sure how the picture quality on YouTube rates next to what you see on TV or a streaming service, but I’m happy with it.
Of course, you’ll need a broadband or otherwise expensive internet subscription to watch online. I use Spectrum, which used to be Time Warner Cable. I have nothing nice to say about either of them. Right now, I’m paying $54.88 a month.
The least expensive way to enjoy Forensic Files is via an over-the-air TV station — the kind you get for free, no cable subscription required.
An over-the-air TV station called Escape (Channel No. 33-4 in New York and available in other cities) broadcasts a couple Forensic Files episodes a day.
All you need is an antenna. I use a $29.99 RCA digital one.
It gives pretty much crystal clear reception on Escape and all the other free stations, including the major networks. It was a surprise.
I was expecting the same kind of static and the other types of interference from the old days of rabbit ears.
Most of my quest for Forensic Files has taken place in NYC. If anyone has advice or experience to share about finding Forensic Files elsewhere or via another route, please leave a reader comment and share the wealth.
Someone in the world is sure to appreciate any clues you have to offer.
Until next week, cheers. — RR
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-a-Million
Target
Walmart
Indie Bound
It’s amazing how many options there are these days — a far cry from the era of the three broadcast networks that many of us grew up with. I do have basic cable at my house so FF marathons are a regular part of the landscape. There are still a lot of episodes I haven’t seen, though. There are some episodes that HLN seems to run more than others.
The show has legs. I watch ancient episodes on youtube, and the beauty is that people don’t get too much nicer over time, or too much more imaginative. The fun never goes out of ordinary people doing something dreadful.
I subscribe to Sirius XM which plays the audio of HLN on a channel. So I listen to episodes in the car and at work where I can’t watch Netflix.
You’re the first person who has mentioned Forensic Files on Sirius XM — thanks much for clueing us in!
MURDER IN DUBLIN!! A story that needs to be investigated and reported
Dublin Ohio, a north west suburb city near Columbus is a more professional community. Dublin is always promoted as “the place to live and raise a family.” Home to Jack Nicholas’s Muirfield golf course and PGA tournament. We have lived in Dublin since 1990 moving from Harrisburg Pa. area.
In July of 2018 a 50 year old Dr. was murdered in his home. Dr. Chris Osborn DO had a practice in Dublin. He was married, second wife. Had children. Was ecstatic that his daughter was starting medical school.
Dr. Osborn was a well liked physician who came into our life via Dr. Kenneth Carpenter, a legend in Dublin. Dr. Carpenter was failing with cancer. He handed us to Dr. Osborn.
On July of 2019 Dr. Osborn was shot in his bed while sleeping. Dublin police ruled it a homicide. A 9-1-1 call recording was released of his wife and her father reporting the incident. She called her father who was in another part of the state, reportedly drunk in the 6:00AM -8:00AM morning hours, telling him of Dr. Osborn.
He, with her on the line at the scene, called 9-1-1.
Dublin police responded and ruled the scene a homicide. Dr. Osborn was found shot in the head and neck in his bed. This we were told by our optometrist. It was never reported in the local news other than to report the incidents happening. No follow up.
Nothing more has ever been reported on this murder. Nothing.
Dublin police are reported very closed mouthed about this. These things never happen in DUBLIN!!
Here is one for your investigative forensic reporting..
There’s also a Forensic Files dedicated channel on Pluto TV. It’s a FREE streaming app, but not available on all devices. It is for sure available with a Firestick, as that’s what I use! Literally plays FF episodes with minimal commercials 24 hours a day. 🙂
My wife rarely watches anything but FF. I’m beginning to think she is just refining all possible methods and outcomes in order to off me. Remember this post should I turn up toes up.
Lol, Steijger, just monitor the life insurance policies and say no if she offers you Gatorade.
There is a local TV channel in Los Angeles, KDOC channel 56, that carries a few FF episodes a week. I believe right now their schedule is one show at 3:30 am, so set your DVR!
Good to know there’s one more option for cord cutters.
I have a free Roku channel called “Pluto,” which has hundreds of additional channels. One of those channels plays Forensic Files episodes 24/7.!!
Forensic Files runs 24/7 on Pluto.TV
Dang, I thought this was going to be about drinking games for Forensics Files.
Lol, Joe. “Drink for every ‘then he changed his story'”
I sp’ose it’s a sign of the times when you have to explain (slightly) what over-the-air tv is! UK probably has all the mediums that US has now – most of it transmitting tripe reality dross – and although ‘adequately’ tech-savvy I can’t get my head around Netflix, Apple tv et al – some of it cabled-in, some via internet, some via satellite… and some, still, via plain ol’ aerial (which is free – but for how much longer?) I certainly shan’t be paying the eq of $60-80 pm for it, as many here are seduced into doing.
ONE good thing about the proliferation of US programmes on UK tv is that FF is regularly available…
After being devastated at losing FF on Netflix, I recently discovered it on free streaming app Tubi through my XBox. There are minimal commercials, and I don’t mind at all. My husband and I love this show so much. Thank you for this website.
Great tip — thanks so much for writing in with it and for reading my website!