FreeTube, a recent IPTV venture, brings Internet users more than 500 television channels – as the name suggests – for free. Slated to be a technological and sociological experiment, this online television site offers viewers with a modem, Web browser and several common plug-ins the ability to watch a variety of channels using IP streaming technology.

The Web site, Freetube.us.tc, offers its content for free by selling ad space on the site as well as by cooperating with broadcasters for whom they provide a broadened viewer base. Independent channels with unique niche content make up the majority of FreeTube’s video, in addition to larger commercial stations. Programs are divided into 11 categories including news, music, sports, educational and entertainment.

In addition to 24-hour TV-viewing, the site features updates to make the experience interactive. FreeTube Spy allows users to see what other viewers worldwide are watching in real time. Viewers can comment on shows and rate certain channels, as well as bookmark their favorites for quicker access. These channels can also be shared with friends and family or posted to a personal Web site, blog or MySpace page.