9 Sources to Watch Great Brazilian TV
Watching Portuguese TV shows is an excellent way to improve your language skills.
Not only can you get all the entertainment you’d have in your normal viewing, you’ll also have the side benefit of valuable language practice, making an irresistible combination.
These nine sensational sources for watching Brazilian TV online will help you binge-watch your way toward fluency.
(If you’re looking for TV sources from Portugal, head over to this post.)
Contents
- BandNews TV
- TV Câmara
- TV Brasil
- RedeTV!
- RecordTV
- SBT (Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão)
- TV Globo
- TV Gazeta
- Bonus: Netflix
- How to Get the Most from Watching Brazilian TV Online
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
BandNews TV
BandNews TV is a 24-hour news network similar to CNN. It covers news from Brazil and around the world, so you’ll see a wide range of stories covered.
On BandNews TV’s website, you can find news clips by clicking “Menu” on the homepage and selecting a news category. Here you’ll find a list of recent news stories, some in the form of short articles and others accompanied by a news clip covering the story.
You can even watch coverage of BandNews TV’s radio channel on YouTube.
TV Câmara
TV Câmara (Chamber TV) is a 24-hour public television station. Its main focus is broadcasting content from the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, a federal legislative body.
This channel broadcasts live online and you can watch it for free. You can watch through the network’s website or through its YouTube page, which also features a variety of clips if you need to catch up.
Watching TV Câmara is a lot like watching C-SPAN but it offers a great opportunity to practice your Portuguese while learning more about politics in Brazil.
TV Brasil
TV Brasil is a public TV channel with a nice variety of programs. On the network, you’ll see movies, children’s shows, sports and more. Affiliated stations based around the country also broadcast regional programming.
The channel offers free online streaming (via the “WebTV” link in the header). The network’s website also features a huge selection of news clips you can watch and re-watch for additional practice.
You can also watch programs, clips and live streams through the TV Brasil YouTube channel.
RedeTV!
RedeTV! (TV Network!) is a private network based out of São Paulo, though there are also many local stations. Programs include game shows, reality shows, news, sports and entertainment.
On the RedeTV! website, you can access plenty of videos from their programs, including news segments, cooking shows, reality TV clips and more. Plus, if you click on ao vivo (live), you’ll be directed to RedeTV! GO, where you’ll be able to find extra content.
RedeTV!’s YouTube channel also uploads videos ranging from a couple of minutes to full-length programs.
RecordTV
RecordTV is a Brazilian network established in 1953, making it one of Brazil’s oldest surviving networks. It broadcasts an array of original Brazilian programming, including reality programs, fictional series, news and more.
Its live stream isn’t always available, however, RecordTV does offer plenty of videos, ranging from brief TV show clips to news stories.
It also uploads a variety of clips to its YouTube page. Most of the clips range from just a couple of minutes to around 20 minutes, so there’s plenty to watch no matter how much time you have available.
SBT (Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão)
Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão (Brazilian Television System) or SBT is a Brazilian TV network with stations based throughout Brazil.
If you happen to be in Brazil, SBT offers an abundance of free online material, including live streaming, full-length programs and clips. You can even access this material through SBT’s free app (available for iOS and Android).
Sadly, you cannot access all of the material on the website if you’re based in the United States. However, you can access some shorter videos, such as clips from the news program Primeiro Impacto (First Impact) and some live channels on SBT Vídeos.
A lot of content is also available through SBT’s YouTube page, so you can watch it from your computer, smart TV or favorite device. If you need a little extra help, you can also turn on auto-generated subtitles, but be warned: they aren’t perfect.
TV Globo
TV Globo (Globe TV), previously called Rede Globo (Globe Network), is a major Brazilian television network. In fact, according to a 2020 report, TV Globo has the second-largest annual revenue of any TV network in the world. So if you’re going to familiarize yourself with just one Brazilian TV network, you can’t go wrong with this giant.
The network features many of the most popular Brazilian TV programs, including highly successful soap operas, popular reality shows (like “Big Brother Brasil” and “The Voice Brasil”) and more. The network also airs several international series, like “The Good Doctor.”
While there isn’t live streaming, you can access much of the content through a subscription to Globoplay, which also offers a free trial period. Brief clips of some shows are available for free without paying for a subscription.
Can’t get enough? Check out TV Globo’s YouTube channel for a huge selection of clips.
TV Gazeta
TV Gazeta (Gazette TV) is a Brazilian TV network that broadcasts a range of programs, from news and sports to entertainment shows.
On TV Gazeta’s website, you’ll be able to access a live channel by clicking ao vivo, and, by scrolling scroll down, you’ll find the program schedule.
One of the best ways to find videos from this network is by looking at the TV Gazeta YouTube channel, where there are tons of videos available, from interviews to tasty recipes and cooking demonstrations!
Bonus: Netflix
Although this post has covered Brazilian TV sources available online, it’s worth mentioning the variety of Brazilian shows on Netflix.
On this streaming platform, you’ll not only be able to find authentic Portuguese movies, but you’ll also be able to check out tons of TV shows.
Many movies and shows on Netflix are accompanied by an array of subtitle and dubbing options in different languages, meaning that you’ll often be able to choose English or Brazilian Portuguese subtitles to accompany a show you choose to watch. This makes Brazilian TV more accessible for learners of all levels, whether beginner or fluent.
You can even check out the Netflix Brasil (Brazil) YouTube channel for trailers and other fun videos.
How to Get the Most from Watching Brazilian TV Online
Try several different channels.
When it comes to watching Brazilian TV online, there’s nothing limiting you to just one channel—so watch all you want!
In fact, trying several different channels is a great way to see what you like. On some channels, you might find Portuguese-language cartoons. On other channels, you might watch movies.
Since each channel features different content and a different style, checking out several channels is a great opportunity to find the type of programming you like best.
Pay attention to where the station broadcasts from.
Different areas of Brazil speak with slight differences. Check out where a station broadcasts from so you’ll know what to expect in terms of dialect.
Being aware of this will help you notice the regional variations within Brazilian Portuguese and learn to differentiate between them.
Re-watch your favorite clips and programs.
When you find a program or segment you like, watch it again!
There are two ways to do this. One way is to watch the exact same clip or episode repeatedly. This will give you more opportunities to pick up on any vocabulary you may have missed. Watch it until you can understand every word.
The other option is to just keep watching different episodes of the same show. This way, you can familiarize yourself with the show format, allowing you to focus more fully on the language being used as you watch.
Consider what type of TV shows will help you the most.
There are many types of Portuguese TV shows out there, so take some time to consider what will help you achieve your goals.
For instance, if you have trouble motivating yourself to get listening practice, you might pick a program based solely on entertainment value. After all, if you find it entertaining, you’re more likely to keep watching.
You can also use TV programs to target specific vocabulary sets. If you want to learn relevant vocabulary related to current events for better small-talk material, consider watching the news.
Make watching a daily habit.
Watching every day will help ensure your Portuguese listening skills keep improving and don’t backslide. By supplementing watching TV with your learning, you can get an all-around learning experience. For example, the FluentU program has a contextual video dictionary that you can use to find any new words in subtitled authentic Brazilian Portuguese videos.
If you make watching a daily habit, you’ll also be less likely to forget it since it’ll be part of your daily schedule.
Plus, watching regularly can be like your own at-home Portuguese immersion program!
Just watch and learn! Check out these nine resources for watching Brazilian TV online and get your Brazilian Portuguese skills on point.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
