Who Needs TV? Binge the Best YouTube Channels

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by Anna Munhin Mar 12, 2023 News
Who Needs TV? Binge the Best YouTube Channels

The internet was formed by the video sharing website, YouTube. The way we watch and share online videos is thanks to the power of the internet. You need to wade through the muck to find the gold on the platform. Let PCMag point you in the right direction with our picks for the best channels on the internet.

You won't find content dumped to the platform from the likes of CNN or FOX if you look at our selections. Despite the company offering related, paid services, such as YouTube Premium and YouTube TV, the company still has a do-it-yourself spirit that bakes into these recommended channels.

Are you ready to get more into video watching? Our top picks are divided into 15 easy to understand categories.

ASMR

Gentle Whispering

Are you not sure where to start on your journey? There are videos that show the quiet power of ASMR. Positive vibes can improve your life if you listen to these relaxing sounds.

New Bliss

Each video is brought to life by the cool, dynamic animation that is featured in New Bliss. It might be just what you need to boost productivity or ease your mind.

The French Whisperer

Women who look directly into the camera are featured in many ASMR channels. The French Whisperer is not the same as the other ones. You don't see the host's face, only his hands, as he strokes materials and cleans things. You will learn something when he dives into historical events, figures, and legends.

Comic Books

Cartoonist Kayfabe

The reviews of the Wizard comic book magazine were presented by Ed Piskor and Jim Rugg on their website. They've expanded the channel to include reviews and critiques of comics from a wide range of genres. The duo's love for comic books is infectious.

ComicTropes

Chris presents a deep dive into comic book history and lore. Each episode gives a glimpse into back stories that might otherwise be lost to time. Chris has a lot of knowledge and is funny. ComicTropes' live streams give you the chance to ask him questions while he works on his own artwork.

WhatCulture Comics

There are comic book-themed listicles that highlight a character or team's highest, lowest, or strangest moments. "10 Comic Book Heroes Improved Through Retcons," "10 Stupidly Overpowered Comic Book Weapons," and other ranked video stories can help you better understand your favorite comic book characters.

Finance

Matt D'Avella

One important fact is that living a minimalist, considered life doesn't mean eating beans from a can in an unfurnished room. D'Avella offers sound, experienced advice for reining in impulsive spending, starting new exercise routines, and breaking bad habits.

One Big Happy Life

One Big Happy Life has advice for people trying to grow up. Do you want to manage your finances better? Are you looking for inspiration for home décor? Is it difficult to organize now that you have children? The family can do it and you can too.

Our Rich Journey

A lot of factors beyond your control can affect your economic success, but on Our Rich Journey you can see how the hosts have taken steps to achieve financial independence and retire early. Jordan Minor asked, what more do you want?

Food

Adam Ragusea

Adam Ragusea's cooking videos are for people who don't like to cook in restaurants. Basic cooking knowledge and techniques can be used to make great recipes. He made educational videos on food science and history.

Babish Culinary Universe

Sometimes food you've seen in movies and on TV can be recreated at Babish Culinary Universe. You need to see Babish's creations to believe they are real. The channel has practical cooking advice since it's not feasible for most of us to make a huge rice bowl.

French Guy Cooking

Alex Anouz is a home cook who loves to experiment and solve problems. His French Guy Cooking shows a wide range of cooking techniques, including deep dives into specific ingredients. Many of his videos attempt to recreate restaurant quality food at home, but some focus on honing specific dishes by taking a closer look at what makes them unique. His content is insightful for any curious cook because he shows his failures.

James Hoffman

James Hoffman is your guide to the wonderful and sometimes wacky world of coffee. He explores ingenious or failed coffee equipment from the past, reviews coffee machines of today, and compares brands you find at the supermarket. Do you want to learn Aeropress? If you want to see James, give him a look.

TabiEats

TabiEats is a website where Satoshi and Shinichi share their food experiences with the world. Their weekly videos show must-try Japanese dishes, restaurant eats, and their own recipes. They look at the latest food varieties from convenience store chains in Japan. Outside of Japan, they highlight the delicious munchies enjoyed across the globe.

Tasting History

Max Miller takes you on a journey through the history of food with bizarre and iconoclastic recipes. Do you ever wonder what the Egyptians ate? What first class travelers ate on the Titanic? Max takes a look at the history of the dishes and the people who ate them and gives the meal a taste test at the end.

Townsends

Sometimes you want to sit back, put up your feet, and watch a man in a tri-corner hat cook a chicken over a small campfire. What life was like in North America in the 18th and 19th century is the subject of a channel called "Townsends". The host frequently recreates recipes from the period, wears period-appropriate clothing at all times, and builds structures without the aid of modern tools.

Games

Digital Foundry

Digital Foundry gives in-depth analysis of video games from a technical perspective. The team looks at lighting techniques and how games perform. Digital Foundry is your dream channel if you like frame rates.

Girlfriend Reviews

Many girls and their friends play video games. The video game review channel is similar to the distracted boyfriend meme, except that the object of affection is the latestAAA title. It's all fun and games.

Happy Console Gamer

A few hardcore video game collectors used their cameras and mics to make over-the-top rants on the internet. Johnny Millenium decided to go the other way with Happy Console Gamer. Every Sunday, Johnny releases a new video about the games he likes, be it retro classics or contemporary blockbusters. Johnny's stories about growing up as a Gen Xer into games, anime, and the arcade scene deliver smiles and warm feelings.

IGN

One of the leading destinations for comic book, film, television, and video game coverage is ign. IGN features a daily bounty of news, previews, reviews, and opinion pieces. The parent company of PCMag is Ziff Davis.

Maximilian Dood

The fighting game genre has a lot of great titles. If you want to find out where to begin in the category, or learn more about it's future, then you need to watch the self-titled channel. There are reviews, trailer breakdowns, retrospectives, and suggestions on how to "git gud" presented through Max's welcoming, insightful, and humor filled demeanor.

NihongoGamer

If you have an obsession with video game controllers that are designed with fighting games in mind, you should visit the channel Nihongo Gamer. Reviews of arcade sticks, fight pads, and leverless controllers can be found there. The host of the show reviews fighting games with his signature eye for detail.

General

Drew Gooden

There are people on the video sharing website who quickly became rich. There is a lot of drama. Drew Gooden can break down online beef for you. Along the way, he's going to talk about other internet nonsense.

Folding Ideas

The only common thread in Dan's topics is how appealing they are to the online population. There are cooking videos, NFT takedowns, and a lengthy retrospective of The Lord of The Rings cartoon, among other things.

Hbomberguy

Do you enjoy long form content? Harris Brewer has been making content on the video sharing site for years. An Hbomberguy video takes many shapes, but it's most often a humorous, lengthy video essay about the flat earth conspiracy theory, video games, or other specific topics.

Jenny Nicholson

In the comment section of Jenny Nicholson's (Opens in a new window) video, "Evermore: The Theme Park That Wasn't," user LucyLu98 wrote, "This might be the most sad looking park I've ever seen." I would like to thank Jenny for having me watch the essay. Jenny Nicholson is a creator who turns her pop-culture interests into entertaining deep dives. Her three-minute-long "Suicide Squad Sales Pitch" is a great place to start.

LegalEagle

They're not limited to the internet. The LegalEagle is the real deal. He started his channel to give advice to young people. He covers lawsuits that hit the news media and uses research and law knowledge to break them down. If you're curious about what's happening in a court case and you'd like your explanation to come from someone who passed the bar exam, look no further.

Instruction

Alexa Donne

It takes a long time to get a book published. You need to develop strong characters and place them in interesting situations in order to write the book. You need to find a literary agent who can help you sell your book. Donne's insight on everything from genres to marketing will help any aspiring author.

Carl Murawski

Are you looking to make your wardrobe better? "own better, own less" is the motto of Carl Murawski, a construction worker turned YouTuber. His self-titled channel focuses on long- lasting workwear fashion (rugged boots, raw denim, field jackets), but sprinkles it with everyday wear and fashion advice. If you're looking for an alternative to the fast fashion industry, this channel is a good starting point.

Talk to Me in Korean

It can be hard to learn a new language alone. If you're studying the Korean language, Talk to Me In Korean is your best friend. You can improve your listening skills by watching the videos and shorts on the channel. Talk to Me In Korean can be used for anyone looking for a learning experience.

Movies and TV

Accented Cinema

Many of the videos on the channel are dedicated to Asian cinema. "The Rise of Gun Fu" is one of the movie-related topics that the video essays focused on.

Corridor Crew

Corridor Crew is a team of professional video effect artists who scrutinize movies to understand how and why certain visual effects work. Outside experts are enlisted to analyze film clips for the "Animators react," "Stuntmen react," and "Stunt women react" sub-series.

Double Toasted

The internet is filled with pop culture review shows, but Double Toasted cuts through the noise with a veteran critic's insight and a stand-up comedian's hilarious jokes. The best and worst that Hollywood has to offer can be broken down by the hosts. The Bad Movie Roast series is a good place to start if you're looking for a good laugh.

Films At Home

Smash Films At Home's button if you value physical media for collecting or preservation. The host of the channel offers detailed analysis on whether or not you should upgrade from a previous release, as well as covering the newest disc releases. Interviews with industry experts, hardware reviews, and technology explainers are included in the offering.

Film Courage

Film Courage's deep interview catalog with professional writers has inspiring advice for novelists, playwrights, comic book authors, and television writers. Host Karen Worden asks questions about all aspects of the creative business, from how to best pitch agents to how to shoot a film on a tight budget.

Just Write

In Just Write, we look at popular movies and TV shows and how they can help us become better writers. Andor is an anti-fascist. Knives Out is able to switch genres at will. Even a bad movie can teach us something, and this channel helps us pull back the layers.

Lessons From the Screenplay

The movies start from written words. The film, TV, and video game script is analyzed to understand how the writers pull off their narrative feats. Act structure, character psychology, and symbolism are included. Jordan Minor said it was a film school.

Red Letter Media

The internet exploded with Red Letter Media's Star Wars prequel reviews, starring the unnerving and hilarious Mr. Plinkett. The channel has become a beloved movie review destination due to its wholly independent perspective and sense of humor. Let Mike, Jay, and Rich Evans show you the way.

Screen Junkies

The Honest Trailers channel is called Screen Junkers. There are "trailers" that combine recut official footage with sarcastic narration to poke fun at their respective movies. The parody is better because of the movie narrator's voice. The Honest Trailer series is the ace of the bunch.

The Royal Ocean Film Society

The Royal Ocean Film Society was launched in 2016 and aims to create deeper discourse about cinema. There are educational and entertaining videos about animation, acting, cinematography, directing, and screenwriting. If you want to see what the channel is all about, start with "Confessions of a Christopher Nolan Fanboy" or "How Ray Harryhausen Combined Stop-Motion and Live Action".

Music

8-Bit Music Theory

Video game music is just as good as any other type. All of it is art. 8-bit Music Theory takes an academic approach to explain why gaming tunes sound so cool. It's great to see a specific kind of video game criticism if you don't know the difference.

Anthony Fantano

Anthony Fantano is a music critic on the video sharing website. The channel has entertaining and informed takes on music culture. Music nerds deserve smart, fun, chaotic, and absolutely what it is.

Banger TV

Enjoy a weekly dose of heavy metal on PerusebangerTV. There is a heavy focus on album reviews. You can find a lot of supplemental metal coverage. Iron Maiden: Flight 666 and Metal: A Headbanger's Journey were two of the award-winning documentaries produced by the group.

Charles Cornell

Charles Cornell is a pianist who breaks down why and how they work in a musical arrangement. Cornell's pop culture-based topics make it a great place for both musicians and non- musicians. "Hogwarts Legacy Copied John Williams...And It's amazing," and "The First Transformers Theme Was Wildly Confusing" are examples.

LoFi Girl

The online destination for focusing orzoning out to laid-back hip-hop beats is now called ChilledCow. The now-iconic Study Girl and her sleepy cat are featured in a show that spotlights smooth tracks from Lofi Records, as well as music from artists who have given their permission to be broadcasted via the hugely popular channel. Don't forget to wear headphones and enjoy the vibes.

NPR Tiny Desk

We didn't want to highlight large news organizations that just dump their content on the internet, but we couldn't resist NPR music. The Tiny Desk concert series is similar to MTV's "Unplugged for a New Generation". The intimate setting and wide range of performers, including Ari Lennox, Megan Thee Stallion, Moonchild, Taylor Swift, and Yo- Yo Ma, make for thoroughly engaging, magical moments.

Polyphonic

Polyphonic is one of the few music essay channels that present their subject matters and histories. "The 27 Club: Mental Illness & Art," "Deals with the Devil: A Brief Musical History," and "Nina Simone: Hip Hop's Secret Weapon" are some of the videos you can watch there.

Reverb

The store's YouTube channel is the store's extension and is popular for buying music gear. The video repository is more than that. You'll find tips for using equipment, but you can also find cool retrospective series like Reverb Bass Tricks, which analyzes cool, low-end lines, andSynth Sounds of..., which breaks down classic 1970s and 1980s songs and why they work.

So Wassup?

Rap heads should check out So Wassup? as hip-hop celebrates its 50thanniversary. The channel is hosted by DJ premier. The Gang Starr producer gives history lessons about the songs he created for various artists.

TAETRO

Thanks to musicians likeTAETRO, basement producers can impart knowledge via live streams and uploaded videos. The mystery of music production is taken away with lessons on music theory and beat making. There are a lot of resources for aspiring musicians atTAETRO. His studio setup videos are of particular interest.

The Company Man

When it comes to breaking down the beats, rhymes, and life that is rap, no commentator does it better than Justin Hunte. The journalist drops video essays that connect the music to broader cultural elements with the delivery and perspective of a b-boy college teacher. Hunte can be heard on The All Out Show With Rude Jude.

VladTV

One of the leading voices in hip-hop and entertainment is heard on the VladTV. There are stories from rappers, actors, athletes, singers, pro wrestlers, models, former mobsters, comedians and more. The stories range from entertaining to sobering and tragic.

Nature

Animalogic

The animal kingdom is very interesting and frightening. On a daily basis, we share our world with a number of creatures. The channel talks about extinct and curious beasts from the fossil record and extraordinary plants and fungi.

Casual Geographic

Casual Geographic is a nature show for today's audience. Casual Geographic is a parody of the animal kingdom's adorable, violent, and unpredictable nature that began as a TikTok channel. "Why Honey Badgers Don't Fear God or Lions," "Why I'd Throat a Cactus Before I Go In The Ocean," and "Why This Animal Is a War Criminal" are some of the best things to start with.

The Dodo

Cute animals are bright in the dark. The Dodo has all the cute pet content you could want. The Dodo wants people to get involved in animal welfare.

Science

Chubbyemu

In a world of poor nutrition and self-medication, medicine can go wrong. Sharing stories about serious cases encountered by doctors over the last century is what Chubbyemu does. As the symptoms get worse for the patient, most scenarios start off mundane. Chubbyemu's stories are cautionary tales about modern medicine and how fragile our bodies can be.

Kurzgesagt

Kurzgesagt is a fantastic science channel with excellent, instantly recognizable animation, and a bizarrely optimistic viewpoint on some scientific phenomena. There are tips on how to improve your life, the pros and cons of nuclear energy, and how your immune system works. It's fun for people of all ages.

Medlife Crisis

Patients can be reluctant to talk to their doctors, but that doesn't mean they can't worry. Medlife Crisis (opens in a new window) is a channel used by a licensed cardiologist who uses it to offer frank talk on a wide range of topics with a particular focus on debunking medical snake oil and pseudoscience. He's based in the UK so best practices in his area might be different than those elsewhere. If you're looking for a calming voice who can explain how doctors view common medical issues, he's your go to source.

Real Engineering

This is where science nerds go. The show delivers interesting answers to simple questions, which the channel does with aplomb. "Can Nuclear Propulsion Take Us to Mars?," and "Can We Throw Satellites to Space?" are just a few of the topics Real Engineering covers.

The B1M

The B1M shows us what the future may look like. Construction projects from all over the world are showcased in this channel. Think of Japanese skyscrapers and Indian railways. It's not easy to create infrastructure like this, but it's inspiring.

Sports

DreamersPro

DreamersPro has you covered if you're hesitant about cutting the cord because you didn't get NBA coverage. Basketball news, rumors, and debate can be found on the channel, which features multiple videos per day. Charles brings a no-nonsense approach to The Association which is incredibly refreshing in an era of shoot-from-the-lip hot takes.

Mike Korzemba

Mike Korzemba's (opens in a new window) self-titled channel is focused on the NBA, but doesn't offer interviews or hot takes. You can find well-thought, stat-driven video essays that highlight teams, individual players, and even long-standing basketball conspiracy. If you like "7 Stories that prove Larry Bird was the greatest trash talker of all time," "Did David Stern Fix The 1985 NBA Draft?," and "The Secret Truth: Is Ben Simmons shooting with the wrong hand?", you'll like this channel.

The Old Man and the Three

The Old Man and the Three is an NBA show that sheds light on what it takes to be a professional athlete from the perspective of a baller who excelled at every basketball level. This is a show for hoops fans and features interviews with some of the sport's top names.

Rick Shiels

Looking to fix your slice is one of the channels to beat in the video game. The man has a video. Do you want to become a better putter? It's there as well. Are you looking for golf videos that are entertaining? There's no other golf channel that comes close to being popular. The content and production value are fantastic, so it's a well- deserved subscriber count.

The Ringer

The Ringer was launched in 2016 by sports commentator Bill Simmons. The Ringer is a mix of sports talk and pop culture with Simmons and other notable voices.

Technology

DankPods

The world of barely functional, cheap, cash-in players that appeared in the late 1990s and early 2000s is the subject of Dank Pods. Wade Nixon is not just a one-trick pony, he applies the same level of enthusiasm for terrible mp3 players to anything he's interested in.

Dino Bytes

Gordon Laing's Dino Bytes (opens in a new window) channel focuses on fresh reviews of early digital cameras, and it includes a spattering of gaming and instructional content, too. There is a lot to like here for fans of early digicams. Gordon has a review of the Nintendo Gameboy Camera.

DPReview TV

There are many ways to catch up on the latest camera gear reviews, but spending 15 minutes with Chris and Jordan fromDPReview TV is one of the best. They have a lot of fun giving their opinions and it shows on screen. Chris and Jordan talk about pictures and video on the show. If you're looking for an introduction, check out their "Best & Worst of 2022," an episode that features the hosts drinking and playing video games while wrapping up the year in cameras.

HDTV Test

A good television is the center of your entertainment setup. It can be difficult to find a TV that will look awesome and last for a long time. The only thing you need is the HDTV test. You'll learn about the benefits and drawbacks of curved monitors. When you know you made the right decision, watching your new TV is even more relaxing.

Linus Tech Tips

Technology is easy to use. As machines get more powerful, it can get more complex. Are you stumped by your computer? Are you interested in learning more about technology in general? There are entertaining and educational videos on the site. The crew's enthusiasm and technical knowledge may turn you into a full-on expert.

Marques Brownlee

One of the top tech personalities on the internet is called Marques Brownlee. All the tech you can think of is covered in his channel. Jordan Minor is the author of "YouTube tech coverage."

MK V

If you're looking for pink tech accessories, check out the channel where she unboxes keyboards and other tech accessories. She prefers to use text rather than voice-over audio to describe the products she shows in her videos. The videos are always enjoyable to watch, and sometimes MK V explains how she's going to use the products she's giving away.

Robeytech

You can get more from Robeytech if you saw them here at PCMag. Robeytech's channel can help you find the right PC for your budget. He will show you how to build your own PC. It says something if PCMag thinks these videos are good.

True Crime

Kendall Rae

The show features many unsolved mysteries. Rae works with the victims' families to raise awareness and seek justice in a different way than similar programs. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is one of the organizations that she raises money for.

Noor Jasmine

A woman wearing a tin foil hat is talking about true crime stories and conspiracy. She uses footage from interviews, news reports, crime scene photos, and various other sources to share the grim and gruesome details of the crime in question. She presents the facts as best she can, then leaves the door open to discuss theories, PSAs, or tips for ongoing cases.

Prosecutors Podcast

The prosecutors are both actual court prosecutors and they are the hosts of the prosecutor's podcast. The duo brings years of knowledge to the famous cold cases that they examine. The evidence of these murder cases is so deep that a single subject can receive multiple shows.

Virtual Tour Guides

Here Be Barr

Jon Barr is an ex-sportscaster turned travel vlogger who offers sound advice for navigating tourist traps, finding under the radar activities and restaurants, and saving money. There are more than 100 videos on the Big Apple and Here Be Barr has a heavy New York City influence.

Never Too Small

In a new window, never too small. You will not be able to get enough of these small apartment tours. The apartments are low on square footage and the tours are led by the people who designed them. The channel may show you how to add a garden or avoid a bedroom-in-the-bathroom setup.

Nomadic Ambience

The film looks at urban and rural areas across Asia, Europe, and North America in glorious 4K resolution. Enjoy a mini vacation from the comfort of your home if you fire up the channel on a 4K TV.

Paolo From Tokyo

Paolo From Tokyo (opens in a new window) is a unique perspective that anyone interested in Japan can find. He followed Japanese professionals as they went about their work day. Have you ever wondered how fresh the food is at Japanese restaurants? Paolo is going to cover you. The only problem is knowing where to start watching.

Tomdnyc

Tom gave up the lawyer's life to become a vlogger and deliver information about the world's most famous destinations with a focus on New York City. "Why Harlem is One of NYC's Most Historic Neighborhoods" is one of the topics covered in his video series.

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