How do I get BBC iPlayer on my TV?

[buttery81]

I feel like a total dinosaur asking this. But how do I get catch-up TV and TV on demand (BBC iPlayer, All4, ITV etc) on my TV, which was bought in 2010 and isn't a smart TV? I'd also like to watch Netflix.

The TV has Freeview built in according to the instructions, but doesn't have any of the catch-up channels or apps. Previously I was using a YouView box supplied by TalkTalk to watch catch-up, but have recently switched internet provider so the TalkTalk box is no longer working.

I'm embarrassed that I have to ask this, but if anyone could help I would be most grateful!

OP all the sticks work in the same way. You need an account with whoever is the stick is from. You set up it up, then just start downloading apps.

With some of them you can get an app on your mobile phone and use it as a remote control.

You can use a Now TV box and you don't have to pay for now TV, you still get iPlayer, All4 etc even if you don't have the Now TV service. You only have to pay the monthly subscription if you want to watch the box sets, Sky 1 etc.

I bought my elderly parents a Firestick to use with their at least 25 year old TV. The ve found that the very simple to set up and use - no idea about the amazon branding on menus though, sorry.

My TV is 11 years old now but has a few USB and HDMI ports. I just plug my laptop into it using an HDMI cable, but that does mean I have to get up to pause/change channel. I also use the iplayer, Netflix, 4od and Prime apps on our old PS3, but the controller keeps having a tizzy fit so I tend to use the laptop more now.

I've sold my soul, we are all in Amazon
Firestick does have Netflix.

Get Roku, and don't give Amazon any more of your money! We have a Virgin box, but DH uses a Roku on the spare TV, and it's great. You don't need to subscribe to anything extra, unless you want Netflix or Disney for which you will have to pay a subscription.

I'm not sure whether you do need to subscribe to Prime to have a Firestick? My parents certainly don't have Prime, they just use it for Netflix. I did buy it for them though and I have prime - but they don't know any of my amazon account details to set it up using my Prime account?

Amazon fire stick, Now stick or Now TV box (note all have Netflix but Now doesn't have Amazon Prime and Amazon doesn't have Now TV).

I'll talk Amazon fire stick as most recent experience of using this after dusting off an old one to take on holiday when we wouldn't have smart tvs.

Plug into HDMI socket of TV. Set up on the WIFi. The stick does need power hence the need for USB. If you don't have a USB port on your TV, then you'll need to plug a USB into a power socket (similar to charging an iPhone).

I don't notice any adverse Amazon advertising. If you don't go into Prime you, you shouldn't notice it.

If you have an old TV you could look on Ebay or Facebook for an older stick; you don't need 4k.

If you want to splash out, the alternate to the above options is an Apple TV box. Also has the option of anyone with an iPhone or iPad streaming anything they want to your tv.

I've never heard of a Roku stick, but googling suggests that it's the same as a now TV stick but more expensive presumably because now TV subsidise their branded sticks to encourage you to sign up to their subscription service but I don't know if the software is significantly different.

YY to looking on eBay, as you can often buy a package of a now TV stick and a few months service for less than the cost of the service by itself people sometimes buy the packs for the subscription codes and sell the unused sticks on eBay for a few quid.

@buttery81

Just checked and yes, the TV does have a (very dusty looking as it's never been used) USB port!

This is going to sound a bit silly, but with the Amazon firestick, is it obvious that you're using something by Amazon when using the menus etc? DH actively tries to avoid buying stuff from Amazon on principle, so I think it might annoy him if a massive Amazon logo keeps popping up all the time! (I have no such qualms...)

Yes its obviously Amazon. I think the now tv stick is a much better remote and interface personally

The Firestick is easy to use, ad the worst of the Amazonity is when you're setting it up or if the power goes off and it kind of boots itself back up. Our Firestick was a gift, from someone who felt we needed updating, and we feel similar to your DH about Amazon, but once you're in that part of your TV (HDMI2 on ours) and you've scrolled down once, you're out of the Amazon danger zone. It becomes automatic after a while.

They all connect by WiFi.

I would suggest roku as that allows you to have both Amazon Prime and NowTV apps.

@BarbaraofSeville

I've never heard of a Roku stick, but googling suggests that it's the same as a now TV stick but more expensive presumably because now TV subsidise their branded sticks to encourage you to sign up to their subscription service but I don't know if the software is significantly different.

Now TV doesn't allow you to access Amazon Prime.

@BreconBeBuggered

The Firestick is easy to use, ad the worst of the Amazonity is when you're setting it up or if the power goes off and it kind of boots itself back up. Our Firestick was a gift, from someone who felt we needed updating, and we feel similar to your DH about Amazon, but once you're in that part of your TV (HDMI2 on ours) and you've scrolled down once, you're out of the Amazon danger zone. It becomes automatic after a while.

They are all easy to use.

They all have a similar set up.

It just depends on what subscription services you want to be able to use. Roku allows you to use Amazon Prime and Now TV, but Amazon Prime and Now TV don't allow you to use each other. You can't get Britbox on Roku at the moment but you can get it on Amazon Prime.

Go with Roku.

The design is much better than the Firestick (and much more user friendly) and you can access both Prime and NowTv, as well as Netflix and all the on-demand apps.

However if your DH is anti-Amazon then the NowTV stick or box is great too.

Roku is excellent.
So easy to use.

@forgetthehousework “ the Amazon firestick means you have to subscribe to amazon prime at £8 a month”

Only if you want to watch shows on Amazon Prime. There’s no monthly charge to use other apps on the firestick.

Does primestick include the prime /netflix subscription or is that included?

Also the charge for prime TV doesn’t always include the next day delivery. I get Prime as an add-on to my phone contract and doesn’t include the delivery part (annoyingly!)

@Palavah

Does primestick include the prime /netflix subscription or is that included?

No.

Your TV does not need to have a USB port to use an Amazon Fire Stick or similar. It needs to have an HDMI port.

If it had a USB port it would already be a smart TV.

You need an hdmi port, not a USB port. My fire stick is just plugged into the wall socket

Apple TV.

I would get a Roku, we have one on our 2006 TV upstairs, don’t get the more expensive 4k one though, just the HD one is fine for an older TV

@GingerAndTheBiscuits, didn't realise that - ours includes delivery and we do enjoy a few of the prime originals so don't mind the subscription - but worth knowing if we change our minds in the future .