Find your telly’s operating system
| TV | System | Best route |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Tizen | Player from the Samsung app store — steps below |
| LG | webOS | Player from the LG Content Store — steps below |
| Sony; TCL; some Hisense and Philips | Google TV / Android TV | Follow the Android TV and Google TV guide |
| Panasonic and other Fire TV sets | Fire OS | Follow the Fire TV steps |
| Philips (newer models) | Titan OS | Check the Titan OS store first; app choice is narrower — a stick may suit better |
| Hisense and Toshiba (many models) | VIDAA | Check the VIDAA store first; otherwise add a streaming stick |
Manufacturers move between systems from one model year to the next, so look at Settings › Support › About this TV (or General › About this TV) rather than going by the brand alone.
Samsung (Tizen), step by step
- Open the apps screenPress Home on the remote, go to Apps and choose the search icon.
- Install a playerSearch for the player your representative recommends and select Install. Tizen apps are not Android apps, so Android-only players such as TiviMate won’t appear here.
- Link your loginMany Tizen players don’t ask you to type your details on the TV. They show the TV’s MAC address or a short code; you enter that, with your login, on the player’s website using your phone or computer.
- Reopen the appClose it completely and start it again. Channels and the TV guide normally appear within a minute.
Some smart TV players are free, others ask for a one-off activation fee after a short trial. Read the app’s own page before installing so there are no surprises.
LG (webOS), step by step
- Open the storePress Home and open the LG Content Store (shown as Apps on newer webOS versions).
- Find a playerSearch for the recommended player and install it.
- Sign in or activateDepending on the player, either type your Xtream Codes details (server URL, username, password) or use MAC-address activation on its website, just as on Samsung.
- Restart itClose the app fully and reopen it so your playlist and guide load.
App on the telly, or a streaming stick?
| App on the TV | Streaming stick | |
|---|---|---|
| Extra kit | None | A stick in an HDMI socket |
| Choice of players | Whatever the TV’s store offers | Much wider (Fire TV, Google TV) |
| Older TVs | Menus can feel sluggish | Usually quicker menus and channel changes |
| Remote | Your TV remote | A second remote (some can control the TV) |
If your telly is a few years old, or its store doesn’t have a player you like, a stick usually gives a nicer experience. See the Firestick guide or the Google TV guide.
Smart TV problems and fixes
The player isn’t in the app store
Stores differ by country and model year. Check that the TV’s country is set to the United Kingdom and that its software is up to date (Settings › Support › Software Update on most Samsung and recent LG sets).
The playlist won’t load after activation
Recheck the MAC address (letters and numbers, no spaces), submit it again on the player’s website, then close and reopen the app.
Picture freezes or stutters
Most tellies have an Ethernet socket, and a cable to the router is the single best fix. More in our guide to stopping buffering.
Questions
Can I put TiviMate on a Samsung or LG telly?
No. TiviMate is an Android app, and Samsung’s Tizen and LG’s webOS can’t run Android apps. Use a player from the TV’s own store, or plug in a Google TV or Fire TV stick.
Why does the app ask for my TV’s MAC address?
It’s how many smart TV players link a playlist to your particular TV without making you type long web addresses with the remote.
Will IPTV work on an older smart TV?
Often, but older models get fewer app updates and can feel slow. If the player isn’t available or runs badly, a streaming stick is the simplest cure.
My TV runs Titan OS or VIDAA — can I still use IPTV?
It depends on which players are in that TV’s store, which is usually a shorter list than on Google TV. Check the store first; if there’s nothing suitable, a streaming stick in an HDMI socket solves it.
Availability is subject to licensing, distribution rights and terms of service. Channel names are used only to describe content availability; no partnership with or endorsement by any broadcaster is implied.