Device guide
IPTV on a Smart TV
Samsung and LG televisions run their own app platforms — Tizen and webOS — rather than Android. That changes which players are available and how you enter your details. This guide covers both, and when a streaming stick is the better answer.
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Identify your television's platform
Samsung televisions run Tizen. LG televisions run webOS. Sony, Philips, TCL and Hisense sets are often Android TV or Google TV instead, in which case the Android TV guide applies to you rather than this one.
If you are unsure, open the apps menu: an app store called "Samsung Apps" or "LG Content Store" tells you it is Tizen or webOS, while "Google Play" means Android.
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Connect the television to your network first
Set up the network connection and let the television apply any pending firmware update before installing anything. Out-of-date firmware is the most common reason a store install fails on a Smart TV.
If the set has an Ethernet port and you can reach it with a cable, use it. Televisions generally have weaker wireless radios than dedicated streaming devices.
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Install an IPTV player from your television's own store
Open the Samsung or LG app store on the television and search for an IPTV player that accepts a playlist or portal. The selection is smaller than on Android, and some players are paid or require a one-off activation on the maker's website.
Tell us your make, model and rough age when we send your credentials and we will point you at a player that is currently available for your platform.
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Enter your details — often via a web page
Several Smart TV players avoid on-screen typing altogether: the app shows a device ID or code, and you enter your playlist details on the maker's website from a phone or computer. The television then pulls the configuration down.
Where you do have to type on the television, use the on-screen keyboard carefully and check the http:// or https:// prefix. Some remotes make it easy to miss a character.
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Load, check, and decide whether the set is enough
Let the channel list and guide finish downloading, then play a few channels of different resolutions. Smart TV apps are the slowest platform to load large lists, so be patient on the first run.
If playback is consistently poor on a set more than about six years old, the television is likely the limitation rather than the service. An inexpensive streaming stick will usually outperform it comfortably.
Samsung (Tizen) notes
Samsung's store carries a handful of IPTV players, and the well-known ones commonly use the device-ID method described above: the app displays a MAC address or device key, and you upload your playlist on the developer's site. Keep that key to hand, because it is tied to that specific television.
Sets sold before roughly 2017 often cannot install current versions of these apps at all. If the store refuses the install and the firmware is already up to date, the platform version is the limit.
LG (webOS) notes
The LG Content Store has a similar small selection, with the same pattern of activating a device on the developer's website. webOS handles large channel lists reasonably well on recent sets, but older models can be slow to redraw the guide.
The Magic Remote's pointer makes entering an address less painful than a directional pad, so use it if your set came with one.
When to use a streaming stick instead
A television is designed to last ten years; its app platform is supported for far less. If your set is older, or if the available players on your platform are limited, a current streaming stick plugged into an HDMI port gives you a much wider choice of players and noticeably better performance — usually for less than the cost of a long subscription.
No manufacturer affiliation
Samsung, LG and the other names on this page are used only to describe which platform you have. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or certified by any television manufacturer or player developer.
Not sure your television can do it?
Send us the make, model and year. We will tell you whether it will work, or whether a stick is the better route.
Ready to explore Marinios IPTV?
Browse the available subscription options, or message our team for help choosing a plan and setting up your device.