Tech Tips: How to Stream TV

More and more people are turning to streaming media in addition to traditional cable television. In fact, streaming services like Netflix and Hulu account for 19 percent of television viewing in the US–double what it was less than two years ago. 

Today, we’re going to walk you through everything you need to know to start streaming. If you are more of a visual learner, watch our latest Tech Tip video to follow along with tech expert Riley!

How to Start Streaming

Before you get started, there are two things you’ll need. The first is a fast internet connection. To stream videos in high definition, we recommend at least 5 megabits per second. If you are looking to stream video at 4K, we recommend at least 25 megabits per second.

Once you have a fast enough internet connection, you’ll need a way to access streaming services. The most common options are streaming devices like Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV, which plug into your television’s HDMI port and give you access to every streaming service out there. 

The second option is a Smart TV—that is, a television that connects to the internet and has streaming apps like Netflix built-in. Of course, this is more of an investment than a streaming device, but if you are already looking to buy a new TV, the price is absolutely worth it.

Now that you have all the right equipment, you can start streaming with just a few simple steps:

1. First, plug in your streaming device (unless you are using a Smart TV, in which case you can skip right to step two). Plug the device into your TV’s HDMI port, switch your source over to the HDMI input you’re using, and follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

2. Once you’ve plugged in your streaming device or installed your Smart TV, you’ll need to sign in to your Wi-Fi network. 

3. And finally, purchase the streaming apps you want to use or sign into your existing accounts. Most services cost around 10 dollars a month, and some are even free—a small price to pay for access to thousands of TV shows and movies!

That’s it for this edition of Tech Tips! Check back soon for another tip to make your technology work for you.