UK TV Apps in TV

Tech, TV, Mobile, Internet and Geek Corner
1
UK Proxy gives me UK catch-up channels (BBC iPlayer, ITVx) and works well from a PC, 99% of the time. But I want a TV that allows me to use UK catch-up channels without a computer.

Any advice, please?

I read somewhere that an Android TV allows the use of non-approved services/apps (such as iPlayer and ITVx in Switzerland); and that others (Roku, WebOS and TizenOS) may restrict this. If true, this is critical information!

All help appreciated

2
Yes an Android TV will allow you to install the UK apps.

I was not able to do so with WebOS. I don't know about Tizen or others.

The apps will be geoblocked. I won't give any advice on how to get around the geoblocking in case this breaks moderation rules. But I can tell you how to install apps (as that is legal).

All you need to do is set the home location of your TV to be the UK at initial set up. The TVs come with standard apps pre-loaded (BBC, ITV, Freeview). Those Android TV apps will only show up in your home menu if you are set for the correct country.

If you set the TV up as being in Switzerland, the pre-loaded TV apps won't show. And because they are already installed, you won't be able to install them. Similarly for example you may find it difficult to use the pre-loaded apps for French stations (e.g. Canal+) if you set the TV to be in the UK or Switzerland.

If you set your TV as being in the UK then the TV clock will be set to UK time.

You can always side-load the apps made for Tablets/mobile devices, but these are different to the apps made for Android TV. The mobile apps are really difficult to use with a remote.

3
I haven't been able to get around the Geoblocking for iPlayer etc, they know if you are using a VPN.

4
If you can install a satellite dish you can get a Freeview box and get all those channels for free. There's also an App but that is likely geo protected.

Otherwise, Swisscom TV has all the English channels so maybe have a look at that as well. It's available on a Smart TV as well as tablets and phones.

5
On my nVidia Shield, I successfully installed the app, created an account and started successfully using it using ExpressVPN, only to discover that the world cup was still not in 4k, as advertised.