Players install from the Play Store
No sideloading, no unknown-sources toggle, no Downloader codes. Search, install, sign in. Updates arrive automatically like any other app.
Android TV is the most capable platform for IPTV. Players are installed straight from the Google Play Store, the remote is designed for channel lists and programme guides, and most devices handle 4K, large channel counts and a full EPG without slowing down.
IPTV UK works on Google TV and Android TV built into Sony, Philips, TCL and Hisense sets, on Chromecast with Google TV, and on dedicated boxes such as the NVIDIA Shield, Formuler and MECOOL.
Play Store
App installs
4K HDR
Supported
10 min
Typical setup
From £14.99
Plans
Why Android TV
The difference is not raw power. It is that Android TV was built around the same things live television needs: a remote, a channel list, and apps that are allowed to exist.
No sideloading, no unknown-sources toggle, no Downloader codes. Search, install, sign in. Updates arrive automatically like any other app.
A directional pad, back button and dedicated number or channel keys are exactly what a programme guide expects. Navigating a thousand channels with a phone-style interface is miserable; with a proper remote it is not.
Most Android TV devices have enough memory to hold a large EPG without the menus slowing to a crawl. That is where cheaper streaming hardware tends to struggle.
Dedicated Android boxes almost always include a wired port. For live sport on a busy home network, that is worth more than any specification on the box.
Devices
Anything running Android TV or Google TV will run an IPTV player. The differences are speed, storage and whether you get a wired network port.
| Device | Platform | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA Shield TV Pro | Android TV | Best overall | The fastest Android TV device sold. Gigabit Ethernet, 3 GB RAM, USB ports and years of software updates. Overkill for live TV alone, ideal if you also want Plex, gaming or local media. |
| Chromecast with Google TV | Google TV | Best value | Cheap, small, and installs everything from the Play Store. Storage is tight, so clear the cache occasionally. Ethernet needs a separate adapter. |
| Sony, Philips, TCL, Hisense TVs | Android/Google TV | No extra box | Televisions with Android TV built in install the same players directly. Nothing else to buy or plug in. Older sets can be slower with large channel lists. |
| Formuler Z10 Pro Max | Custom Android | Best for live TV | Built specifically for IPTV, with its own player, recording, timeshift and dedicated channel keys. Not Play Store certified, so apps install differently. |
| MECOOL, Xiaomi and similar boxes | Android TV | Budget | Certified budget boxes run the standard apps properly. Check for Google certification before buying — uncertified boxes cannot use the Play Store. |
| Android phones and tablets | Android | Works | The same account works, but phone apps are laid out for touch rather than a remote. Fine for travel, not ideal as your main screen. |
Setup
On a certified Android TV or Google TV device, everything comes from the Play Store. There is nothing to unlock and nothing to sideload.
Open the Google Play Store
From your Android TV home screen, open the Play Store and search for IBO Player — the player we recommend and support. TiViMate is another strong option if you prefer its layout.
Install the player
Install it like any other app. Nothing needs to be enabled in developer settings, and your device stays fully certified with all its normal apps intact.
Send us your device details
Open IBO Player. It shows a MAC address and Device Key on screen. Send both to us on WhatsApp and we will add your playlist to it from our end — you do not have to type a long server address with a remote.
Restart the player
Once we confirm your playlist has been added, close and reopen IBO Player. Your channels, categories and programme guide load automatically.
Test before settling in
Play a live channel, then a film. Check that channel switching feels quick and the guide matches what is actually on. Tell us if anything looks wrong while your trial is still running.
Watching on more than one device? The full installation guide covers every platform we support.
Before you start
Speed guide
A steady connection matters more than a fast one. Live TV cannot buffer far ahead the way on-demand video does.
Pricing
The same plans work on every device. Pick a length, and we send your login details.
12 months
Ultimate Plan
£49.99
Our best-value package.
Get started6 months
Pro Plan
£34.99
Ideal for regular viewers seeking long-term savings.
Get started3 months
Value Plan
£24.99
A popular option offering excellent value.
Get started1 month
Starter Plan
£14.99
Perfect for users who want flexibility.
Get startedNot ready to commit? Start with the free 24-hour trial and check the refund terms before paying for a longer plan.
Troubleshooting
Android TV problems are usually storage, network, or the app cache rather than the stream. Work through these before changing anything else.
Programme guide data builds up over weeks. Go to Settings → Apps → your player → Clear cache. Do not clear data, as that removes your login. Menus usually snap back to normal straight away.
Cheaper boxes and Chromecast have very little internal space, and a full device stutters everywhere. Uninstall apps you never open, then clear caches. Keeping a couple of gigabytes free makes a visible difference.
Move to the 5 GHz band, or use an Ethernet adapter if your device supports one. If the same channel plays cleanly on a laptop nearby, the network path to your TV is the problem rather than the service.
If the Play Store cannot find the player, your device may not be Google certified. Check Settings → About for Play Protect certification. Uncertified boxes need a different install route — message us and we will talk you through it.
That is the source, not your setup. Note the channel name and send it to us rather than reinstalling anything.
Occasionally a system update resets app permissions or network settings. Restart the device fully — power off at the plug for thirty seconds rather than just standby — then reopen the player.
We recommend and support IBO Player, which installs from the Play Store and lets us add your playlist from our end so you never type a long server address with a remote. TiViMate is the other popular choice and is widely regarded as the best-looking Android TV player, though its premium features are a paid upgrade.
Yes. Google TV is Android TV with a different interface on top, so the same players install from the same Play Store. Chromecast with Google TV, and Sony and TCL sets running Google TV, all work.
Yes, if the television runs Android TV or Google TV, which most recent Sony, Philips, TCL and Hisense sets do. You install the player directly on the TV with no extra box. Older models can feel slower with very large channel lists.
Not on a Google certified device. Everything installs from the Play Store like a normal app. Sideloading is only needed on uncertified boxes that cannot access the Play Store, and we will walk you through it if that applies to yours.
Yes, where the channel is broadcast in 4K and your device and television both support it. You will want around 25 Mbps of steady bandwidth. A 4K-capable box on a 1080p television will still play the stream, just downscaled.
Android TV and Google TV are Google-certified builds designed for televisions, with the Play Store and licensed Google services. Customised Android boxes run their own launchers and app stores, and often add recording tools or extra storage instead. Our Android TV box guide compares the main models sold in the UK.
Almost always cached programme guide data or full storage. Clear the player cache under Settings → Apps, uninstall anything you do not use, and restart the device at the plug. That resolves the vast majority of slowdowns.
You can save your details on both. How many can play at the same time depends on the connection limit in your plan, so message us if you need more simultaneous streams and we will tell you what your plan allows.
The same subscription works across every platform we support. These pages cover setup, compatible players and troubleshooting for each one.
Get started
Start with a free 24-hour trial. Install the player from the Play Store, send us your device key, and test live channels and on-demand during a busy evening. Choose a plan only once it performs on your own broadband.
Keep your login details private, and only use services authorised to provide the content you watch.