Lifestyle
Love watching online videos on the many sites that are now available? Is your phone or computer screen too small to enjoy content online? Ever thought of the best way to enjoy your favorite online video on a bigger screen? You only need a good Wi-Fi connection, a TV, and a smart streaming device to enjoy your favorite movies and shows online. Here’s how you can watch online videos on your television:
Google Cast
The best and the most reliable method to watch an online video on your Smart TV wirelessly is to “cast” it from another device. Smart TVs enable you to transmit videos from laptops or smartphones. However, the complete setup depends on the type of TV you own. You need to ensure that the device and your TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This solution is the most accessible and affordable one. Then you can follow the steps below to enjoy your online content on a big screen. Let’s use Facebook Watch TV as an example:
> Log on to the Facebook app on your phone or laptop and select the video.
> Expand this video to full-screen mode.
> Select the icon that looks like a television screen with a Wi-Fi logo at the top right corner of your screen.
Now, you should be able to watch your favorite online videos on TV.
Connect through an HDMI cable
The next method to watch videos on a big screen is to use an HDMI cable between the two devices. This cable can handle high-quality audio as well as video. Follow these steps to properly connect your TV to an external device:
> Plug in one end of the cable to the HDMI output jack on your laptop or smartphone and the other into the HDMI port of your television.
> Use the TV remote to change the source to the one where you have plugged in your cable, e.g., HDMI2.
> Your laptop screen will then be reflected on your television screen.
> Now, click on the Play button using your mouse. It will automatically play on your smart TV.
Connect to the internet
If you have a smart TV, connect to the internet and download the necessary apps from your television brand app store to view content. If you want to enjoy the content Facebook Watch TV has to offer, follow these steps:
> Visit the television app store and download the Watch app.
> Open the app on your TV and click on Continue.
> You’ll see a code at the bottom of your television screen, which needs to be either approved on the Facebook app on a laptop or mobile or entered manually.
> Once that step is done, you’ll be logged into the Watch app and can enjoy the available content.
This process will have to be done just once, but you will need to do it for all video streaming apps.
Basic requirements
Here’s what you need to watch online videos on your television:
> High-speed internet
As mentioned above, you need to have a stable and fast internet connection to enjoy online videos. This connection can be made through a Wi-Fi broadband router or 4G mobile internet device. Streaming speed needs to be good for some platforms; for watching content on Netflix, you might need a speed of at least 1.5 Mbps. Good HD quality content demands a speed of about 5 Mbps.
> Video-streaming stick
If you have a smart TV, you don’t need this device. But if you don’t, this hardware can be used to convert your LCD/LED television to a smart TV. Such a device helps to connect your TV to your Wi-Fi. You can choose either a Chromecast, Firestick, or Roku Streaming Stick.
> Video streaming service subscriptions
You can enjoy watching free videos online, but if you want superior quality, purchase a subscription to any of the many streaming services that are available in the country. These include Netflix and Hulu and could cost you as little as around $8 a month.
Streaming videos or having Zoom calls on a big screen can be done easily without any worries. Nowadays, streaming services have become extremely popular and are cheaper. A recent study by Deloitte revealed that a maximum number of consumers in the country are currently using a streaming service than a conventional cable connection. There are also quite a few free streaming services you can check out. You can even pick a streaming service depending on the content you like to watch. The options are abundant and will only expand in the years to come.
