Tips for viewing a You Tube livestream
We recommend setting up your preferred viewing method well in advance of the livestream broadcast.
We use You Tube for livestream broadcasts as it is the most universally available platform for viewing livestreams as well as delivering the best quality. Here are some tips viewing the livestream on various devices including TV’s.
(1) The quickest and easiest way to view You Tube….
…is by clicking the supplied link on your smartphone, iPad, tablet or laptop/desktop computer. You do not need a You Tube account to view the livestream.
If you do not already have the You Tube app installed on your mobile device (not laptop), you may be prompted to download the app as an option. You do not have to download it but even if you do, you do not need to sign up to You Tube to view the livestream. This dedicated You Tube app will generally give you a better viewing experience.
(2) Connect your laptop to your TV
This is the easiest way to get the livestream broadcast onto your TV but requires a HDMI cable to go from your TV to your laptop and assumes both the TV and laptop have HDMI ports. If they do, its very easy. Just connect using the cable and select the relevant HDMI port on the TV remote control. All TV shops sell HDMI cables.
(3) When you want to view on your Smart TV…
Smart TV’s have built in internet capability and with pre loaded apps like you have on your smart phone, it’s a great way to view a livestream broadcast on the big screen.
You must have a You Tube sign in email and password (a You Tube account) for this to work. If you do not have one already, set one up on your phone/iPad or computer by going to www.youtube.com and create one by signing in.
Smart TV’s will usually have the You Tube app already installed. First, make sure your TV is connected to the internet either directly via an ethernet cable or wirelessly by WiFi. (Check your Smart TV’s instruction manual on how to do this)
Once you have a You Tube account set up on your phone/iPad or computer, click on the supplied livestream link on your phone/iPad/ computer. Then, open up the You Tube app on your Smart TV and sign in, following the on TV screen instructions on how to do this.
Then, still on the TV, once signed into You Tube, go to ‘Library’ and then you will see ‘History’. Open ‘History’ and the supplied livestream link will appear. Open it and the You Tube livestream will open up on the full screen.
(4) Viewing on TV’s with external plug-in devices…
…such as Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, Android TV, Roku etc.
Follow the instructions given on number (3) above. If you are already using this external device, you probably have it already connected to the internet and may be using the You Tube app regularly already. So it’s just a case of opening the provided livestream link on your smartphone and then going to ‘Library\History’ on the You Tube TV app to access and play it on your TV.
(5) ‘Mirror / Casting’ to your TV from your device
This is for the more technical and here is a link to how this can be done. I recommend only using this method as a last option due to potential problems with quality as it depends on a very high quality WiFi signal in your home. But check it in advance, it may work great for you.
(6) Viewing on your Smart TV ‘s browser
Due to recent changes in how You Tube delivers its webpages, I recommend you do not use your Smart TV’s browser to view You Tube. Even if you do manage to get it working, it is not possible to enlarge the picture to full screen. Therefore, I recommend that you do not use your Smart TV’s browser to view the You Tube livestream.