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How to Connect Your TV to the Internet

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Connecting your television to the Internet makes it possible for you to access (through the TV set) content that would otherwise have been out of reach to you. Definitely, the moment you connect your TV to the Internet, you find that you are able to access a greater variety of content. And you may find that some of the content you have a chance to access, once you connect your TV to the Internet, is of a higher quality than what would otherwise have been available to you. And some premium content that you would have had to pay for (if you wanted to access it in the traditional way) would be available to you for free, once you connect your TV to the Internet.

You have to realize that we are living in an age where some content creators have ditched the traditional model of TV broadcast. They have instead chosen to focus all their efforts on online platforms. So their content can only be accessed online, and this means that if your TV set is not connected to the Internet, such content would be out of reach for you. Connecting your TV to the Internet also enhances its capabilities. So you find that, having connected the TV to the Internet, you can now watch (through it) online podcasts, slideshow presentations, and many other things. These are things you would otherwise only have been able to watch on computing devices – such as laptops, smart-phones, desktop computers… and so on. But you are now able to access them through your TV (that is, via the TV’s bigger and better screen). You are then able to enjoy such content better, on a bigger screen, than would have been possible if you were watching (or, as it were, squinting at) them on a minuscule phone screen.

Therefore, connecting your TV to the Internet can be beneficial at so many levels.

The specific type of TV that can be connected to the Internet

In most cases, it is only ‘smart’ TVs that can be connected to the Internet. Therefore, before thinking of connecting your TV set to the Internet, you have to be sure that it is a smart TV. But then again, there are said to be ways in which ordinary TVs can be converted into smart TVs. In theory, any TV that has a HDMI port at the back (or on the side) can be turned into a smart TV, with some little effort and investment.

One really just needs to buy a smart-media player, like the Amazon Fire stick or the Apple TV stick – and then connect it to the TV via  the TV’s HDMI port. This would then effectively turn the old TV into a smart TV, capable of connecting to the Internet (albeit indirectly).

Even if your TV is of the era when they didn’t come with HDMI ports, there is a device you can purchase, known as HDMI to RCA adapter, after which you would still be in a position to turn the device into a smart TV… So when you come to think of it, almost any TV set can be converted into a smart TV, after which it would be capable of being connected to the Internet.

Considerations you need to make, before connecting your TV to the Internet

One of the considerations you need to make is on the type of content you will be seeking to access, on your TV, via the Internet. This will inform you what the best way to connect the TV to the Internet is. In this regard, for instance, the needs of an individual who will be seeking to just access and view Slideshare presentations (and a few music videos here and there) would probably be different from those of an individual who would be seeking to watch full-length movies.

Another consideration you need to make is on the nature of Internet access that is available. In this regard, you could be in a place where there is Wi-Fi or in a place where you have to rely on cable/wired Ethernet connection.

There is also a cost consideration to be made. If you are in a place where Internet connectivity is expensive, then this would be an important consideration.

Further, there are security considerations: like if what you have access to is Wi-Fi.

What you need to have, to connect your TV to the Internet

As noted above, the television set itself needs to be a ‘smart TV’. It may be one that was designed, right from the outset, to be a smart TV. Or it may be one that has been turned into a smart TV by attaching it to, say, an Amazon Fire stick or Apple TV stick (through the HDMI port).

You, of course, also need to have the Internet connection, and it has to be high speed: given the nature of content, which is most multimedia.

If you will be using a wired connection (as opposed to wireless) you will need to have the cables with which to connect your TV to the Internet, as well as a router. The cables may be, for instance, of the Ethernet variety.

Steps you will need to follow, to connect your TV to the Internet

If you are using a wire-based connection (as opposed to wireless) you would need to locate the Ethernet port on your TV (typically at the back). Then you would need to connect the cable, from your Internet router to the said Ethernet port. Having made the physical connection, you would get your TV’s remote, go to ‘menu’, then select ‘network settings’ and enable the wired connection. The TV would then have been connected to the Internet, enhancing its capabilities a great deal. If what you have is a traditional TV, which was not initially designed to be smart (but which was turned smart by connecting it to a device like Amazon Fire or Apple TV), things would be slightly different. In this case, you would have to connect the Ethernet cable from the router to the Amazon fire (or Apple TV stick or whatever other device). Content would then be moving from the device (Amazon Fire stick, Apple TV and so on) to the TV via the HDMI connection. But once the connection is made, from the Amazon Fire or Apple TV or whatever other device to the router, the rest of the procedure is the same. That is where you would use the remote to go to ‘menu’, then ‘network settings’ and then you select ‘wired connection’ – and enable it.

If you are using a wireless connection (like Wi-Fi), there would, of course, be no physical cable connection to be made between the TV and a router. So it would be just a question of  being sure that the wireless Internet is available. Then once you are sure that, for instance, there is Wi-Fi connectivity, you’d need to pick up the TV’s remote, go to ‘menu’, then navigate to ‘network settings’. Then you’d need to select the wi-fi network you wish to connect to by name and key in the wi-fi password. The TV would then have been connected to the Internet, after which you can be in a position to access all manner of web-based content.

How to Access TV Content on Your Mobile Phone

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Nowadays, it is possible to access TV content on your mobile phone. It is therefore no longer necessary for you to rush home whenever your favorite TV program is about to air, (so as to be behind your TV set when it airs). You should be able to view that favorite program wherever you are, using your mobile phone. This would be by way of streaming it ‘live’, in real time (as it is being aired), from the relevant TV channel’s website. And if that option of streaming it in real time is not available, it should be possible for you to view the episode you missed later (as a ‘past episode’), through your mobile phone. In this article, we will be trying to get deeper insights on how exactly you can go about accessing TV content on your mobile phone.

Streaming the content from the broadcaster’s website

Nowadays, many broadcasters have systems on their websites through which interested viewers can stream content ‘live’. Thus, as long as you have a mobile phone that has a browser and a reasonably speedy Internet connection, it should be possible for you to access the TV content by way of streaming. The most important thing here is to ensure that your Internet connection is fast enough to facilitate streaming. So what you need is broadband Internet (which is, in any case, what is available almost everywhere nowadays).

If the what you are seeking to stream is free content, chances are that it will start streaming the moment the TV channel’s streaming webpage loads fully. But if it is ‘premium’ (in the sense that it has to be paid for), then you may have to go through an authentication process, before being allowed to stream it. In this case, the authentication process is likely to be just a matter of logging in, by entering your (subscriber’s) username and password: after which you can start streaming the content.

Accessing the TV content through the broadcaster’s mobile app

A good number of broadcasters nowadays have mobile apps through which viewers can access content. Many content providers realize that it is not always very efficient to stream content through the browsers, hence the launch of the mobile apps. So they create apps, and then upload them to the app-stores from where their viewers can download them. You may be able to access TV content on your mobile through such apps.

Of course, there are individuals who opt to continue accessing TV content (on their mobiles) through browsers, in spite of the availability of the apps. Their reasoning is that they would end up with too many apps on their mobile phones, if they were to download and install the app for each TV channel. The best compromise here can be for you to download and install the mobile apps for the TV channels you watch frequently. Then you’d only be needing to launch the apps, and watch the channels through the apps – rather than going to the broadcasters’ websites and trying to stream the TV content from there whenever you want to enjoy it.

Accessing (previous) TV episodes on the broadcaster’s website

Many of the broadcasters have systems where, besides streaming the content that is being aired ‘live’ at the moment, you can also access and stream previous episodes on their websites. So this is yet another option that may be available to you: where you find that you don’t have to bite your nails off in frustration whenever you miss your favorite programs’ episodes. You just go to the broadcaster’s website, search for the program you want, then narrow down to the specific previous episode you wish to view – after which you’d get to stream it.

Accessing previous TV episodes on third-party websites

This is like where you may find past episodes of the popular TV programs being available on websites such as YouTube, from where you can get a chance to stream them. In some cases, those episodes are uploaded on platforms such as YouTube by the broadcasters themselves. Many broadcasters nowadays see the need to have a presence on platforms such as YouTube. So they establish YouTube ‘channels’, through which viewers can watch past episodes (including ‘yesterdays’ episodes) of their most popular shows.

Steps you need to follow while seeking to access TV content on your mobile phone

The first step here is to get a suitable mobile phone. Theoretically, you can access TV content on any mobile phone that is capable of accessing the Internet and has a browser installed. But some mobile phones are better suited for this type of work than others. Like if you have a mobile phone that has a reasonably big screen, it will be better than one with a very small screen. You also need a mobile phone with decent memory (RAM), and a good screen resolution, if you are to enjoy watching TV content through it.

The second step is to get a good high-speed Internet connection. So this has to be wireless Internet (for mobile phones). If you try to access TV content on a slow connection, you will keep on being frustrated as it ‘buffers’, and it may be very hard for you to enjoy the content.

The third step is to make a decision on the type of TV content you will be seeking to access through your mobile phone.

The fourth step would be for you to make a decision on how exactly you would be using the mobile phone to access the TV content. Is it by streaming it from the TV broadcasters’ websites? Or is it through apps? Will you be seeking to stream the TV content ‘live’ (as it airs) or will you be seeking to access past episodes? Those are the important considerations.

The fifth step is to access the actual content. If, for instance, you opted to stream it ‘live’, you can go to the broadcaster’s website, specifically to the streaming page, and start streaming the TV content from there. If you opted to go for past episodes of your favorite TV shows, you will need to go to the broadcasters’ websites (or to third party websites such as YouTube), search for the episodes and proceed to stream them from there.

Benefits of Accessing TV Content Online

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Nowadays, TV viewers have two major options, in terms of how they can access TV content. The first option is that of accessing the TV content in the traditional way: through the TV sets that are typically mounted in living rooms. The second option is that of accessing the TV content online: by streaming it from the TV stations’ websites, viewing past episodes on platforms like YouTube…and so on. Given those two options, we are seeing more and more people choosing the latter – to access TV content online, rather than accessing it in the traditional way, through TV sets. There surely must be something that is motivating people to switch from accessing TV content through TV sets to accessing it online. And that is what we will be trying to figure out in this article, as we explore the benefits of accessing TV content online.

As it turns out, there are four key benefits that one stands to get, if they choose to access TV content online (rather than accessing it in the traditional way, via TV sets):

There is more TV content to be accessed online

People who opt to access TV content in the traditional way (through TV sets) find that they are limited to viewing a finite number of channels. In other words, there is only so much TV content that can be accessed in the traditional way, through a TV set. In some places, you find that there are just a handful of TV channels that can be accessed this way. On the other hand, those who opt to access TV content online find themselves truly spoilt for choice, in terms of the content accessible to them. That is, of course, unless one happens to be living in one of those nations that have installed certain firewalls that make it impossible for their citizens to access certain types of content. But as long as you are in a place where you can access the ‘whole’ Internet, you can be assured that you would be able to access an overwhelming amount of TV content.

One can’t even start to compare the amount of TV content that is accessible online to what is accessible through the traditional model that was based on TV sets and remotes. The reality is that you can access pretty much whatever type of content you desire online. But someone relying on the traditional way of accessing TV content (through a TV box) has to make do with whatever the broadcasters feel like transmitting – even if it is not exactly what he wants.

Admittedly, in the earlier days, online TV content had its limitations: like when Internet connections were so slow (and when online data storage was so limited) that one wouldn’t have been able to view whole ‘episodes’ online. But we are now in an era when such limitations have been overcome. We are now in an era when one can view numerous ‘whole’ episodes, and full-length movie content, online. And it is this realization that is pushing more people to ditch their traditional TV sets, in favor of accessing TV content online.

There is more convenience in accessing TV content online

Having opted to access TV content online, you find that you can savor the content at anytime, from pretty much anywhere. So with online TV content access, you can watch anything, anytime, anywhere. Not so with the traditional TV. For one, the traditional TV set was a bulky device. The only way to access content through it was to sit behind it, and switch it on (typically after connecting it to a long rooftop antenna). It was definitely not the sort of device to move around with! Therefore people would often find themselves having to interrupt other things, just to ensure that they were home in time for their favorite programs/newscasts. But with online TV content access, you can watch that favorite TV program/newscast wherever it finds you. You even find that you can actually access TV content through your mobile phone, by way of streaming, as you commute home from work. In other words, thanks to online TV content access, you find the TV content coming where you are (instead of you having to rush home to watch it behind the TV set).

The moment one understands the convenience associated with online TV content access, it becomes very hard for them to go back to the traditional way of accessing TV content (via a TV box).

It can be more cost-effective to access TV content online

This is where, for instance, you find that you are able to access, free of charge, content that you’d otherwise have had to pay for if you were relying on the traditional TV model. Furthermore, one has to understand that the traditional TV set is an expensive device, one that consumes a great deal of energy and one for which you would often have to pay cable TV fees, to access the best/premium content. Online TV content access, on the other hand, can be done with cheap Internet-enabled phones, which consume very little power, and which one doesn’t have to pay cable subscription fees for.

By opting to access TV content online, one is bombarded with fewer ads

One of the most off-putting things about the traditional free-to-air TV was in that one had to accept to be bombarded with all manner of ads, while viewing it. It is the ad revenue that financed it, and one could often end up having to put up with 5 or even 10 minute ad segments. With online TV, things are slightly different. Where one has to put up with ads, the ads will tend to be less obtrusive. Even where the ads are infused with the content (like where the ads appear at the beginning of episodes that are accessed online), they will tend to be brief. And one typically has the option of ‘skipping’ the ads, after several seconds. Thus, when all is said and done, by opting to access TV content online, one ends up being bombarded with fewer ads. Those are fewer ads than they would have been bombarded with if they opted to access the content in the traditional way, via a TV set.

Creating Content for Online TV

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One potentially lucrative business venture is that of creating content for online TV. Lately, we are seeing many people opting to access TV content over the Internet. So these are individuals who, rather than viewing TV in the traditional way (through the traditional TV set) are opting to access the same over the Internet, using a variety of computing devices. Out of this large number of people who are opting to access TV content over the Internet, it should be possible for you to get an audience for whatever online TV content you create. You just need to ensure that you create worthwhile content for online TV, and you can be assured that there would be a ready audience for it.

Admittedly, the challenge of creating content for online TV can seem daunting, especially if it not something you have attempted to do before. So you would be at a point where, yes, you know that it is a potentially lucrative venture, but you don’t even know where to start. If you are at that point, you are likely to find a step by step guide useful. And that is exactly what we will now proceed to give you – a step by step guide to creating content for online TV. So by the end of it all, you would have some insight on where to start and how to proceed with the task of creating content for online TV:

Start by identifying the audience you would be targeting

There are many different segments of society you can target with online TV content. You could, for instance, come up with content that is targeted at teens. Or you could come up with content that is targeted at college students. You could up with content that is targeted at young working professionals. Or you could come up with content that is targeted at older working professionals, who are nearing retirement… In terms of specific professions, you could come up with online TV content that is targeted at health professionals, educationists, legal professionals, law enforcement professionals… the list is endless. Just identify a target audience.

Of course, it would be a good idea for you to undertake some research, to identify the groups of people who are most likely to consider accessing TV content online. That is like where, for instance, you would find that teens and young working professionals are more likely to go online, in search of TV content, than older individuals/senior citizens. You are likely to be more successful if you create online TV content for an audience that goes online frequently — you know, an audience that is Internet-savvy. But sometimes, you find that competition for such audiences is stiff. So you find that in some cases, you are better off targeting an audience for which there is less competition (like that of older working professionals), even if the target audience would be smaller.

Make a decision on the specific type of content you would be focusing on

Having identified the audience you would be targeting, it should be easy for you to make a decision on the specific type of content to create. This is just a question of creating the type of content that would be attractive to that particular audience. Like if, for instance, you are targeting young working professionals, you may come up with content on career advancement, content on financial management, content on dating and marriage… and so on. The moment you have a target audience in mind, content ideas should really start streaming into your head.

Make a decision on how the business model you would be using

In this regard, you may decide, for instance, to set up your own online TV channel, through which you would be transmitting the content you create directly to viewers. Alternatively, you can opt for a business model where you would be selling the content you create to other people who already have established online TV channels.

If you are using your own channel, you can go further and opt to monetize it through ad revenue. Or you can opt to monetize your channel through subscriptions: where the viewers would be paying for the content directly. Or you can yet still opt for another model, where you present the content to viewers for free, but then request them to make ‘donations’ to keep it running…

Acquire the equipment you need for online TV content creation

The equipment in question here may include cameras, computers for editing the content, studio (and studio equipment)… and so on. You can opt to buy brand new equipment. Or you can opt to buy used equipment initially, and upgrade gradually. You can even opt to lease or hire the equipment from someone who possesses it. Or if you know someone who has suitable equipment for online TV content creation, yet he is not using it, you can opt to borrow it from them. Just ensure that you have the right equipment.

Put together the team you need to work with in online TV content creation

So this may be a question of putting up ads, inviting people to apply for the online TV content creation work. Or it may be a question of approaching people directly, and inviting them to work with you in online TV content creation (especially if they are individuals who are already competent in this type of work). The most important thing is to ensure that you have a good team: because your output is likely to be as good as your team.

Train the team you would be working with in online TV content creation

You first need to sell your vision for online TV content creation to the team. You need to get the team members to understand your vision, and to ‘buy’ into that vision. You also need to get each team member to understand what their role in the whole thing would be. Then you need to give them the skills and attitudes they need to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

Pilot the online TV content creation project

So the idea here is to create ‘trial’ content (for online TV), and see how smoothly things work. In the process, you may identify areas that need to ironed out, or gaps that need to be filled up. You would then be in a position to iron out those areas/fill up those gaps, before starting ‘serious’ work.

Start the actual online TV content creation work

After ironing out the issues or filling up the gaps identified in ‘pilot phase’ you can start the actual content creation work. The most important thing here is to ensure that you put systems and procedures in place, to ensure that the content produced is of a consistently high quality. After creating the content, you need to have system through which it is properly and thoroughly edited, before it is presented to the target audience.