For those of you who live in the UK and are thinking about purchasing a Streaming Device – I will tell you right now, DO NOT purchase an AppleTV, Google Chromecast or Roku Streaming Stick without checking if they have the ability to watch LIVE TV. They do not. What about Amazon´s Fire TV Stick? Well… we´ll find out later, so continue reading.
I have been struggling with a constant lack of live TV. I mean, my Sky subscription comes to an end in October, and there is no way I am going to pay £30 for Sky Sports. Sky go and Now TV is not the ideal options either, as you can only use them on my smartphone currently.
So when I ran into a post on Reddit saying that you can use a Fire TV Stick to watch live TV, I decided it was worth the risk.
In this article I will tell you all of my research and findings, also including pictures of the device in question. So if after reading this article, you are thinking about investing in an Amazon Fire TV stick, you will have the information you will need to make an informed decision.
Can You Watch TV On An Amazon Fire Stick?
Yes, you can watch TV on your Amazon Fire Stick including live sports channels and various other free apps that will allow you to stream live TV.
There are also other dedicated apps that will provide you with access to catch-up services, like BBC iPlayer and more.
You cannot gain access to the Freeview app on the Amazon Fire Stick, but you can use a variety of other apps to watch your favourite shows as they air.
Some channels will charge you an extra subscription fee, like Comedy Central and MTV, but many others are completely free to watch.
How to set up an Amazon Fire TV Stick
Thankfully, setting up an Amazon Fire Stick takes hardly any time at all, and the process is really straightforward.
All you need to do is plug the Amazon Fire Stick into its power adapter and then plug it into the TV’s HDMI port. Next, you will need to turn on the TV and set it to the right HDMI input.
All that is left to do now is use the remote control to go through the welcome and setup instructions that will appear on the screen.
You will also need to log in to your Amazon account and enter your Wi-Fi password to complete the setup process. Once you have done this, simply login to your favourite streaming channels, and you are good to go.
What Do Amazon Fire Sticks Have to Offer?
Some of the other things that Amazon Fire Stick’s have to offer to include tens of thousands of channels to be added to your TV.
These not only include the streaming services that most people are familiar with by now, like Amazon Prime, Sky´s Now TV, Britbox, and more, but also regular TV channels that you might normally watch.
There are various TV apps, sports channels, and even a whole bunch of other channels that you might not have heard of before.
The stick also comes with a handy remote control that has a built-in microphone, which allows you to use voice control options. Due to the fact that this is an Amazon product, you can be sure that you can use Amazon Alexa features with this service.
You will be able to command your Amazon Fire Stick to do certain things by using the Alexa function, and you can connect it to other Amazon products, like doorbells, lighting, thermostats, and more.
What Do You Have to Pay to Watch on an Amazon Fire Stick?
You do not have to pay for everything that you watch on the Amazon Fire Stick, but there are certain apps that will require you to have a subscription to use.
For example, Netflix is one of the streaming services that you can watch on your Amazon Fire Stick, but you will need to pay a monthly fee in order to make use of it.
However, you do not have to use these services, and you can still get plenty of access to free channels and apps that won’t cost you a penny. Catch-up services and live TV can be used with no additional charges. Some of the services that you can expect to pay for are:
- Prime Video
- Netflix
- Apple TV
- Disney+
- Britbox
- Hayu
- Boxnation
- Any music streaming services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify.
What is the TV Player Amazon App?
You can use the TV Player Amazon app in combination with the Amazon Fire Stick to watch a variety of channels. You can download this app through the Fire TV App Store either by using the remote control or voice search features.
It is free to download, and you can select the channel that you want to watch through this app, including features like ‘what’s on now’. There are so many channels to choose from in the TV Player app that you will be spoilt for choice and sure to find what you are looking for.
