Cutting the cable, a new smart TV, five different remotes. TV used to be simple. It can be again, once you know a few basics.
What "streaming" means
Streaming just means the TV plays shows over the internet instead of through a cable box or antenna. Each service is an app on the TV, a bit like apps on a phone: Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Peacock, and so on. Some are free, some charge a monthly fee.
A smart TV has these apps built in. An older TV can do the same with a small streaming stick or box that plugs into the back, such as a Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google TV or Apple TV.
The remote buttons that matter
- Home: takes you back to the main screen of apps, no matter where you are. When in doubt, press Home.
- Back: goes back one step.
- Input or Source: switches between the cable box, streaming stick, DVD player and antenna. If the TV says "no signal," this is usually why.
A small piece of tape or a sticker on the right buttons can help a lot. If you only use a few buttons, a simpler large-button remote is available for many TVs and streaming devices.
Keeping your local channels for free
Local stations, including the main network news and sports channels, broadcast over the air for free. A simple indoor antenna plugged into the TV picks them up in much of the DC, Maryland and Virginia area. Reception depends on where you live and which way your windows face, so it’s worth a test before you cancel cable.
Watching what you’re paying for
- Write down each streaming service, its monthly price, and which email it’s under.
- Check your card statement once a month. Free trials often turn into paid subscriptions without much warning.
- Some services include ads to keep the price down. That’s normal, not a sign that something is wrong.
Making TV easier to follow
- Captions: most TVs and apps have a CC or Subtitles setting. Many people find dialogue easier to follow with captions on.
- Dialogue or voice settings: many TVs have a "clear voice" or dialogue mode in the sound settings that makes speech stand out from music.
- Wireless headphones or a TV listening device let you turn the volume up without bothering anyone else.
The activation scam to avoid
When you set up a Roku or a new app, the screen may ask you to "activate" it by visiting a website. Scam websites pretend to be these pages and charge an "activation fee," or ask you to call a support number. Activating Roku is free at roku.com/link, and real app activations don’t charge a fee. Type the address shown on your TV screen exactly; don’t search for it.
If anyone asks you to pay to activate a device or to call "support" from a pop-up, it’s a scam. See how to spot a scam.