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Quick Facts
- RTÉ Player natively supports Samsung TVs from 2015 onward and all LG webOS models
- Sony and Philips run RTÉ Player through their Android TV platform
- A separate streaming stick still works on any TV missing native app support
If you’re buying a new TV, the operating system matters as much as the screen — it decides which apps you get natively, without needing a separate streaming stick plugged in.
The three main platforms
Samsung (Tizen): Samsung has run its own Tizen OS on smart TVs for years, and RTÉ Player has supported Samsung TVs from 2015 onward specifically. Tizen’s app store also carries all the major names — Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video.
LG (webOS): LG’s webOS platform natively supports RTÉ Player and covers the same major streaming apps as Samsung. webOS is generally considered one of the more polished, easy-to-navigate smart TV interfaces.
Android TV / Google TV (Sony, Philips, TCL, and others): RTÉ Player runs on Android TV, which is what Sony and Philips TVs use for their smart platform. Android TV also has the widest overall app selection of the three, since it’s Google’s open platform rather than a single manufacturer’s closed system.
What to actually check before buying
- Confirm RTÉ Player support directly for the specific model you’re considering — older or budget-tier TVs sometimes run a stripped-down version of the OS with a smaller app selection
- Panasonic TVs from 2017 onward support RTÉ Player, but earlier Panasonic models may not — worth checking the exact release year
- If a TV doesn’t have native support, that’s not a dealbreaker — a Fire TV Stick, Roku, or Chromecast plugged into any HDMI port gives you the full app selection regardless of the TV’s own OS
Don’t feel locked in
If you already own a smart TV that’s missing an app you need, buying a new TV isn’t the only fix — a streaming device is usually the cheaper, simpler upgrade path.
Streaming Devices That Work on Any TV
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
Wide app support and easy setup — the most common starting point for Irish streaming households.
Chromecast with Google TV
Google stopped making it in 2024 (the Google TV Streamer replaced it), but it still runs all the main Irish streaming apps if you find one in stock.
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
One of the most straightforward remotes and menus of any streaming device — good pick for less tech-confident households.
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Related: see our full streaming devices buying guide and legal streaming services guide.