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Quick Facts
- The TV's operating system, not the brand on the front, decides which apps you get
- Samsung promises up to 7 years of Tizen OS upgrades on TVs from 2023 on, depending on model and region
- NOW needs a Samsung from 2016, an LG from 2018, Android 8.0 or later, or Hisense VIDAA 6.0 or later
- A streaming stick on a spare HDMI port fixes most missing-app problems for far less than a new TV
If you’re buying a new TV, the operating system matters as much as the screen. It decides which apps you get without plugging anything else in, and how long those apps keep working. Two TVs with the same panel can be very different to live with if one has RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play and TG4 Player and the other doesn’t.
This guide covers the main smart TV platforms sold in Ireland, which Irish apps each one has, how long the TV makers say they’ll keep updating them, and when a streaming stick is the smarter buy.
The short answer
- Samsung (Tizen) and LG (webOS) are the safest choices for Irish apps on the TV itself. Both have RTÉ Player, TG4 Player, NOW, Netflix and Disney+, and Samsung gives the clearest update promise.
- Google TV (Sony, TCL, Philips and others) has the biggest app store and the RTÉ Player and TG4 Player TV apps.
- Fire TV built-in TVs suit Amazon households and smaller rooms, but check whether the model runs Fire OS or Amazon’s newer system.
- Hisense VIDAA TVs are good value, but we couldn’t confirm the Irish broadcaster apps on VIDAA, so check before you buy.
- Whatever you buy, a streaming stick can add any missing app later.
The main smart TV platforms
Samsung (Tizen)
Samsung runs its own Tizen system on its smart TVs. Samsung was the first TV brand to launch RTÉ Player on its smart TVs in Ireland, back in 2012, and RTÉ’s own accessibility statement names Tizen among the TV platforms its apps support. TG4 says its smart TV app is on Samsung TVs. NOW works on Samsung TVs from 2016 on with Tizen 2.4 or later, and Disney+ and Netflix are on Tizen too. Samsung’s own Irish page also highlights Samsung TV Plus, its free ad-supported channels.
Virgin Media Television says its app is available for smart TVs without listing brands. See our guide to setting up Virgin Media Player on a Samsung smart TV, and check the Samsung app store on the model you’re looking at.
Updates: Samsung’s Irish site says TVs released from 2023 on get free Tizen OS upgrades for up to 7 years from launch, depending on model and region. A 2024 TV, for example, gets upgrades until 2030. That’s the clearest promise of any brand here.
LG (webOS)
LG uses its own webOS system, which many people find easy to get around. RTÉ’s accessibility statement names webOS among its supported TV platforms, and TG4 says its smart TV app is on LG TVs. NOW works on LG TVs from 2018 on with webOS 3.5 or later (the older NetCast TVs are no longer supported), and Disney+ and Netflix are on webOS.
As with Samsung, Virgin Media doesn’t list TV brands for its app, so search for it in the LG Content Store on the model you want. Our guide to setting up NOW on a Samsung or LG smart TV walks through sign-in.
Updates: LG runs a programme called webOS Re:New, which brings newer webOS versions to some recent TVs. When LG announced it in January 2024, it covered its 2022 OLED TVs and some premium 2022 models, with the promise of a new TV experience “for the next five years”. LG hasn’t given a fixed, brand-wide promise like Samsung’s, so ask whether the model you want is included. For a side-by-side look at the two big brands, see LG vs Samsung: Whose Smart TV Apps Stream Better?
Google TV and Android TV (Sony, TCL, Philips, Panasonic and others)
Google TV is Google’s TV system, and Android TV is the older version it replaced. Sony has used Android TV since 2015 and began moving to Google TV in 2021. NOW’s Irish help page lists Sony, TCL, Philips, Panasonic, Sharp, Hitachi, Toshiba, JVC and other brands among its Android TV and Google TV sets, as long as they run Android 8.0 or later (Sony from 2016 on).
For Irish apps, RTÉ has an Android TV version of RTÉ Player on Google Play, and TG4 says its app is on Android TV and Google TV. Netflix says it’s available on Sony and Hisense Google TVs, and Disney+ lists Android TV devices. Virgin Media Play’s Google Play listing mentions “smart TV” but doesn’t name Google TV, so search for it on the TV.
Google TV also has Google Cast built in, so you can send videos from apps on your phone to the TV.
Updates: each TV maker decides how long its Google TV sets get updates, and we didn’t find a fixed promise from the main brands. Ask the retailer, or check the maker’s support page for your model. Sony has a help page explaining how to tell if your BRAVIA is a Google TV or an Android TV.
Fire TV built-in TVs
Some TVs, such as the Xiaomi TV F 32, run Amazon’s Fire TV system built in, so they work like a Fire TV Stick inside the TV. On Fire OS, that means the same app store as a Fire TV Stick, with RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play, TG4 Player, NOW and the big streaming apps. NOW’s Irish help page also lists older JVC, Bush and Technika Fire TV Edition TVs.
The catch: Amazon is moving its newest Fire TV sticks to its own Vega OS, which has fewer apps, and it hasn’t said on its UK announcement which system its own-brand TVs use. Check the spec sheet or product listing says Fire OS, and if it says Vega OS, check your Irish apps are available. See our streaming devices guide for more on Vega OS.
Updates: we didn’t find a published update period for Fire TV built-in TVs. Ask the retailer or the TV maker.
Hisense (VIDAA)
Many Hisense TVs run Hisense’s own VIDAA system, while some run Google TV, so check which one the model you’re looking at uses. On VIDAA, NOW works on models with VIDAA 6.0 or later, and Netflix and Disney+ both list Hisense TVs as supported.
We couldn’t confirm RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play or TG4 Player on VIDAA from RTÉ’s, Virgin Media’s, TG4’s or Hisense’s own pages. If those apps matter to you, check the VIDAA app store on the display model in the shop, or plan to add a streaming stick.
Updates: we didn’t find a published update period for VIDAA TVs in Ireland.
Which Irish apps are on each platform
Based on the app providers’ and TV makers’ own pages, checked in November 2026. “Check” means we couldn’t confirm it from an official source, not that it’s missing. Older or budget models can have a smaller app store, so always check the exact model.
| App | Samsung (Tizen) | LG (webOS) | Google TV / Android TV | Fire TV built-in (Fire OS) | Hisense VIDAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTÉ Player | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Check |
| Virgin Media Play | Check | Check | Check | Yes | Check |
| TG4 Player | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Check |
| NOW | Yes (2016 on) | Yes (2018 on) | Yes (Android 8.0 on) | Check | Yes (VIDAA 6.0 on) |
| Netflix | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disney+ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Saorview channels | Built-in tuner, not an app | Built-in tuner, not an app | Built-in tuner, not an app | Built-in tuner, not an app | Built-in tuner, not an app |
For Fire TV built-in TVs, NOW’s help page lists only some older JVC, Bush and Technika Fire TV Edition models, so check NOW on newer ones. If an app on your TV stops working, our RTÉ Player smart TV fixes are a good place to start.
Buying checklist
Before you hand over your money, run through this list:
- Check the operating system on the spec sheet. Look for Tizen, webOS, Google TV, Android TV, Fire TV or VIDAA, and the version. The brand name alone doesn’t tell you.
- Look for your apps on the display model. Ask the shop to open the app store on the TV you’re buying and search for RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Play, TG4 Player and any sport app you use. Budget ranges can have a smaller app store.
- Check the model year. NOW, for example, needs a Samsung from 2016 on or an LG from 2018 on. Ex-display or older stock can be a model year or two behind.
- Ask how long it gets updates. Samsung publishes up to 7 years for TVs from 2023 on. For other brands, ask the retailer or check the maker’s support page.
- Check for a Saorview tuner. If you want free aerial channels, make sure the spec sheet mentions Saorview or DVB-T and that your home has a working aerial.
- Count the HDMI ports. You’ll want a spare one for a streaming stick, a soundbar or a games console later.
- Think about casting. Google TV has Google Cast built in. Many recent TVs also have AirPlay. Check the spec sheet if you cast from your phone a lot.
- Buy from an official retailer such as Harvey Norman, Currys, DID Electrical or Power City, so the warranty is valid in Ireland.
- Check the current price. TV prices move a lot around sales, so compare the current price rather than relying on old figures.
When a streaming stick beats a new TV
A new TV is a big spend. A streaming stick plugged into a spare HDMI port is often the better fix when:
- The picture is still fine but an app is missing, has been withdrawn from your model, or has become slow.
- Your TV has stopped getting updates. A stick brings a current app store, whatever the TV’s age.
- You want the same menus on every TV in the house, including an old one in the bedroom or kitchen.
- You’re renting and the TV belongs to the landlord.
- You want an app your TV platform doesn’t have, such as one of the Irish broadcaster apps on a VIDAA set.
A new TV makes more sense when you want a bigger or better screen, the old set has picture faults, or it doesn’t have an HDMI port at all.
Our streaming devices guide covers which Irish apps are on Fire TV, Google TV, Roku and Apple TV.
Streaming Devices That Work on Any TV
Fire TV Stick 4K Max
The higher-spec sibling of the standard 4K Stick — worth the extra cost if you want the fastest interface and Wi-Fi 6 support.
Google TV Streamer
Google's current streaming box — 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, 32 GB storage, built-in Ethernet port and Google Cast. Replaced the discontinued Chromecast with Google TV.
Roku Streaming Stick Plus (4K)
One of the most straightforward remotes and menus of any streaming device — good pick for less tech-confident households.
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If you’re after a small second TV with apps built in, the LG 32-inch webOS smart TV and the Xiaomi TV F 32 above are two options. Check the current price on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which smart TVs have RTÉ Player?
Is Virgin Media Play on smart TVs?
Which TVs have TG4 Player?
How long will a smart TV keep getting updates?
Do smart TVs pick up Saorview?
Is it better to buy a new TV or a streaming stick?
Do I need a TV licence for a smart TV used only for streaming?
Related: see our full streaming devices buying guide, Do You Need a TV Licence to Stream in Ireland?, What Is Saorview and Do You Need It If You Stream? and our legal streaming services guide.
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