What does a digital signage player do?
With digital signage, you create and manage your content online, in the dashboard. The screen itself knows nothing about that. That is what the player is for: a small device, or an app on the TV, that fetches a screen's slides and plays them full screen. You will also often hear media player or signage player; that is the same thing.
With Narrow.TV, the player is the Narrow.TV Player app. It does the following:
- It plays the slides you assign to the screen in the dashboard, in a loop.
- You pair it once with a pairing code from the dashboard. After that, you manage everything remotely.
- Changes appear on the screen within about a minute.
- It starts by itself and runs full screen, so the screen shows your content straight away after it is switched on.
- If the internet drops, it keeps playing the most recently loaded content.
- Landscape or portrait, up to 4K.
The Narrow.TV Player is available for Android, Linux and Windows. It works the same way on every platform, with the same slides and the same dashboard. So you choose the device that best suits your screen and your situation.
The options at a glance
A TV with Android TV or Google TV
Many smart TVs have Android TV or Google TV built in. Then you do not need an extra device: you install the Narrow.TV Player from Google Play on the TV itself. That is the simplest and tidiest solution, with no extra cables or power. Check in the specifications or in the TV's settings menu whether it uses Android TV or Google TV; if you can open the Google Play Store on the TV, you are usually fine.
An Android TV box or stick
Does your screen not have Android TV, or is it a professional display? Then connect an Android TV box or stick to an HDMI port. The stick disappears behind the screen, and you simply install the app from Google Play. A good choice if you want a screen up and running quickly and without technical knowledge. Make sure the device has access to Google Play.
A Raspberry Pi
A Raspberry Pi 4 (4 GB) or Raspberry Pi 5 with Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit is small and inexpensive, and suitable as a permanent player behind a screen. An installation script sets everything up; after that, the player starts full screen at power-on, without a desktop. A Raspberry Pi 3 or older is not supported. The Raspberry Pi plays video without hardware acceleration; for a lot of heavy video (4K), a TV with Android TV, a good stick or a mini PC is a better choice.
A mini PC with Linux
A 64-bit mini PC or Linux PC (x64 or ARM64) is a sturdy player with a network connection. At least Ubuntu 20.04, Debian 11 or Fedora 36; we recommend Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 LTS or Debian 12. Handy if your IT department prefers to work with Linux or if you want to set up several screens in the same way.
A Windows PC
A PC, mini PC or all-in-one touch PC with Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit) can also serve as a player. That is especially handy if you already have such a device. For a device that only runs the player, we recommend Windows 11 or Windows 10/11 IoT Enterprise LTSC. The player starts automatically when you sign in to Windows.
Comparison
| Player | Extra device | Installation | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| TV with Android TV or Google TV | No | Google Play on the TV | Buying a new TV, as few cables as possible |
| Android TV box or stick | Yes, via HDMI | Google Play | An existing screen or professional display, getting started quickly |
| Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 | Yes, via HDMI | Installation script, through support | A small, inexpensive, permanent device behind the screen |
| Mini PC with Linux | Yes, via HDMI | .deb package or AppImage, through support | Organisations that work with Linux, network cable |
| Windows PC | Yes, or an all-in-one | Installer, through support | You already have a PC, mini PC or all-in-one touch PC |
Not sure? For a new screen, Android is usually the simplest choice: a TV with Android TV or Google TV, or an affordable stick behind it. You can also mix the platforms in one account. A video wall with Combined view also works with players on Android, Linux and Windows.
Minimum requirements in brief
- Android: Android 6.0 or newer, with access to Google Play.
- Linux: 64-bit, at least Ubuntu 20.04, Debian 11 or Fedora 36, or a Raspberry Pi 4 (4 GB) or 5 with Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit.
- Windows: Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit.
- Internet: a stable connection, preferably with a network cable.
All the details, such as memory and disk space, can be found in the system requirements.
What does not work
There is no Narrow.TV Player for the own operating system of Samsung TVs (Tizen) and LG TVs (webOS), for Amazon Fire TV, for iOS and Apple TV, or for Chromecast without Google TV. 32-bit Linux systems and a Raspberry Pi 3 or older are not supported either.
Already have such a TV? You do not need to replace it. Connect one of the players above to it via HDMI; the TV then only shows the HDMI signal. How that works is explained in digital signage on a Samsung or LG smart TV.
Installing and pairing
- Install the Narrow.TV Player: from Google Play on Android, or with the installer for Linux (including the Raspberry Pi) or Windows. That installer is not in an app store; you request it through support and we will send you the download.
- Create a screen in the dashboard. The dashboard shows a pairing code.
- Enter the pairing code in the player. The screen starts playing.
Step by step instructions are in installing the Narrow.TV Player and creating and pairing your first screen. Which screen to choose with it is explained in which screen and player to choose for digital signage.
You buy the player and the screen yourself, from a supplier of your choice. Want to test on your own hardware first? Start the free 30-day trial and pair one screen. What the software costs after that can be found under prices.
Frequently asked questions
What is a digital signage player?
A digital signage player (or media player) is the device that plays the content on a screen. You manage the slides online in the dashboard; the player fetches them and shows them full screen. With Narrow.TV, that is the Narrow.TV Player app, on an Android device, a Linux device or a Windows PC.
Do I need a separate media player?
Not if your TV has Android TV or Google TV built in: then you install the Narrow.TV Player from Google Play on the TV itself. With other TVs and professional displays, you connect a player via HDMI, for example an Android TV box or stick, a Raspberry Pi or a mini PC.
Which digital signage player is the simplest?
For a new screen, Android is the simplest choice: a TV with Android TV or Google TV, or an Android TV stick behind the screen. You install the app from Google Play and pair it with the pairing code from the dashboard.
Does the player work without internet?
The player needs internet to fetch new content. If the connection drops, it keeps playing the most recently loaded content.
Can I mix different kinds of players?
Yes. Players on Android, Linux and Windows are paired with the same pairing code and they play the same slides. A video wall or Combined view also works with players on all three platforms.