Why there is no app for Tizen, webOS and Fire TV
Samsung smart TVs run on Tizen, LG smart TVs on webOS. Those are their own operating systems with their own app stores. Amazon Fire TV is based on Android, but does not have Google Play. The Narrow.TV Player is available for Android (via Google Play), Linux and Windows. There is no Narrow.TV app for Tizen, webOS and Fire TV, nor for iOS, Apple TV and Chromecast without Google TV.
So if you search for Narrow.TV in the app store of your Samsung or LG TV, you will find nothing. That does not mean your TV is unusable for digital signage. You simply leave the playback to a separate device.
The solution: a player via HDMI
Every smart TV has HDMI inputs. Connect a small device running the Narrow.TV Player to one of them. The TV then only shows the picture from that HDMI input; you no longer use the smart TV features. You can choose from:
- An Android TV or Google TV box or stick. The simplest choice: you install the Narrow.TV Player from Google Play. Make sure the device has Google Play; a Fire TV Stick does not.
- A Raspberry Pi 4 (4 GB) or Raspberry Pi 5 with Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit. Small and inexpensive. An installation script sets everything up, after which the player starts full screen at power-on.
- A mini PC with Linux (64-bit, for example Ubuntu or Debian).
- A mini PC or PC with Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit). Handy if you already have one.
You install the Android app from Google Play. The installer for Linux and Windows is not in an app store; you request it through support, and we will send you the download. A detailed comparison of these options can be found in choosing a digital signage player
The same applies to professional displays (signage displays): you also connect those via HDMI to one of these players.
How to set it up
- Connect the player to a free HDMI input on the TV and give it power. Connect it to the internet, preferably with a network cable.
- Switch the TV to that HDMI input.
- Install the Narrow.TV Player on the player. See installing the Narrow.TV Player.
- Create a screen in the dashboard and enter the pairing code in the player. See creating and pairing your first screen.
- Switch the TV and the player completely off and on again once, and check that your content comes back on screen by itself.
After that, the screen works like any other Narrow.TV screen: changes appear on screen within about a minute, and if the internet drops, the player keeps playing the most recently loaded content.
Tips for your TV's settings
A smart TV is made for watching TV at home. With a few settings, it behaves better as a digital signage screen. What these settings are called and where they are located differs per brand and model; check the menu or the manual of your TV.
- Start up on the last input. Many TVs can be set to start on the last used input after being switched on, instead of on a TV channel or the TV's home menu. Your content then appears straight away.
- HDMI-CEC. With HDMI-CEC, the TV and the player can control each other, so that the player can, for example, switch the TV on. Every brand has its own name for this feature. If it does not work the way you want, turn it off and switch the TV on yourself.
- Energy saving and sleep mode off. Turn off automatic power-off and standby after a period without use, so that the screen does not go black after a few hours.
- Power for a stick. Preferably power a stick from a wall socket if the manufacturer recommends it. Some TVs turn off USB power in standby.
And a TV with Google TV or Android 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. Check in the specifications or the settings menu which system your TV uses; if you can open the Google Play Store on the TV, you are usually fine. If you are buying a new TV for digital signage, this is often the simplest choice. More about this can be found in which screen and player to choose for digital signage.
Is digital signage free?
Narrow.TV has no free version. You can, however, try it free for 30 days with one screen, on your own TV and player. That way you see, before you pay anything, whether your content looks good and whether your player works well. Start the free 30-day trial. What the software costs after that can be found under prices.
Not sure which player suits your TV? Get in touch and mention the brand and model of your TV.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Narrow.TV app for Samsung Tizen or LG webOS?
No. The Narrow.TV Player is available for Android, Linux and Windows. On a Samsung or LG TV, you therefore connect a player via HDMI, such as an Android TV box or stick, a Raspberry Pi or a mini PC.
Does Narrow.TV work on an Amazon Fire TV Stick?
No. Fire TV does not have Google Play and there is no Narrow.TV app for it. Instead, use an Android TV or Google TV box or stick with Google Play, a Raspberry Pi or a mini PC.
Does Narrow.TV work on a TV with Google TV?
Yes. If your TV has Android TV or Google TV built in, you install the Narrow.TV Player from Google Play on the TV itself. You then do not need an extra device.
Is Narrow.TV free?
There is no free version, but there is a free 30-day trial for one screen. That way you can test how it works on your own TV and player. The prices after that are on the prices page.
Does the TV switch to the right HDMI input by itself?
On many TVs you can set them to start up on the last used input, and with HDMI-CEC the player can switch the TV on. What that is called and where it is located differs per brand and model.