Streaming services on a Smart TV
Whether you’re watching Luca with the family, Mean Girls with your best friends, or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark with a date, there’s a lot of pressure when you’re the host of movie night. The film selection, the snack choices, and of course, the screen you’re viewing on. It all depends on you, and you’ll get the blame if anything goes wrong, which would be a bit embarrassing, especially if you’re trying to impress.
But do not fear. We’re the experts here, and if there’s one thing we know a lot about, it’s how to make the most of your Smart TV. We’re giving you everything you need to know to host the best movie nights this summer, from the streaming services available to the best settings to use to get the most out of your LED Smart TV.
Which streaming services and apps can I get on my Smart TV?
All our Smart TVs come ready loaded with all your favourite streaming services, so no need to worry about dusting off the DVD player, just plug your unit in, connect to the internet and you’re good to go! BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, and all the other British on-demand services are available, so if an EastEnders marathon is more your thing, then that’s fine too.
Of course, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and all your other favourites can either be found ready-downloaded or can be in your hands in seconds from the app store on your TV. Our discount Samsung smart TVs come with a whole host of cool apps that are guaranteed to wow your guests, including their Universal Guide. This feature tracks your watching history and curates a perfectly customised guide combining movies, shows and everything else from all streaming services on your TV. Gone are the days when you’d be scrolling mindlessly for hours trying to find something to watch.
Couple watching their Smart TV
As well as this, don’t worry about getting everyone off the couch to find out who’s sat on the remote, Samsung has its voice assistant, Bixby, built into its Smart TVs. Once you’ve registered your voice (which we recommend doing when you first set up the TV), simply say “Hi Bixby” to wake it up. Bixby can adjust the volume, switch between streaming services, and pause and play what you’re watching, amongst a multitude of other impressive commands.
What are the best settings for watching movies?
Our Smart TVs have some great tech available on them, it’s just about choosing the right settings to get the most optimised picture for your viewing pleasure. To start, we recommend a QLED screen if film nights (and days) are a regular occurrence in your household. This is because their technology allows them to form a layer of minuscule dots in front of the backlight to make the colours pop. Most of our Samsung Smart TVs are QLED, which you can check with the name of the model. If it begins with ‘Q’ then it’s QLED.
Picture settings
- Before you start watching, make sure that your TV is set in ‘Cinema’ or ‘Movie’ mode.
- Put the ‘Backlight’ at 100%. Although this optimises the display for daytime use, it works well for any time of day.
- Turn on ‘Ambient Mode’. This feature comes with a lot of our discount Smart TVs and works to blend the TV into the background by changing the screen automatically and in line with its surroundings. This is a great setting to dazzle your guests and create a real movie theatre atmosphere when you power on the TV.
Smart TV display
Our 3 top tips for hosting the best movie night
So, we’ve provided you with all the technical information you need with regards to the best settings and features your Smart TV comes with to guarantee a great movie night. Even though the screen is the most important factor, you still need to consider everything else in order to make it a success. To help you out, here are our 3 top tips for hosting the best movie night.
- Choose a film way before you want to start watching.This is by far the most important as we’re certain you’ve been in the situation when you’re still scrolling hours after the time you wanted to begin the film, and everyone’s still arguing over which one to watch. Don’t forget, check out our discount Samsung Smart TVs to take advantage of their Universal Guide!
- Get the snacks ready.You’re going to be judged on your snack selection, so make sure to have an extensive range of everyone’s favourites to keep them all happy. Bonus tip: avoid anything too crunchy, especially if you’re watching something like A Quiet Place 2 – you can imagine why.
- Make a game out of it. Because you probably won’t be talking while the films are on, why not get everyone chatting in between. Rate the films, play charades with a theme of the characters from the movie you just watched, anything you fancy! Keep it fun but make it competitive – the loser gets the drink refills in.
You should be completely set for your next movie night now – loaded with information about tech, as well as our tips on how to keep your guests happy, what else could you need? We think we’ve got you covered, but if there’s anything else you need help with regarding your cheap Smart TVs and how to make the most out of them – please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
