The worst time to find a streaming problem is at kickoff. A frozen app, a missing channel or sound coming from the wrong speaker is easy to fix with time to spare and frustrating with the game already under way. This checklist takes about fifteen minutes and is best run an hour before the start, so there is time to sort out anything that is not right.
- Restart your streaming device and router well before the game.
- Open the channel early and check picture and sound.
- Reduce competing traffic on your home network.
- Have a backup device and our WhatsApp chat ready.
One day before
Confirm the channel
Find out which channel is showing the game and locate it in your player app. Add it to your favorites so it is one click away on the day. If you cannot find it, message us the day before rather than an hour before.
Update everything
Install any pending updates for your TV, streaming device and player app the day before. Updates sometimes restart a device or change settings, which you do not want to discover at kickoff. Our guide to favorites and the TV guide explains how to keep the channel list tidy.
Check your plan dates
Make sure your plan is active on game day. We message you before a plan ends, but if a big game falls near your end date, renew early. See our pricing page for plan options.
One hour before
1. Restart the streaming device
A full restart clears memory and stops background processes. On most sticks and boxes, unplugging the power for thirty seconds works best. On a smart TV, a full power cycle is more thorough than standby.
2. Restart the router if needed
If your internet has felt slow recently, restart the router too. Do it early, as it can take several minutes for everything to reconnect. Skip this step if everything is working well.
3. Open the player app and the channel
Launch the app, let the channel list and guide load, then open the game channel. Leave it playing for a few minutes and watch for buffering or freezing.
4. Check the picture
- Confirm the device is outputting the right resolution for your TV.
- Choose a picture mode suited to sport and check motion settings. Our motion settings guide explains the options.
- Remember that each stream plays at its source quality. Many sports channels are HD and some events are 4K.
5. Check the sound
Confirm audio is coming from the speakers you want: TV speakers, soundbar or receiver. Check that lip sync looks right on a close-up of a commentator. If the soundbar is silent, check the TV’s audio output setting and the HDMI ARC or eARC connection.
Reduce network competition
During big games, your home network can get busy. To give the TV priority:
- Pause large downloads, game updates and cloud backups.
- Ask others in the house to avoid big uploads or downloads during the game.
- If the TV is on Wi-Fi, keep the router clear of obstructions and close to the TV if possible.
- Use Ethernet for the main TV if you can.
Guests often join your Wi-Fi on game day. If your router offers a guest network, use it, as it keeps visitors separate from your main devices.
Have a backup plan
Even a well-prepared setup can have a bad moment. Plan ahead:
- Backup device: set up the player app on a second device, such as a phone, tablet or second streaming stick, so you can switch quickly. Our setup guides cover each supported device.
- Know the quick fixes: switching channel and back, restarting the app or restarting the device solves many short-lived problems.
- Keep our chat handy: if something persists, message us on WhatsApp with the channel, the device and what you see on screen.
During the game
Once the game starts, avoid changing settings or installing anything. If the stream buffers briefly, wait a few seconds before acting, as many players recover on their own. If it keeps buffering, try switching channel and back, then restarting the app. Note the time and channel of any problem so you can tell us exactly what happened afterwards.
After the game
If anything went wrong, message us with the details while they are fresh: the channel, the time, the device and what you saw. Specific information helps us look into it properly. It is also a good moment to check whether a cable, mesh node or different device would make the next game smoother. Our FAQ answers many common questions.
The checklist at a glance
- Day before: channel found and added to favorites.
- Day before: TV, device and app updated; plan active.
- Hour before: device restarted, router restarted if needed.
- Hour before: channel playing smoothly for a few minutes.
- Picture mode, motion settings and output resolution checked.
- Sound playing from the right speakers, lip sync fine.
- Downloads paused and guests on the guest network.
- Backup device ready and our WhatsApp chat open.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I start the checklist?
About an hour before the game. That leaves time to restart equipment and contact us if something is not right.
Should I always restart my router before a game?
Only if your internet has felt slow. If everything works well, leave it alone, as a restart takes several minutes.
What should I tell support if there is a problem?
Send the channel name, the device you use, the time it happened and what you see on screen, such as buffering or an error message.
Big game coming up?
Message us on WhatsApp ahead of time if you want to check a channel or your setup. We help you get ready before kickoff.
