IPTV Questions First steps
Can one IPTV subscription work on several devices?
What is the difference between devices and screens?
A device is anything with the app installed on it. A screen, which providers also call a connection, is one stream playing right now. Plans limit screens, not installs.
When you press play, the provider's server opens a stream for your login and counts it. Start a second stream on a one-screen plan and the count goes to two. Depending on the provider, the newer stream is refused with a message such as "max connections reached", or the older one stops. Exit the app on one device, give it a minute, and the other device can play.
An app sitting on a menu normally does not count. A channel still running on a box whose TV was switched off often does, so exit the app when you leave the room, especially on a one-screen plan.
Can two TVs play IPTV at once?
They can, as long as your plan covers at least two screens. Each TV needs its own player, either an app on the TV itself or a stick or box plugged into it. Sign in to both with the same login, and the server counts two streams and lets them run side by side.
Your internet has to carry both streams. As a rule of thumb, budget close to 10 Mbps per HD picture and 25 Mbps per 4K picture, then keep spare capacity for gaming, phones and video calls.
| Household | Streams at once | Suggested steady speed |
|---|---|---|
| One person, one TV | 1 in HD | 15 Mbps or more |
| Couple: living room and bedroom | 2 in HD | 30 Mbps or more |
| Family: living room in 4K plus two HD | 3 | 60 Mbps or more |
| Large or shared household | 4 to 5 | 100 Mbps or more |
Wi-Fi is often the weak link when several TVs stream. A wired connection for the main TV leaves more airtime for the others. Our internet speed article explains how to test the speed in each room.
Can you use two IPTV services on one device, or share one login?
Two services on one device: yes. Most players hold more than one account. TiviMate Premium supports several playlists, and IPTV Smarters Pro lets you add multiple users, each with its own login. You switch between them from the app menu, and each one counts only against its own plan.
One login across two homes: that is a different story. Most providers' terms limit a subscription to one household. Streams from two addresses can knock each other off, and some providers lock a login that keeps appearing in different places at once. If a parent in another city or a student away at school wants IPTV, a separate plan avoids the arguments over who gets to watch.
Inside one household, moving the login between devices is normal. Watch the game on the living room TV, then finish it on a tablet in bed. Only the streams playing together are counted.
How do screens work on a King IPTV plan?
You choose 1 to 5 screens at checkout. The same login goes on every device in your home, and your choice decides how many of them may stream simultaneously.
| Screens | 1 month | 12 months | Typical household |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18 | $78 | One person, or one main TV |
| 2 | $28 | $128 | A couple: living room plus bedroom |
| 3 | $38 | $178 | A family with a kids room or a basement TV |
| 4 | $48 | $228 | A big family or a teen who streams on a phone |
| 5 | $58 | $278 | A busy household, or a home with a basement suite |
All amounts are CAD. You send one Interac e-Transfer per plan, and nothing renews automatically. The plans and prices page also shows the 3-month and 6-month options. When your time runs low, choose "Extend subscription" at checkout and the months are added to the same login. If your household needs more screens partway through a plan, ask in Live Chat what your options are.
Adding a second device? The setup guides for each device use the login details you already have, and our general IPTV setup answer covers the basics in four steps.
Screen limit questions
What happens if I go over my screen limit?
The extra stream will not play, or one of the streams already running will stop, depending on the provider. Nothing is charged and your account is not cancelled. Close the app on one device, wait about a minute for the server to release the connection, and try again. If it happens every evening, your household probably needs one more screen.
Does watching on my phone away from home use a screen?
Yes. A stream counts wherever it plays: in the living room, at the cottage or on mobile data. If two people at home are already using both screens on a two-screen plan, your phone has to wait. Mobile data also runs out fast with live TV, so stick to Wi-Fi when you can.
Does every TV need its own app?
Each TV needs a player of its own, either installed on the TV or on a stick or box connected to it. You do not need separate logins: the same username and password work in every copy of the app. Different TVs can even use different players, such as TiviMate in the living room and Smarters in the bedroom.
Pick the number of screens your home needs
Test one screen free for 24 hours, then choose 1 to 5 screens at checkout. A year for two TVs is $128 CAD, paid once.