Morning
I've recently purchased a TCL google Smart tv for my home in France.

You've done almost all the right things , but unfortunately not all Android TV OEMs support/are supported by all apps, on all versions. I had a heck of a time to do some installs on my FreeBox and/or my Hisense TV, and sometimes I had to resort to (like you did) searching APKs in all places (e.g. apkmirror), until I found a version which worked. The only advice I would have, at this point in time (assuming you exhausted all known mirrors) would be to post this specific app (incl. version of it, and of the android on the TV) on the corresponding subreddit, and ask there, or - why not? (!) - contact the developer(s). After toying with Android for many years, I have found at times developers willing to expand their app coverage, while using me as "volunteer guinea pig" for troubleshooting on specific environments - it was all worth it in the end, and a good learning experience for me HTH

@admin: I assume this belongs in the "Bistro" ...

 

Hello HTH
Thank you for taking your time to give the clear and sound advice.
Best regards

 

HTH = Hope This Helps

 

Is your Google account set to the UK? Iplayer is most definitely available from the playstore but not if it considers you to be outside the UK.
We found iPlayer to be a pain when newly installed but once the set had been restarted it was OK.
You could change VPNs and see if that helps e.g. Privado or Nord.
Also is your VPN installed on your router?
If all else fails buy an Android box, connect it to the TV as a separate device.

Have to admit I gave up using Surfshark as I don't like auto-renewals, so I used a card that would expire prior to the due date. I Wrote and said do not renew, did they listen? No, they kept trying so my bank notified me about potential fraud and would I like my new card cancelled?. Surfshark themselves wanted my new card details to close the account, which I refused. Never again!

 

Is your Google account set to the UK? Iplayer is most definitely available from the playstore but not if it considers you to be outside the UK.

Semi-unrelated to the OP, but just FYI: if you want to go around the regional restrictions, while still using the Google playstore as source (vs third party APK downloads), you could use Aurora store (safe if obtained through F-Droid). This is where I got 90+% of all my French apps (all stores/supermakets, local and regional transportation, etc.), while the primary account (tied to Google playstore) is stil US based (primarily for financial apps & GV required with that location, of course)

 

You might be better off with something like the shield tv where it’s easier to install apps then simply use that to connect to tv and watch.
you can then use that via a VPN and you might be able to solely use that through a VPN if your router allows device isolation on that level.
A cheaper option might be an Amazon fire stick which can also be unlocked easily.

 

If people are still reading this thread, I have related issues in Spain with a TCL Android tv. It looks like Google Playstore is georestricted even with a VPN installed. I'm thinking of getting a UK version of the TV (this one can be returned) and setting it up in the UK with VPN, iPlayer etc before bringing it out here to use. Any thoughts? Chris

 

how are you setting up your VPN, is from the client or router based?

Some VPNs leak ie.they don’t always mask your location.

 

Hi thanks for replying. The VPN is Nord and auto set up on the TV (possibly coming over with my Google a/c?). I can use Nord on my phone/PC to access UK TV apps ok, but these apps would have been loaded in the UK. This is why I'm thinking that the problem lies with the Spanish TV android version of Playstore?

 

Does your router allow VPN by any chance and are you able to create a separate network if so?

it Could be software related but I would hope the VPN would allow a bypass.

Perhaps a unlocked Amazon stick or even a shield TV might Be a cheaper option to obtain services.

 

Thanks again. I've been reading about VPN on the router. It looks complicated to set up? We use a firestick in London. Reading up on using it with VPN now.

 

Can be a pain depending on the router software as ideally you want a separate network for clients on the VPN and importing the settings. Some routers have some VPN clients built in but it just depends on the router.

 

I'd suggest looking at the settings for your Google Play store account, almost certainly they are set to Spain now. No VPN imo will get round that. However the solution for that type of problem is a) change settings back to UK but be careful if you pay for streaming or other things through that account. b) set up a new Gmail account based in the UK which you use only for software downloads. Then use that for the TCL TV .

 

Side-query on the back of this - I'm going to be taking my LG tv to France with me from the UK soon, it has iPlayer pre-installed on it, if I have a VPN (I need to get one) set up and connect through that, will the app work as normal or will it geoblock regardless of VPN and brick itself?

It's a pretty old tv now by current standards (probably close to 8/9 years) but it's been faultless ever since I got it and I'd loathe having to get a new TV just because the apps on there can't be used even with a VPN running.

 

Side-query on the back of this - I'm going to be taking my LG tv to France with me from the UK soon, it has iPlayer pre-installed on it, if I have a VPN (I need to get one) set up and connect through that, will the app work as normal or will it geoblock regardless of VPN and brick itself?

It's a pretty old tv now by current standards (probably close to 8/9 years) but it's been faultless ever since I got it and I'd loathe having to get a new TV just because the apps on there can't be used even with a VPN running.

I was hoping somebody else would reply but....
Our LG is a similar age to yours, which ran iplayer quite happily off our SFR box when we subscribed to them, some years ago now. We had to enter specific DNS numbers into the network settings on the router and the TV, these were supplied by whichever VPN supplier we were using at the time.

These days we get UK TV by satellite, record what we want and if we want to "catch up" have a specific Android box with VPN for that purpose using the LG as a monitor. However we now mainly watch French TV, in English, if that was the original recorded language. Hence we haven't played with the routers settings for quite some while.

I'd say it's worth a try with your LG, and be very careful to try to find the right VPN. I like to change mine from time to time and found at least one auto-renews at totally unacceptable rates.

 

I have a VPN router, through which all my devices connect. Old or new, I have no issues with any of the catch up services, or Sky when I had it. I use Expressvpn. My router is behind my Orange router. The only inconvenience is getting captcha warnings when googling.

 

Hello, not an expat, just stumbled across this thread but wanted to add a bit of info to help some of you avoid a bit of a goose chase... the key bit of info you need to know is that BBC Iplayer is not available on the latest TCL TVs even of you are in the uk. I see some of you jumping though hoops thinking that it's because you're overseas.... it's not. The TCL TVs just aren't certified for iPlayer, so they can't get it even in the UK. In the UK if you get a TCL tv they give you a note in the box to apply for a free Roku stick to get iplayer (and itvX and the others) that way. A shame as they're otherwise really good TVs for the money.

It might be that certification comes in time, but for now I'm afraid all the VPNs in the world won't get it to work for you, sorry! Just gotta get a Fire Stick or a Roku or a Nvidia Shield (they're great) and go that way, sorry!