When the Xbox One was first announced, Microsoft made bold promises about its living room plans. The company wanted to change it to better how people interact with their consoles and televisions. Three years later, the company didn’t get a big hit, but it started to feel better about what people wanted and didn’t want.
Things have improved in the Xbox One ecosystem for Live TV lovers. Microsoft continues to sell the Xbox One with a built-in HDMI pass-through port so users can connect it to cable boxes or other video equipment. Additionally, the Xbox One is the only video game console to support Dish Network’s cable service Sling TV.
Here’s what you need to know about watching Live TV on Xbox One now.
How to Watch Live TV on Xbox One: Xbox One Digital TV Adapters
One of the first additions to the Live TV on Xbox One lineup, the Xbox One Digital TV Receivers are great examples of Microsoft taking advantage of how close the Xbox One is to a PC. Digital TV Tuners are a plug-in USB accessory, not one of them even made by the company itself. It was originally designed for Windows PCs.
Plug in both receivers and add broadcast channels to Xbox OneGuide. Television channels come in crystal clear depending on the strength of the antenna users have installed. When users need to step away from their Xbox One, they can do so. Shows can be paused for a full 30 minutes. OneGuide allows users to live stream from Xbox to iPhone, Windows Phone and Android devices.
In the United States, the Hauppauge Digital TV Receiver for Xbox One receives live broadcast channels usually reserved for digital televisions with antennas. The Digital TV Receiver comes with a USB extender and a very, very simple antenna to receive the signals. also Microsoft StoreThe Hauppauge Digital TV Receiver for Xbox One is $59.99. Users can replace the rather simple antenna with an antenna with better reception.
Available everywhere outside the United States, the Xbox One Digital TV Receiver does what the Hauppauge Digital TV Receiver does for US Xbox One owners. £24.99 Amazon UK.
Both Live TVs on Xbox One receivers improve when you have Microsoft’s Kinect sensor. With the sensor, users can change channels or navigate OneGuide with ease with just their voice.
How to Watch Live TV on Xbox One: Sling TV
Sling TV is the way to get Live TV on Xbox One for those who have a good internet connection and don’t want to buy Xbox One TV Receivers. Starting at $19.99 per month, Sling TV subscribers get access to growing live-streaming cable channels for a flat monthly fee. Those not included in the basic package can be optionally added with $4.99 packages based on interests. For example, there is a lifestyle package that includes HGTV and DIY Network. Currently, Sling TV is only available in the United States.
To get Sling TV on Xbox One, users just need to search on the Xbox Store. It is not directly integrated into the console. Sling TV also has Windows, iPhone and Android apps for Xbox One users to watch away from their living room.
How to Watch Live TV on Xbox One: OneGuide and Cable
Microsoft hoped to dominate cable operators’ success in entertainment early on. An HDMI pass-through port on the back of the Xbox One allows cable boxes to forward their signals to the Xbox One. What’s more, Kinect communicates with said cable box, ensuring users never have to buy cable remotes.
All of this still works as it did the day the Xbox One hit store shelves. Still, there have been some improvements. Basically OneGuide just got easier to use. Voice commands have received an upgrade and support OneGuide Picture-in-Picture. The company has also strengthened the console’s compatibility with different pieces of video and audio equipment.
Of course, watching Live TV this way on Xbox One is only great if you’ve already signed up for a cable subscription or are planning to in the future. This is the most expensive way to get live streaming channels on Xbox One.
How to Watch Live TV on Xbox One: What’s Next?
For now, Microsoft has been relatively quiet about its plans for the future of digital entertainment on Xbox One. It wasn’t always like that though. Engineers announced at Gamescom 2015 that Sling TV will be integrated directly into Xbox OneGuide. The company also announced that it will allow broadcasting of the television recording via OneGuide in the near future.
Neither feature materialized, and Microsoft isn’t expected to substantially upgrade the console until this summer. That’s when the company is expected to launch the Windows 10 Anniversary Update for Xbox One.
How to Watch Live TV on Xbox One: Quick Tips
Good luck watching Live TV on Xbox One.
