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Michael Phillips at BroadbandChoices

How do I connect my PC to my TV?

Dear Michael, I’ve just bought a new high-definition TV and want to hook it up to my PC so I can watch the BBC iPlayer on a big screen. How do I do this?

Richard, via email on 05 October 2010

Our Broadband Expert says...

One of the great things about the new generation of high-definition (HD) television sets is how easy they are to hook up to your computer, your digital camera and even your mobile phone.

Connecting your TV to your computer is really easy if you use a HDMI cable, which will also allow you to watch all your favourite programmes on catch-up TV in super sharp high-definition.

Simply plug one end of the HDMI cable into your TV and the other end into your laptop or computer. However, if you have an older PC, it might not have a HDMI port, in which case you would have to use a VGA cable, coupled with an audio cable for the sound.

TV through a games console

Today’s games consoles, such as the Nintendo Wii, the Xbox 360 and the Sony PS3 all do so much more than simply let you play games.

Wii users can stream the BBC iPlayer, while Xbox 360 users can stream Sky (www.Sky.com) content via their console to watch directly on their TV.

As well as access to Sky TV, PS3 users can also watch catch-up episodes from Channel 4’s 4oD service - and can even play Blu-ray discs on their console, allowing them to watch the latest blockbusters in HD. YouTube and the BBC iPlayer can also be accessed via the console’s browser.

How to

Catch-up direct to your TV

All Virgin Media (www.Virginmedia.com) customers can enjoy BBC iPlayer catch-up direct to their TV - without even being connected to the internet. As a Virgin Media cable TV customer you also get access to 4oD and the ITV Player, as well as a wide range of other on-demand and catch-up content.

In addition to its popular digital TV service, Virgin Media customers also get some of the most reliable broadband speeds in the country. It offers speeds of up to 10Mb, 20Mb broadband and a 50Mb broadband package - delivering much faster actual speeds than its copper wire ADSL competitors.

Customers signed up to TV and broadband rival Sky can watch a selection of on-demand and catch-up programmes via its online Sky Player service.

Compare digital TV bundles

   

 
 Broadband: 30Mb + Phone: M + TV: M+ TV Essential + More Broadband and Calls Everyday Lite + Entertainment TV + Talk Freetime 
Monthly charge£10.00
(for 6 months)
Free installation
Ends soon
£13.00
(for 3 months)
£25 Gift Card
Ends soon
£20.00
£25 voucher
Ends soon
Speed (up to)30Mb16Mb14Mb
Usage limitUnlimited40GB2GB
Contract length18 months18 months12 months
Call Virgin Media on
0808 189 0514
 
Call Sky on
0844 241 1407
Line rental£166.80£175.20£147.00
Call rates
Day
8.68p
Evening
8.68p
Weekend
Free
Day
7.95p
Evening
Free
Weekend
Free
Day
7.60p
Evening
Free
Weekend
Free
TV package information
  • 65+ channels and on demand entertainment
  • Access on demand content on V box
  • Catch up on a selection of shows from the last 7 days
  • 1000's of hours of on demand entertainment
  • Record 80 hours of TV on Vision+ box
  • HD on demand content available
  • 200+ TV and radio channels
  • Record 185 hours of TV on Sky+HD
  • Free to air HD channels include BBC HD, ITV HD and Channel 4 HD

NB Best buy tables (orange background) are always current.

Examples in the text of the article (white background) are correct at time of publication.

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12 months half price broadband form TalkTalk
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