Sign in with your TV provider: how it works

What "sign in with TV provider" means

Some apps, mostly those from TV networks and sports channels, are included with a pay-TV subscription. When you open one on a TV or streaming device, it may ask you to sign in with your TV provider. Your "TV provider" is the company you pay for TV channels: a cable, satellite or fibre TV company, and in many apps also a live TV streaming service that carries the channel.

The app does not have its own account in this case. It checks with your provider that your package includes the channel, and then unlocks the content. That is why the login you need is the one for your provider account, not a password for the network app.

It is different from the usual activation code process for subscription apps, where you sign in to your account with the streaming service itself. Both often use a code, but the account behind the code is different.

How to sign in with your TV provider on a TV

1. Open the app on your TV and choose Sign in with TV provider, or a similar option such as "Connect your TV provider". It may also appear when you try to play a locked video.
2. Note the activation code and web address that appear. Some apps show a QR code too.
3. On your phone or computer, open that address or scan the QR code, and check that it is the network's own website.
4. Enter the code exactly as shown.
5. Pick your provider from the list. If it is not shown, use the search box on that page.
6. Log in on your provider's own sign-in page with your provider username and password, the same account you use to view your bill or manage your service online.
7. Wait for the TV to refresh. After a few seconds the app should show that your provider is connected.

The code step works the same way as any other app; see how to enter an activation code for a detailed walk-through or sign in with a QR code if the app shows one.

Single sign-on on Apple TV, iPhone and iPad

Apple devices can remember your provider for supported apps, so you do not have to repeat the code step in each one. Apple calls this single sign-on:

• Apple TV: Apple's guide places it under Settings > Profiles and Accounts > TV Provider (older tvOS versions use Users and Accounts), where you choose Sign In and log in with your provider account. If you have more than one Apple TV, Apple says you sign in once on each.
• iPhone and iPad: open Settings and tap TV Provider. Apple notes you can be signed in with only one TV provider at a time.
• Not every provider takes part. If yours does not support single sign-on, Apple explains that the provider is saved, but you still sign in to each app separately. Some providers also support "zero sign-on", which signs you in automatically on their home internet.

Apple's pages: set up single sign-on on Apple TV, sign in with your TV provider on iPhone or iPad, and use your pay TV or cable provider with Apple TV. For the rest of the Apple TV app activation process, see our Apple TV guide.

Why TV provider sign-in fails, and what to check

• Your provider is not in the list. Each network has its own agreements with providers, so not every provider is supported in every app. If yours is missing, the app cannot be unlocked with that provider. Check the network's help page for the current list.
• "Not authorised" or "not included in your package". Your package may not include that channel, even if you have other channels from the same company. Your provider's account pages show what your plan includes.
• You do not know your provider login. It is the online account for your TV service, not your email password or the network app. Reset it on your provider's own website or app, then try again.
• The account is a secondary user. Some providers limit what additional users on an account can unlock. Try the main account holder's login, or check the user permissions in your provider account.
• The code expired. Go back in the TV app to get a new code and complete the steps straight away.
• The browser blocks the sign-in. Provider log-ins often move between two websites. Use a normal browser window instead of a private window or an app's built-in browser, and allow pop-ups for the page if asked.
• Content is limited by location. Some providers or channels only allow certain content, such as live channels, on your home network or in your home region. Try again from home.
• You were signed out after a while. Provider sign-ins can expire and need repeating. That is normal; repeat the steps above.

More general fixes are in our activation code not working checklist.

Can you sign in with a TV provider without cable?

Only if you have some form of pay-TV service that the app accepts. In many apps that includes live TV streaming services as well as traditional cable and satellite. Without any provider, some networks offer a limited selection of free content or a short preview, and some offer their own paid streaming subscription instead. A provider sign-in itself never costs extra; it only confirms the package you already pay for.

Where to get help

Use the help pages of the network app for app problems, and your TV provider's own website or app for login, password and package questions. For device steps, see our guides for Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Samsung TV and LG TV.