How to put a web page on a pub TV (with a streaming stick, an old laptop or a smart TV)

A lot of pub screen systems, quizzes and menu boards now run as a web page. That's good news, because it means you don't need special kit. If a TV can open a web page and stay on it, it can show them. If you're still deciding what kind of screen system you want, read our guide to pub digital signage first, and our post on cheap ways to put your offers on your pub TVs for the costs.

Here's how to do it three ways, from the simplest to the sturdiest, and how to stop the screen going dark halfway through the quiz.

Before you start

You need:

Internet at the TV. Wi-Fi that reaches it, or better, a network cable.
The web address of the page you want to show.
A power socket near the TV for a stick or laptop.
A spare HDMI socket on the TV.

Check the Wi-Fi where the TV actually is, not behind the bar. Stand next to the TV with your phone and load a web page. If it's slow there, it'll be slow on the TV.

Option 1: the TV's own web browser

Many smart TVs have a web browser built in.

Press Home on the TV remote and look for the browser app. It's often called Internet or Browser.
Type in the web address and press OK.
Make it full screen if the browser lets you.
Leave the TV on that page.

Good for: trying things out today with nothing to buy.

The catch: some smart TV browsers are clunky and slow, some can't run modern web pages well, and some TVs switch themselves off after a few hours. If yours does, look in the TV's settings for anything called power saving, eco mode or auto power off, and turn it off. If that doesn't fix it, move on to a stick or a laptop.

Option 2: a streaming stick

A streaming stick plugs into the TV's HDMI socket and connects to your Wi-Fi.

Plug the stick into a spare HDMI socket and into power. Use the plug it came with, not the TV's USB socket, which may not give it enough power.
Switch the TV to that HDMI input with the Source or Input button.
Follow the stick's own steps to connect to your Wi-Fi.
Open a web browser on the stick. If there isn't one, install one from its app store.
Type in the web address and make it full screen.

Which stick? We're testing sticks now and will only recommend ones we've tried in a real pub. Some newer, cheaper models run a different system and may not open web pages at all, so check the stick has a proper web browser, and try it on one screen before you buy one for every TV. Our set-up guide has our current advice.

Use a cable if you can. An Ethernet adapter plugs the stick into your router with a cable, so poor Wi-Fi doesn't drop the quiz.

Option 3: an old laptop

The sturdiest option, and often free if there's an old laptop in a drawer.

Plug the laptop into the TV with an HDMI cable, and plug the laptop into power.
Switch the TV to that HDMI input.
Open a web browser on the laptop and go to the web address.
Make it full screen. On most Windows laptops that's F11. On a Mac, it's usually Control, Command and F together, or the green button at the top left of the window.
In the laptop's power settings, set the screen and sleep to never, so it doesn't go dark mid-quiz.
If the laptop lets you choose when updates restart it, pick a time outside opening hours.

If the laptop has a network socket, plug it into your router with a cable.

Common problems and fixes

The screen goes to sleep

Check three places: the TV's own power saving settings, the stick's or laptop's sleep settings, and the screen saver. Set all of them to never or off.

The picture doesn't fill the screen

Look in the TV's picture settings for the picture size or aspect ratio, and try Fit to screen, Just scan or 16:9. The names vary by make.

The TV keeps switching input

Some TVs switch to whatever device was last turned on. If another device keeps grabbing the TV, look for an HDMI control setting on the TV (makers call it different things) and turn it off.

The page freezes or drops

Usually Wi-Fi. Move the router, add a Wi-Fi booster, or run a cable. Restarting the stick or laptop once a day before opening also helps.

People can't read it

That's not a tech problem. Stand at the furthest seat and look. If you can't read it, the text is too small or the slide is too busy. Our post on what to put on your pub TVs has tips.

Do I need a TV Licence?

If a screen shows live TV, yes. TV Licensing says any pub or bar which shows live television must be covered by a valid TV Licence. If it only ever shows a web page, check the TV Licensing website for your situation.

Every morning, a 30-second check

Before you open, walk round and look at every screen. Is it on? Is it showing the right thing? Is anything frozen? A screen showing "No signal" looks worse than a blank wall.

How StockTap TV helps

StockTap TV runs on any screen with a web browser that can get online: a smart TV, a streaming stick or an old laptop. Our set-up guide takes you through each one. Adding a screen is quick: the TV's web browser shows a 6-letter code, and you type it into your phone. No long web address to type with a TV remote. At Teal Farm we also get a text if a screen stops, so we know before the customers do. Want us to set it up for you? Founding pubs can join here, and the pricing page has the set-up offer.

Frequently asked questions

How do I show a web page on my TV?

Use the TV's own web browser if it has one, a streaming stick with a browser, or a laptop plugged in with an HDMI cable. Open the page and make it full screen.

Why does my TV keep turning off?

Most TVs have a power saving or auto power off setting that switches the TV off after a few hours. Turn it off in the TV's settings, and set any stick or laptop to never sleep.

Is Wi-Fi good enough for a pub TV screen?

Sometimes. Test the Wi-Fi next to the TV first. A network cable, or an Ethernet adapter for a streaming stick, is more reliable.

What's the best device for a pub TV screen?

An old laptop is the sturdiest. A streaming stick with a good browser is the neatest. A smart TV's own browser is the cheapest to try. Test before you buy several.

Sources

TV Licensing: Pub landlords urged to check TV Licences
TV Licensing: Check if you need a TV Licence

We checked every source on 24 October 2026. Rules change, so check the latest version before you act. Nothing here is legal advice.