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Question

Are Samsung blocking free live streaming sites on Smart TV?

Jul 12, 2013 2:23AM PDT

Hi
I have been having problems with the Samsung Smart TV browser on live streaming sites such as Coolsport, VIP Box and First Row.
I've always had to mess about closing ads and stuff before the stream is operational but now the Samsung browser often freezes, particularly on Coolsports, when trying to open a stream from the Schedule page.

I usually have to exit the browser and sometimes even turn off the TV to regain control.

I have the latest TV firmware and have cleared all browsing data, turned on and off Adblocker, Popup blocker etc.

The same websites work perfectly on my laptop, using the same internet connection, so I assume it's the Samsung browser or server which is the problem.

These sites worked OK on the TV until recently so I'm wondering if Samsung is blocking them.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Back to those sites and find
Jul 12, 2013 3:26AM PDT
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Are Samsung blocking free live streaming sites on Smart TV?
Jul 12, 2013 5:41AM PDT

Thanks for your reply, Bob.

I checked out the link but I think the limitations of the browser referred to there are more to do with lack of memory. I have had that issue, too, and, as you probably know, it is not possible to upgrade the TV's memory, which is ridiculous.

When I first got the TV, it was impossible to live stream any flash video.
The various updates to the browser solved this problem and, although still irritatingly buggy, it did function reasonably well, except for frequently running out of memory.

The reason for my question is that the websites in question used to work with the browser but don't anymore.

I will contact the sites' concerned and see what they say. I have also contacted Samsung UK Support.

I'd be interested to hear other people's experiences.

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My experience is simply as given.
Jul 12, 2013 8:13AM PDT

The web site has to test and cater to the limits in the browser. Lockups, failures and more happen if any of the limits are broached or even gets near to the edge.

It's not a PC so the workaround is for the site to work on a Smart TV application. If you want to know where to start doing that it's over at http://developer.samsung.com and yes I've gone to some of those but not for the TV as that's not the office's market.

Good luck,
Bob

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Samsung Browser problems
Jul 12, 2013 9:51PM PDT

I got a reply from Samsung support:

Thank you for contacting Samsung Customer Support.

I am sorry you are having this issue when using your web browser William and I understand that this can be frustrating for you.

Please be advised that this is not a fault with the browser. Your web browser is basic and so software such as Adobe Flash Player, Java etc are not supported.

I do apologise about this.

If there is anything else we can help with, please let us know.

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I see they noted the same. It's a basic browser.
Jul 13, 2013 2:53AM PDT

And it's really basic. On top of that, as a web site may update it's video encoding it may outstrip what this basic browser can do.

This is why the site must test on Smart TVs if they want that audience.
Bob

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Fudge
Jun 26, 2014 12:55AM PDT

I finally got to the website I was wanting to watch some live streaming from and got excited. Then I got the black screen when I clicked on the video. I was afraid this was the answer.

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Flash player samsung smart tv
Oct 12, 2015 12:41AM PDT

Dont loose hopes, there may be a way. I will try installing flash to the smart tv with a thumb drive and see if that might do it. I have recently done the same to my galaxy note 4(lolipop). It was not streaming from a web that I watch a lot of live stream which requires flash, so I installed it on downloaded Firefox fox android enabled plug-in and made it default browser for flash and and installed a media player. Now i dont expect that simple instalation can do it, but with enough tweek it might work.
Any advice is appreciated
Thanks

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Samsung is now writing Flash is no more.
Oct 12, 2015 8:46AM PDT

It's up on their web site on many models now.

The web sites need to get off Flash.