Should I change my KD-43X75WL to Google tv to stream bfi ?

[Lord_John]

I installed this tv a year ago and was quite happy with it - great picture!  It took a lot of learning to move around the menus as the tv does a lot more than my 10+ year old Panasonic tv did.  I chose not to install Google or use the Google remote control.  However when I tried recently to access the bfi streaming service in the UK I found that the tv does not recognise this service although it does support Netflix etc.  It does not have a good internet browser and it was very time consuming to connect and use the bfi service.  So I am considering a move to install Google and use the Google remote control on the tv IF this would make access to the bfi service easier AND if I were to lose nothing by making the change over.  Should I make this change?  How do I make this change?

[royabrown2]

@Lord_John 

It sort-of sounds as if you are trying to use this over a web browser?

You should go to the Play Store on the TV, where you should find the BFI Player app, which should appear because it is supports Android TVs, and your TV is an Android one.

Unless, that is, you have already done this, and it is the app that you are having issues with?

[Lord_John]

Thanks for getting back to me. What you say is encouraging.

However when I installed the tv many months ago I chose the Sony interface and not the Google interface. I cannot find Google Play Store, and I am uncertain how to install the Google interface now.

[royabrown2]

@Lord_John 

Here’s some Sony Help on the topic:-

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00226737

It certainly looks from that that you can get to the Play Store from Android TV, and you don’t have to go over to the Google side.

I don’t have a TV enough like yours to try it on, but give it a go, see where you get to.

[Lord_John]

I've sorted it, I think! 

Thanks, royabrown2.  Previously I'd used the Sony remote and found Play Store, tried to download the bfiplayer app, and then nothing happened.

I put batteries in the other supplied Sony Voice remote for the first time, and did Settings/All Settings/System/Remote control etc and got the Voice remote recognised (replacing the previous one).  Then I went back to System and chose and stepped through New Installation.  This gave me what I called a Google tv interface.  From Play Store I had a much larger choice of apps from which I chose, installed, and then opened bfiplayer.  I don't think I've lost anything except time and a number of buttons from the previous remote, some of whose funtions I think can be performed in other ways.

Why did Sony deliver two interfaces and two remote controls?  One seems enough.  Sony caused me confusion.