If you're used to relying on your old TV set to watch ITV channels, you might be surprised to know that you're actually able to keep up to date with the various channels using the power of the internet, and it's all thanks to ITVX.
ITV's streaming service ITVX plays host to a large library of movies, TV shows and documentaries, including its own and also ones its licensed to broadcast in the UK. It also boasts the ability to stream live ITV channels over the internet.
All you need to do this is an internet connection and a device that runs ITVX: you can use a smart TV, phone, computer, tablet or streaming dongle like an Amazon Fire TV Stick.
Want to know how? Read on.
How to watch live TV on ITVX on a computer
If you're on a computer or laptop, the first thing you'll need to do is head to the ITVX website, which you can find by clicking here.
From the main landing page, look in the top-left corner of the screen to where it says 'Live'. Click on this.
You'll be taken to the live TV page — along the side you'll be able to see the different channels, so select the one you want to watch. Then, press 'Watch Live' to begin streaming. Nice and easy!
How to watch live TV on ITVX on a smart TV
Some smart TVs can download ITVX and use it to watch live TV on a smart TV (which will obviously only be useful if your smart TV can't, for whatever reason, watch broadcast channels). Since there are many different smart TVs on the market, our instructions will be broad.
Firstly, you'll need to download the ITVX app, via whatever route you normally download streaming apps from: perhaps your TV has an app gallery, or maybe new apps can be downloaded from the home page.
Once you're in the app, you'll see the main preview of the channel, with a menu down the left side of the screen. By default you'll be on the top one, marked with a little home icon — you'll want the one below that, which is a play button housed in a TV icon. Scroll down to select this.
The next screen may look a little confusing (at least, compared to the equivalent menus you'd see by using any other strategy in this article). The rows on this page are for different channels, while the columns are for the schedule and shows that are coming up.
Scroll up or down to find the channel you want to watch, and select it to play — the extra listings are simply so you know what's coming up in the future.
How to watch live TV on ITVX on a smartphone
If you're planning to watch live ITV channels on your smartphone, you'll first need to download the ITVX app. If you've got an iPhone, you can find the App Store listing here, and if you use Android, you can find the Play Store listing here.
Once the app is downloaded, using it to find live TV is simple. Just open it up, and press Live TV at the bottom of the screen.
The menu that opens will list all the channels along the top, so you can select which channel you want, and then simply select Watch Live to... well, watch live.
How to watch live TV on ITVX on a PS4 or PS5
Unfortunately, there's no ITV Hub app on PlayStations. However, there is a workaround that some people might choose to use.
You see, there's actually an ITV Prime Video channel, which includes lots of the ITVX's streaming catalog as well as live TV, which you can find here.
The catch? Well, as well as an Amazon Prime account, you'll need to pay extra for this ITV Catch-Up channel, as it costs £3.99 per month after a 7-day free trial. Since a Prime account already costs £8.99 each month, that means you'll be paying £12.98 per month for a service that's free on other platforms.
So we'd recommend you avoid using a PS4 or PS5 to stream live TV on the ITV Hub if possible, and even buying a smart TV dongle like an Amazon Fire stick would quickly prove better value for money (these affordable devices turn your standard TV into a smart TV, which in this case would give you free access to the ITV Hub).
Could the ITV Hub come to Sony's gaming consoles in the future? Well, it sounds like ITV is working on it, but that's been the case for a while, and there's not been recent news on any changes in that department.
How to watch live TV on ITV Hub on Xbox Series X/S / One
To watch live ITV on your Xbox, you can, as long as you have a current-gen or previous-gen one (that's Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X and Xbox One). Unfortunately, older Xboxes aren't officially supported.
First, you'll need to download the ITVX app, which you can do via the Microsoft Store. Then, open it up.
Next, you'll need to find the live TV open icon — this is a cartoon TV with a play arrow inside. Select this and you'll find a listing of all the channels available to you, so find the one you want and select it to start streaming.
ITVX live TV FAQs
Is it free to watch live TV on the ITVX?
Sort of.
While you don't need to pay money to use ITVX's free tier, which allows live TV streaming, you do need to be a license fee payer to do so.
Do I need an ITV account to watch live TV on the ITVX?
Yes: you'll need to be signed in to your ITV account on your device to use any of these methods.
To sign in, or make an account, simply follow this link. It's quick and easy and, most importantly, free.
Can I watch any show on live TV on the ITVX?
Unfortunately not.
According to ITV, for legal reasons, the channel doesn't always have the rights to air its shows online as well as on live TV.
In these circumstances, ITVX will tell you that the show can't be streamed live online. Sorry!
Can you watch live TV on the ITVX outside the UK?
If you're going to be away from home but still want to watch ITV online, you might run into some problems. Thankfully, you'll be able to solve this exact issue with a Virtual Private Network (a VPN).
However, it's worth pointing out that the ITV Hub is one of the most stringent streaming services when it comes to VPNs, so using one to stream live TV could be a risky endeavor. If you really want to watch an ITV show outside of the UK, we'd recommend seeing if any networks in your area are showing it.
