An older television without apps is not a barrier to watching streamed sport. Any TV with an HDMI port — which means essentially anything sold in the last fifteen years — can display a stream. There are three ways to do it and they suit quite different situations.

Option 1: HDMI cable from a phone or laptop

The most direct approach. Connect the device to the television and the TV becomes a monitor.

From a laptop this is genuinely simple. Most laptops have HDMI, or USB-C that carries video with an adapter. Plug in, select the input on the TV, and choose whether to mirror or extend the display.

From a phone it is less predictable. The phone's USB-C port must support video output, and many mid-range handsets do not. If yours does, a USB-C to HDMI adapter works. If it does not, no adapter will fix it — the capability is absent from the hardware.

Advantages. No network involvement at all, so nothing to buffer between device and screen. Lowest possible latency. Nothing extra to buy if you already have the cable.

Drawbacks. The device is tethered to the television and unusable for anything else. Cable length limits seating. Phones drain quickly while outputting video, so keep them charging.

Best for an occasional match where you already have a laptop nearby.

Option 2: Casting

Casting sends the television a link rather than the video itself. Your phone tells the receiver what to play, and the receiver fetches the stream directly over your network. Your phone is then free.

This distinction matters. True casting does not relay video through your handset, so battery drain is modest and quality does not depend on your phone's connection.

Screen mirroring is different and worse. Mirroring captures whatever is on your phone display and transmits it continuously. It is higher latency, lower quality, and drains the battery fast. Apps that do not implement casting properly fall back to mirroring — if the picture has visible lag behind your phone and the handset warms up, that is what is happening.

Advantages. Cheap. Phone stays usable. Anyone visiting can cast from their own device.

Drawbacks. Everything depends on the phone. If it leaves the room or rings, control goes with it. Both devices must be on the same network, which is a common failure point when a phone silently sits on mobile data.

Best for households already watching mostly on phones who want an occasional big-screen option.

Option 3: A streaming stick or box

A small device plugged into HDMI that runs apps itself and comes with a remote. This effectively converts an old television into a smart one.

Advantages. The television becomes self-contained — no phone or laptop needed. A proper remote makes switching between simultaneous matches far quicker than reaching for a handset. The device can be left permanently connected and simply switched to.

Drawbacks. Costs money, though not much. Requires initial setup. Cheap underpowered models stutter on high-bitrate sport regardless of connection quality.

Best for anyone watching sport regularly. It is the option that stops feeling like a workaround.

What to check before buying anything

  • Spare HDMI port. Older televisions sometimes have only one or two, already occupied.
  • Power for the stick. Most need USB power. Some televisions supply enough from their own USB port; many do not, and an underpowered stick reboots randomly. Use the supplied mains adapter if in doubt.
  • Wi-Fi signal at the TV. The television is often the furthest point from the router. Check signal strength there, not where you happen to be standing.
  • Physical clearance. Wall-mounted sets can leave no room for a stick to plug in straight. A short HDMI extender solves this and is usually included.

Getting a wired connection to an old TV

Wired networking is the single biggest improvement available for live sport, and it is achievable even with a stick that has no Ethernet port. Many support a USB Ethernet adapter, which is inexpensive. If running a cable across the room is impractical, powerline adapters send the network over your electrical wiring and are usually far more stable than distant Wi-Fi, though performance depends on your circuit layout.

Which to choose

If you watch sport most weeks, buy a streaming stick — the convenience of a dedicated remote outweighs the modest cost almost immediately.

If this is occasional and you own a laptop, use the HDMI cable. It costs nothing, adds no latency, and there is nothing to configure.

If your household already watches on phones and the television is a bonus rather than the main screen, casting is the natural fit.

Whichever you pick, sort out the network connection at the television before worrying about resolution settings. A wired 720p stream beats a wireless 1080p one that cannot hold its bitrate.