Using Your Remote Control
Using Your Remote Control
Your BetterTV remote has many buttons and functions. Let's break it down.
Freeview Explore
- Opens Freeview's app hub with live and catch-up shows. 
NetGem TV button
- Opens your My TV area which is your personal space with favourites, last watched and recordings.
Record button
- records your favourite show so you never have to miss a thing. You will need to have a live Freeview channel playing for the record key to work. A USB stick must inserted into the back of the set-top box before you start using the recording feature. Learn how to setup your USB.
TV Guide button
- Opens TV Guide to display the programme schedule for each channel. Channels between 1 and 830 require an aerial to view, while 831 - 999 use your internet connection.
Home button
- Opens the FreeviewPlay area on your set-top box. Returns you to the main menu. Also works as an exit key. Find out more about 'FreeviewPlay' here.
Navigating Your BetterTV
Navigating Your BetterTV
Your Better TV service has different areas at the top of your screen.
Use ⏪ and ⏩ on your remote to switch between them.
My TV - your personalised area with recommendations, favourite channels, last watched on-demand and recordings.
Extra Channels - all of the 130+ internet-based channels are found here, channels are grouped by genre and displayed as individual rows
Search - find specific shows or movies you want to watch. If you have an Alexa device paired with your set-top box, you can use voice commands to improve your searching experience.
All apps - you'll find all available applications here, grouped by the theme and mentioned at the top of each row. You can’t download new ones, but we update and add new apps regularly.
Games- Play over 30 simple games using your remote control.
Recordings – manage your saved shows here
Settings - your go-to for troubleshooting (e.g. missing channels, box resets), managing features like recordings, display, accessibility, and parental controls, plus pairing instructions for the mobile app and Alexa.
Searching for a Show or Movie
Searching for a Show or Movie
Not sure where to find your show? Use Search.
Press the magnifying glass button on your remote and use the arrow to input your show's name and select GO
Results will show On Demand, Live and Coming Soon shows.
If you have Alex paired you can also use voice command on the search feature. Find out the voice commands you can use with your Alexa.
To unpair your Alexa from your Better TV device, simply disable on the Amazon Alexa app from your mobile. To pair your Alexa to your Better TV device again, enable on your device app and follow the pairing procedure.
BetterTV Accessible TV Guide
BetterTV Accessible TV Guide
The Accessible TV Guide can be found on channel number 555. You can filter programmes down to those that have audio description (AD), subtitles (S) and/or sign language (SL).
Text-to-speech option allows you to covert audio description/screen readings into spoken words. You can customise the voice gender to male or female. For screen reading, you can select the speed at which text is displayed.
Once you have selected your options, press done to save them and continue to the programme guide. A list of programmes are provided for each channel and depending on the options selected earlier, you can see whether the programme has one or more accessibility features.
Setting up Alexa voice command
Setting up Alexa voice command
Connect your Alexa device to control your BetterTV with voice commands for hands-free entertainment.
Before you start
Make sure you have: An Alexa-enabled device (Echo, Echo Dot, etc.) and the Amazon Alexa app installed on your phone.
Check your network: Both devices need to be connected to the same WiFi network for voice control to work properly.
Connecting Alexa
On your BetterTV device:
Go to Settings on your BetterTV device
Choose Alexa Voice Control under Accessibility & Voice Control
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete pairing
On your Alexa app: The setup process will guide you through enabling the BetterTV skill in your Alexa app and linking your accounts.
Test the connection
Try a simple command like "Alexa, change channel to BBC One" to test if everything is working properly.
Look for the blue ring in the top-left corner of your TV screen when Alexa is listening for commands.
Alexa voice command list
Alexa voice command list
How do you use the Alexa voice commands on your device?
Your Alexa voice control has been made easier by simply asking for the right command e.g 'Alexa go to BBC One'
Below is a list of commands that Alexa responds to:
To go to a channel:
Alexa, 'Go to BBC One',
Alexa, 'Tune to Channel 103'
To search for a programme, movie or show:
Alexa, 'Search EastEnders'
Alexa, 'Find programme called Frasier'
Alexa, 'Search for Peppa Pig'
To watch Live TV programme:
Alexa, 'Watch Homes Under the Hammer'
To play content from an available app in the Hubs:
Alexa, 'Play Grand Tour'
To launch an App:
Alexa, 'Launch Amazon Prime Video'
Alexa, 'Go to Netflix'
Alexa, 'Start BBC iPlayer'
To 'Pause' or 'Play':
Alexa, 'Pause'
Alexa, 'Play'
To access the 'TV Guide':
Alexa, 'Go to Guide'
To change the volume:
Alexa, 'Mute' or 'Unmute'
Alexa, 'Set volume to 40'
To navigate the box's UI:
Alexa, move left
Alexa, move right
Alexa, move down
Alexa, move up
Alexa, select