TVCatchup was a popular streaming service that featured free-to-watch streams from some of the UK’s most popular channels. It’s no longer available, though, and neither is Transponder.tv, the addon that the Kodi Wiki suggests using instead. So what other options are available, and is it still possible to watch British TV with Kodi?
Below, we’ll walk you through our favorite Kodi addons for live streaming, all of which are available from the official repo. We’ll also explain exactly why you should avoid third-party addons and give you a taste of the content that’s available from legitimate, properly-licensed Kodi addons.
Warning: Kodi should only be used for content to which you have the legal right to access. Neither the Kodi Foundation nor Comparitech advocates the use of Kodi for piracy.
Important: Always use a VPN with Kodi
Did you know that your internet service provider can see exactly what you get up to online? Even if you’re okay with the privacy issues this raises, many providers throttle the speeds of users who stream or torrent, meaning it’s in your best interests to keep your activities hidden.
The easiest way to do this is by connecting to a Virtual Private Network (VPN). These encrypt your data, shielding your activities from snoopers like hackers, your ISP, or your employer. This makes it less likely that you’ll experience throttling too, so it’s a win-win situation.
We recommend using NordVPN. It boasts some of the highest speeds we’ve seen and offers a wide range of security features. What’s more, this VPN comes with its own Amazon Fire TV app, making it a great choice for Kodi users.
WANT TO TRY THE TOP VPN RISK FREE?
NordVPN is offering a fully-featured risk-free 30-day trial if you sign up at this page. You can use the VPN rated #1 for Kodi with no restrictions for a month. In other words, it's perfect for anyone looking to try before they buy.
There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn't right for you and you'll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.
What was the TVCatchup Kodi addon?
Kodi’s TVCatchup addon allowed users to stream more than 30 British TV channels for free. The quality was decent but not HD, and there wasn’t any on-demand content available. In other words, while convenient, TVCatchup certainly had room for improvement.
The best alternatives to TVCatchup for Kodi
Here’s the good news: there are plenty of official Kodi addons that provide a similar experience to TVCatchup. All of the addons below are compatible with Kodi 20+, come in the official repo, and have been confirmed to work at the time of writing.
Note that due to British law, you’ll need a valid TV license to watch any live-streaming content at the same time as it’s shown on TV.Â
iPlayer WWW
If you’re from the UK, you already know all about BBC iPlayer. This platform offers access to thousands of hours of TV, as well as over a dozen live channels. Better still, it’s free to use! There is a caveat, though: BBC iPlayer is the only streaming service where a TV license is needed to stream on-demand content.
So what can you watch using the iPlayer WWW addon? Here’s are some of the iPlayer’s top titles:
-
- Call the Midwife
- Dragon’s Den
- Eastenders
- Happy Valley
- Doctor Who
- Line of Duty
- The Traitors
- The Graham Norton Show
Catch-up TV & More
Catch-up TV & More doesn’t limit itself to British content. In fact, it offers live streaming TV from almost two dozen countries. Currently, users can watch nearly 30 channels live, including Dave, STV, Yesterday, Drama, and Sky News. There’s also a small selection of on-demand content, though this is constantly replaced so if you see something you like, it’s best to watch it quickly.
Here are just a few of the shows that were available at the time of writing:
- Storage Wars Canada
- Ancient Aliens
- Coronation Street
- Emmerdale
- Dancing on Ice
- Sherlock
- The Chase
- Loose Women
Pluto.TV
Pluto TV is a little bit different in that it doesn’t have the same channels you’d find on TV. Instead, it has over 150 completely free live streams catering to every kind of viewer. There’s a channel exclusively devoted to Starsky and Hutch, for instance, or if you get bored of that, you can swap over to one of the channels dedicated to sports, movies, or documentaries.
Naturally, the lineup changes all the time. However, here’s some of what was airing when we tested Pluto TV:
- Judge Judy
- Mad Men
- Hell’s Kitchen
- Unsolved Mysteries
- Kim’s Convenience
- Degrassi: The Next Generation
- Masterchef Australia
- Police Interceptors
Streaming live TV on Kodi: FAQs
Is it legal to live stream on Kodi?
This really depends on the addons you’re using and whether they get their content from properly-licensed sources. For instance, if you’re using an addon from the official Kodi repo, you’ll have to log in before you can access anything that can’t legally be watched for free online.
Third-party addon repositories, on the other hand, frequently include addons designed to faciliate piracy. These aren’t legal in most places and to make matters worse, they’re often infected with cryptominers or other malware. That’s why we recommend avoiding them and sticking to official addons.
Disclaimer: Although we’ve spent hours researching this topic, we are not legal experts. As such, nothing we’ve said above should be taken as legal advice. We encourage you to consult local laws before attempting to use Kodi if you’re in any doubt as to its legality in your country.
What kind of content can I watch on Kodi?
Kodi has a thriving addon development community, and its users have created addons for all kinds of things. For instance, you can stream live TV, catch up on sports, or settle down with a movie. There are even official addons that only feature child-friendly content in case you’re trying to keep the kids busy for a while.
Can I watch British TV abroad?
Unfortunately, most streaming services are geographically restricted. This means that they’re only available in specific countries, and will not function properly if you go abroad. There are essentially two options here: either wait until you return home or use a VPN to spoof your location and regain access.