Getting the Most from Multiview

Some evenings, one screen is not enough. Two things you care about overlap, or you want to keep an eye on one channel while watching another. Multiview is Rock Player's answer: it lets you watch several screens at once on a single display.

This guide covers when Multiview is useful, how to set it up comfortably and how to keep it running smoothly.

When Multiview shines

Multiview is at its best when you want awareness of more than one thing without constantly switching channels.

• Overlapping programmes. Two things you want to follow, both live at the same time.
• Keeping an eye on something. A main programme in focus, with another channel playing alongside.
• Shared rooms. Two people in the same room who each want to follow something different.

Setting up a Multiview session

The exact layout depends on your device and screen, but the flow is simple:

1. Start watching the first channel you want.
2. Open Multiview.
3. Add the other channel or channels you want to see.
4. Choose which screen should have focus.

Use your remote's arrow keys to move between screens and the select button to change focus.

Getting the sound right

Several pictures at once is easy on the eyes; several soundtracks at once is not. In Multiview, it is best to listen to one screen at a time. Move the focus to whichever screen you want to hear and switch as needed.

A good habit: keep the sound on the programme where you would most regret missing a moment, and let the others play silently.

Choosing the right screen

Multiview is designed for the big screen, where there is room for several pictures to stay readable.

• On a large TV, several screens remain clear and comfortable from the sofa.
• On a smaller TV, fewer screens tend to be more comfortable.
• On a phone, a single focused stream is often the more relaxing choice.

Keep the connection steady

Several streams at once ask more of your home network than one. To keep everything smooth:

• Use ethernet if you can. A wired connection is usually the steadiest option for a TV or streaming box.
• Give the TV a clear line to the router. Walls, cabinets and other electronics can weaken Wi-Fi.
• Pause large downloads. Game updates or big file transfers on other devices share the same connection.
• Restart your router occasionally. A quick restart can clear up a sluggish home network.

If one screen hesitates while others play smoothly, reduce the number of screens and see whether things settle.

Multiview and device plans

Multiview plays several screens on one device, which is different from watching on several devices. If you need separate devices watching in separate rooms, that is what multi-device plans are for. As our FAQ puts it:

One subscription is for one device at a time. You can log in on two devices, but you can watch on only one device at a time.

See all device options on our pricing section.

Combine Multiview with other features

With the TV Guide

Use the TV Guide to spot overlaps in advance. If two things you care about air at the same time, that is a perfect Multiview evening.

With Favourites

Keeping your regular channels in Favourites makes it much faster to add them to a Multiview session.

With Recordings

If you would rather give one programme your full attention, set a recording for the other and watch it later instead.

A few ideas to try

• The background screen. Keep a news-style channel quietly in a corner while you watch something else in focus.
• Side-by-side comparison. Follow two live programmes at once and switch the sound to whichever becomes more interesting.
• The shared sofa. Two viewers, two screens, one TV - with sound switching between them by agreement.

If something feels off

• One screen is blank. Give it a moment to load, then try adding the channel again.
• The picture stutters. Reduce the number of screens, then check your connection.
• The sound is on the wrong screen. Move the focus to the screen you want to hear.

Watch more, switch less

Multiview is included with every Rock Player plan. Get the app at /get, or compare plans at /#pricing and start streaming solid like a rock.