Are You Managing TVs and Streaming Services the Right Way in Your Short-Term Rental?

In this Hosting Hotline episode, listener Amy from Canada brings up an increasingly important topic for short-term rental hosts: how to handle TVs and streaming services in a way that enhances the guest experience while staying secure and easy to manage.

It’s not just about mounting a screen and calling it a day. From TV placement to app logins, this episode breaks down what you need to consider when building your property’s in-home entertainment plan.

Here are a few key takeaways for hosts:

1. TV Placement Is Part of the Guest Experience
While some hosts may choose to limit TVs to the living room, guests often expect to have a TV in every bedroom—especially when traveling with others. Whether it’s couples wanting to unwind separately or kids watching a movie while the adults relax, hosts should consider TVs as part of a hospitality-first setup. With screen prices more affordable than ever, this is a small investment that can improve guest satisfaction and reduce booking hesitation.

2. Don’t Overpromise Streaming Access
When it comes to apps, simpler is better. If you only offer Netflix, make that clear in your listing. If your property is in a sports-heavy market or you’re marketing to families, it might be worth offering Disney+, Hulu Live, or YouTube TV seasonally or year-round. Align your subscriptions with your guest demographics—and don’t forget to audit your costs.

3. Security and Simplicity Go Hand-in-Hand
Worried about guests making purchases or leaving their logins behind? Use TV settings to add PIN protection for purchases, and make it part of your turnover checklist to log out of any accounts after each stay. Whether you or your inspector does this, it should become as routine as checking smoke detectors or WiFi connections.

4. Streamline with SOPs
Standard operating procedures are your best defense against tech-related guest issues. Ensure that your team checks that TVs are connected to WiFi, remotes are working, batteries are fresh, and the right accounts are logged in or out as needed. Three minutes of work during turnover can save you from hours of support requests later.

5. Bonus Tip: Train Guests Too
Include a friendly reminder in your checkout instructions to log out of their streaming accounts. This small nudge helps protect their information—and reinforces your professionalism as a host.

Whether you’re hosting in a mountain cabin, an urban studio, or a beach house, this episode is your reminder that a thoughtful approach to TVs and streaming is a simple way to stand out—and protect your sanity.

Have More Questions? We’d love to hear from you! Submit your hosting questions to the Hosting Hotline and tune in to the podcast for answers. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for more tips: @thanksforvisiting_.

Download a transcript of this episode.

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