It's Not Just a TV...

Guest expectations around in-room entertainment have changed dramatically. Five years ago, most guests expected live TV channels and basic connectivity. Today, they expect instant access to their own streaming accounts, seamless casting from their devices, and interfaces that work like home. The bar has shifted — and many hotel TV systems weren't designed for it.

In-room TVs occupy an unusual position in hospitality: they're supposed to be invisible infrastructure, yet they're one of the first things guests interact with. When they work, nobody really notices. When they don't, it quickly becomes a front desk conversation.

The expectation is simple. Guests want to turn on the TV and find what they're looking for — whether that's live channels, a streaming service, or casting from their phone. But in practice, many hotels are running systems that can't reliably or consistently deliver this.

What Goes Wrong?

The underlying issue is often invisible to guests. Some properties still operate with domestic-grade TVs, unmanaged distribution networks, or installations pieced together over time without central oversight. These systems weren't designed for the demands of hospitality: high usage, multi-site consistency, security and secure data handling, or remote management.

What should be a low-maintenance amenity becomes a recurring operational problem. Engineering teams spend time firefighting. Front desks absorb complaints. And because TV issues are highly visible to guests, they're disproportionately memorable.

 

 

The Hidden Costs

Beyond the immediate guest experience, poorly designed TV systems create friction in less obvious ways.

Proprietary installations make future upgrades difficult or expensive. Lack of central management means changes have to be made room by room. Data security gaps — particularly around casting and smart features — expose the hotel to privacy risks. And inconsistent setups across a portfolio undermine brand standards.

These aren't theoretical concerns. They're the reality of trying to operate hospitality infrastructure without the right tools.

 

Why Hospitality Systems Are Different

The difference isn't about adding more features. It's about designing the system around how hotels actually operate.

That starts with commercial-grade displays, backed by warranties that reflect multi-year deployments. It extends to central management platforms that allow changes to be rolled out across a portfolio without site visits. And it includes secure casting protocols that automatically clear guest data between stays.

Distribution networks need to be designed for the occupancy patterns of a hotel, not a house. Interfaces should be intuitive enough that guests don't need instructions. Branding should be consistent across every screen in every property.

And crucially, the entire system needs to be documented and supported as a single installation — not a collection of components that different contractors are responsible for.

 

Fewer Calls, Fewer Failures...

When a TV system is designed properly, it stops generating work. Fewer support calls. Fewer maintenance callouts. Fewer guest complaints. Technology that purrs in the background and supports the guest experience rather than detracting from it.

This isn't about upselling or adding amenities. It's about getting the basics right: reliable infrastructure, consistent delivery, and systems that scale without creating operational overhead.

For hotels managing multiple properties, the difference is particularly stark. A centrally managed system means changes can be made once and applied everywhere. New branding, updated channel lineups, or system-wide adjustments that would previously require site visits can be handled remotely.

 

Why Guests Now Expect More

The shift in how people consume content has fundamentally changed what hotels need to deliver.

Broadcast TV is no longer the default. Guests expect instant access to their Netflix, Disney+, or Prime accounts — not a curated selection of hotel-provided content. They expect to consume content the way they do at home. They expect easy or familiar interfaces, not proprietary systems that require instructions.

This isn't a luxury expectation. It's standard. The comparison point isn't the last hotel they stayed at — it's their living room.

And this shift makes infrastructure more important, not less.

Streaming and casting demand secure data handling. Guest login credentials need to be automatically cleared between stays. Casting protocols need to work reliably without exposing previous users' accounts. These aren't problems you solve with better TVs — you solve them with properly designed systems.

Personalisation requires central management. When guests expect to access their own content, consistency across a portfolio becomes critical. Every room needs to deliver the same experience. Updates and changes need to happen centrally, not room by room.

The expectations have shifted, but the infrastructure in many hotels hasn't. That's the gap. And it's why getting TV systems right in 2026 requires more than just mounting screens on walls.

Meeting that expectation doesn't require cutting-edge technology. It requires hospitality-grade infrastructure, designed and installed by people who understand how hotels operate, not just how TVs work...

 

Airwave Can Help...

We design and manage TV systems for hotels across the UK, working with single properties and multi-site portfolios, we handle everything from initial specification through to ongoing support. If your current setup is generating operational friction or you're planning a refurbishment, we can assess what you have and what would work better.