I'm thinking about what I can do to increase my privacy when it comes to watching TV. I currently own an Android TV which is connected to the internet with a PiHole in my network but I have the feeling it's not a good solution as it still leaks a lot of data.

I'm asking myself what the best/most private setup would be. I know these solutions exist but haven't tried any:

I don't want a complicated setup with a lot of different apps. I basically only want to watch Netflix and YouTube and maybe something like Cloudstream. I'm not sure about which resolutions the setups I listed above support. For example Netflix on a TV box with LineageOS will probably only support 720p or 1080p because of Widevine.

I'd prefer to also have an oldschool remote to control my TV and not use a touchscreen/keyboard.

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    WitteShadovv Buy Pixel 8 with GOS connected directly via cabel using external display support.

    I think this is the best solution. GrapheneOS (GOS) is the best Android available that I know of.

    WitteShadovv Casting everything to a TV without internet access

    Or this option is also good enough? But why cast when you can use cable connection with Pixel 8.

        Yeah I think buying a pixel 8 or a pixel tablet would be the best solution but I'm not sure if this would allow me to watch stuff in 4k.

        Also do you know if it's possible to control an android device (not a TV) using some kind of remote? Otherwise I'd end up with a cable through the whole room to be able to pause/forward etc.

          A dedicated raspberry pi with something like Libre elec installed would be much more versatile and fit for purpose than using a phone, I would say. And substantially cheaper. Along with using pihole and a VPN and being mindful of from where you stream. Plus you can easily add hard drives if you have a collection already. Plus you can add a proper remote.

          Thanks for your input! I tried Kodi again and I think that I don't want to use it as it just gets very hacky and not user friendly if you want to use streaming services and not watch something that you've already downloaded yourself.

          • mmmm replied to this.

            WitteShadovv its totally hacky and not user friendly I agree completely. Its possible to find Netflix Disney etc add one which you can sign into and generally once its set up its pretty stable.

            I dont so that though, if youre interested: I have a libreelec pi in the main room for my personal library and some streaming, movies, and live TV etc, attached to a offline projector.

            I have an apple TV also attached for all the 'proper' streaming stuff like Disney and Netflix etc. Best out of a terrible bunch, but the long and the short of it is I dont really care if apple knows my son likes spiderman, or I watch reruns of Downton Abby erm, Firefly I mean, over and over again. Disney and Netflix already have this data no matter where I watch those streams officially and everything is running through a VPN and a PiHole anyway.

            The other rooms have monitors (rather than connected smart TVs) with their own libreelec for movies in bed.

                mmmm Yes I totally get your point. I'll probably end up with a similar solution to yours but right now I'm considering buying a pixel tablet when there is a good discount, install GOS on it and start using this as streaming "box" which I could also use while travelling.

                  a month later

                  I personally decided to use an Android TV build from LineageOS for the TV. The only app I need is Jellyfin client from F-Droid. Apart from that, the “smartTV” doesn’t need to be able to do anything at all.

                  Ich search for an Android TV device (in downloads filter “Device type” = “Devkit”) https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/

                  Which device do you recommend?

                  All devices are quite old.

                  I wish to play smoothly 4K content.

                  I would like the power is provided by standard USB-C (not proprietary power supply). That I can use Raspberry PI power supply.

                  WitteShadovv Also do you know if it's possible to control an android device (not a TV) using some kind of remote?

                  You could use the Flirc Skip 1s remote (they are a partner of Kodi).

                  https://flirc.tv/

                  It works with any device, should work fine with your setup as well. Just read the documentation.