Turn a spare tablet into a news screen

Before you start

• A tablet with a current browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge) and internet access.
• A Tickwire account with Pro access: USD 5/month or USD 50/year. Review subscription options in your billing account.
• A place to stand it, a power cable, and five minutes to test readability from your seat.

Six steps

1. 01

   Check the public preview on your tablet

   Open this setup page on the tablet and check the public news preview below. This checks basic browser rendering and readability; it does not prove that every feature of the full deck works on your device.

2. 02

   Get Pro access

   The deck is behind a Pro subscription: USD 5 a month or USD 50 a year. Review subscription options in your billing account. Subscribe on the pricing page with the same account you signed in with on the tablet.

3. 03

   Choose the view

   Switch between News, Clock and Live at the top of the deck. For a screen you only glance at, News is the usual choice: the top story and headline stream update on their own. Each story shows its outlet and publication time.

4. 04

   Test the real viewing distance

   Put the tablet where it will actually stand and read it from where you sit. A close-up looks good on any device; the room view is the test that matters. Move it, or drop the idea, before you plan anything permanent.

5. 05

   Keep it on and powered

   Plug the tablet in. Whether the screen stays on depends on the device's own screen-timeout or "stay awake while charging" setting, not on Tickwire. Check your device maker's guidance before leaving it running for long periods.

6. 06

   Know what you are looking at

   Every story shows its outlet and when it was published, and how many distinct outlets report the same event. When the connection or the service fails, the deck keeps the last loaded stories and shows the last update time instead of pretending to be current.

What this guide does not cover

• This guide covers the web deck in a browser. The native Android app is a separate product with its own store listing; we do not make claims about it here.
• There is no iPhone or iPad app. The web deck can be opened in Safari, but we have not accepted any Apple device as a tested setup.
• The deck needs an internet connection and a signed-in account with trial or Pro access on each supported device you use. Check device availability before buying.
• Live TV channels are official YouTube streams; availability can depend on the broadcaster and your region.
• A source count is not a fact-check, and Tickwire does not decide what is true.

Questions before deciding

Does this work on any old tablet?

We cannot promise that. The web deck is a website that needs a current browser and a working internet connection. Use the public preview below to check basic readability first. The full deck requires access and has not been verified on every device.

Is there a free trial?

There is no general free trial. The deck requires Pro access; individually arranged test access may be available. Manage cancellation in the billing portal and check the effective date displayed before confirming.

Does the source count tell me a story is true?

No. The count shows how many distinct outlets report the same event. Several reports can share one original source. It is a reading aid, not a fact-check.