Posted 25 Oct 2026 · 3 min read
There's a special kind of frustration in losing power right as the game kicks off. If you're on a dish, that's usually the end of it until the lights come back. One quiet advantage of watching over the internet is that you've got options – your telly doesn't have to go dark just because the grid did.
This is the one most people reach for. When the power drops, the same IPTV login that works on your TV works on your phone. Open the app, switch to mobile data, and carry on watching the match in your hand. HD over LTE or 5G is light enough that it won't eat your whole data bundle in one sitting – though 4K will, so drop the quality if you're watching for hours.
If you'd rather stay on WiFi, a small UPS or a battery pack for your fibre router is a cheap, popular fix. Your router sips very little power, so even a modest unit can keep your internet up through a typical slot. Pair that with a laptop or a phone and you've basically load-shedding-proofed your viewing.
If you want the full lounge experience through a blackout, a portable power station or a small inverter trolley will run a TV, a Firestick and the router comfortably for a couple of hours. It's more of an investment, but plenty of South African homes already have one for exactly this reason.
Because the content comes over the internet, not a dish, you're not tied to one device or one power source. TV's off? Watch on the phone. WiFi's down? Mobile data. That flexibility is one of the quiet reasons people make the switch and don't look back.
Want to try it on your own phone and connection first? Grab a free trial and test it both ways – on WiFi and on data – before you commit.