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Vizio’s new Co-Star LT stream player lets you watch live TV while browsing Internet apps

vizio co star lt stream player live tv
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Vizio is on a roll this year. Its latest M-series televisions look excellent and offer some incredible value. (And if we know Vizio, the deals will really heat up come this holiday season.) Now Vizio is introducing a new version of its Co-Star streaming media player, which comes in at $80. 

What differentiates the new Co-Star LT from the previously-released Co-Star is that it doesn’t rely on the Google TV platform and comes with a scaled-down remote control. Like the Co-Star, the Co-Star LT offers an HDMI input and output, which lets users pass their cable or satellite signal through the streaming set-top box so that live TV can be viewed while browsing content available through video-on-demand (VOD) apps like Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and Amazon Instant. The Co-Star LT’s app interface is said to be similar to that of Vizio’s M-Series Smart TV’s, offering a full-screen browsing experience loaded with app choices. VIZIO Netflix_2nd_screen

The Co-Star LT is capable of 1080p resolution and can handle 3D streams from VOD services that offer it. A USB port allows users to stream media from external devices without having to switch inputs on their television. The system comes with a simplified remote control, but users can also control the box with their mobile devices, which in turn can simultaneously act as a second screen. 

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first set-top box to offer live TV pass-through that doesn’t rely on the Google TV interface (the Xbox One isn’t out yet). That makes it a competitive option to both Roku and Apple TV devices. 

The Co-Star LT is available now at Vizio’s website, and it is expected to be available at Amazon, BestBuy.com, Target.com, Walmart, and Walmart.com later this month. 

Caleb Denison
Digital Trends Editor at Large Caleb Denison is a sought-after writer, speaker, and television correspondent with unmatched…
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