Begin with the action
When someone says they want to use Google TV, they may mean selecting an app on a television, using an Android TV device or sending a video from a phone. The first question is what should happen on the screen and which device should control it. This is more useful than choosing instructions from a familiar badge.
A native television application is installed and operated on the television device. Casting starts through a compatible sender and receiver arrangement. The two routes can lead to a programme on the same display while requiring different software and troubleshooting.
Native installation has a store check
For a Google TV app route, find the actual television listing and its developer. Read the requirements and any price before installation. Once installed, verify that the remote can operate the app, then add the supported media source. A phone app listing does not establish that native route.
A Cast control instead needs an application and receiver that support casting. Google’s instructions include the relevant same-network setup. Discovering a receiver is a different observation from a player installed on the television, and from a selected video successfully playing there.
Use the right description when asking for help
If an app is missing from the television store, describe a native-installation question. If the app works on the phone but the television is absent from the receiver list, describe discovery. If the receiver appears but the selected item fails, describe the later playback step.
This separation prevents an unnecessary store reinstall when the real question is local discovery, or repeated network changes when the desired native app has not been offered. State the sender, receiver and application where casting is involved, and state the television app and platform where installation is involved.
Questions answered
Does a Cast icon mean the app is installed on the television?
No. It identifies a casting control in the sender application.
Can a native TV app work while a casting route fails?
They are different routes with different requirements. Test and describe each one separately.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.