I want to connect my laptop to the TV to view sports etc. but when I plug in the HDMI cable nothing happens, the program just continues on the laptop. I am using Xubuntu and am completely new to Linux


Hello guys thanks for helping. I solved the problem by going to Display in Settings and selecting "Configure new displays on connecting". This enabled the TV when I plugged in the HDMI cable. Thanks again. Liam

The hdmi port/cable in a laptop is used to view laptop contents on the other monitor(TV/external pc monitor, projector etc). Not the reverse way.

Am I clear that you want to view sports from the tv to the monitor in laptop?

Your laptop may have a switch/soft-key to press to switch to the external monitor (HDMI) port. You don't tell us what version of Xubuntu you're using, or what kind of hardware, so we can't tell you much at this point. Provide details, and we can try to help. There are also some options you can/may have to put into your X configuration to enable a secondary display. This post:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...rs-4175421421/

..gives you an example of what you might have to do. Again, that's a "maybe"...you may just have to go into Xubuntu and configure a second display and mirror your monitor.

First thing to try: have your laptop powered off first, plug in the HDMI, have the TV on, THEN power laptop on. HDMI may not activate on your laptop, unless it senses a monitor/device.
No, the OP very clearly posted they want to connect the laptop to the TV, to view what's on the laptop screen on the TV, and they said when plugging the cable in, the laptop continues displaying things.