THE successor to Freeview has been launched offering a new way to watch your favourite TV for free.
Instead of plugging in an aerial or satellite dish, viewers can watch live channels via the internet and Wi-Fi.
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Freely is backed by the UK’s leading broadcasters as they aim to take on the might of Netflix and other streamers.
Sky Glass, Sky Stream and Stream from Virgin Media have already entered this area but Freely is the first free one.
So how does it work and when can you expect to have it in your living room?
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is Freely?
Freely is the name of Freeview’s eventual successor (though Freeview isn’t go anywhere anytime soon).
It’s backed by the UK’s main broadcasters, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
Freely allows you to access channels with an internet connection, so you can technically do away with an aerial – and you don’t have to navigate between various apps to find live streams either.
However, at launch there are only channels from the big four, so you might not want to get rid of your aerial just yet.
Fortunately, the company behind Freely, Everyone TV, says TVs will support both internet live streams and traditional aerial streams at the same time.
So you can choose to access some channels via internet and others via digital aerial.
As well as watching live TV, you’ll be able to pause and rewind for up to 15 minutes on some channels.
It’ll also take you directly to on-demand content.
Although the offering is a bit bare at the moment, internet-based live TV has a number of possible advantages for the future.
Firstly, it can host a limitless number of channels – unlike Freeview which is restricted by spectrum.
It’ll also mean more HD channels.
And if you’re just using Wi-Fi to connect to Freely it’ll be a lot easier to put your TV wherever you like in a room.
Broadband doesn’t struggle with the same connection problems an aerial or satellite TV service suffers with during really bad weather too.
But if your internet goes down or struggles with slow speeds it’ll be an issue.
What channels are on Freely?
Freely, the new free streaming service backed by Britain’s public service broadcasters will include the following channels:
- BBC One
- BBC Two
- ITV1 (England, Wales, Scottish Borders)
- STV (Scottish and Grampian)
- UTV (Northern Ireland)
- Channel 4
- S4C (Wales)
- Channel 5
- ITV2
- ITV3
- BBC ALBA
- BBC Three
- BBC Four
- BBC Scotland
- Film4
- E4
- More4
- 4seven
- ITV4
- ITVBe
- 5STAR
- 5Action
- 5USA
- 5SELECT
- BBC NEWS
- BBC Parliament
- CBBC HD
- CBeebies HD
Where can I buy a Freely TV or box?
Freely is built into new smart TVs for sale.
Hisense is the first company to offer Freely.
Toshiba, Bush, and JVC are set to release their own very soon.
There’s currently no talk of Freely being launched as a set top box that you can plug into your existing TV.
What features does Freely have?
Freely says its the first time ever that viewers will be able to switch seamlessly between live and on demand TV on a free service.
Users can pause, restart and will see instant links to more episodes of the show they’re looking at.
A MiniGuide appears as a pop-up interface each time you switch channels.
Pressing the Freely button on the remote will provide recommended live and on demand programming.
And a simple TV guide goes up to seven days ahead.
Freely says new features will be introduced as the software develops further.
When is Freely available?
Freely is now available on new Hisense TVs to purchase.
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Freely: Verdict On UK’s New Streaming Service
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Senior Technology and Science Reporter at The Sun
A free internet-based TV service like this has been a long time coming and I’m relieved the UK is finally there.
Except, we’re not – not quite anyway.
The lack of streamed channels at launch makes the product feel a bit bare-bones.
But it’s a flower waiting to blossom – the technology is there, as is the willpower to keep adding features and channels.
I think once more channels are available this will be a real game-changer.
Read my full verdict here