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Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Freeview successor is coming to Roku TVs with premium perks to rival Sky
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FREEVIEW'S successor will appear on even more screens after landing a deal with one of the world's biggest TV brands. Freely, made from the same company as Freeview, is encouraging viewers away from the humble TV aerial to using Wi-Fi instead. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Now Roku TVs will come with Freely on them Credit: Freely This means you don't need to worry about pesky signal issues - nor having to place your telly near the aerial port in the wall. For the moment, the service is hybrid so it can take Freeview channels the traditional way as well as via broadband. Just recently, more than a dozen channels you can't get with an aerial were added. This includes a channel for game show favourite The Chase, all Channel 4's best property shows on 4Homes, plus 5 Cops for all ofmi 5's real crime hits. Freely - which is run by BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5's Everyone TV - has been adding a number of device partners since bursting onto the scene over a year ago. Fire TV was a big newcomer but now Roku is getting on board too. Freely will be available on the next generation of smart TVs powered by the Roku operating system. Roku can be found on a number of major TV models, such as Sharp, Polaroid, and METZ. "Offering Freely on the Roku operating system is a major milestone for us, as we continue to expand reach for the free streaming platform," said Jonathan Thompson, CEO of Everyone TV. Just last month, Freely announced some new features to rival premium services like Sky's own streamed TV alternative Sky Glass. A new backward TV guide was introduced, allowing people to scroll back on the screen and instantly see what's been on recently, with a quick link directly to a catch up stream if one is available. You can scroll back a full seven days. A Never Miss feature was also added, which highlight programmes coming up, on now, and those you just missed, alongside the biggest and best shows available on demand. And My List will let you save up to 50 of your favourite shows from the UK's biggest free-to-air broadcasters all in one place so you can keep track of them. RECENT CHANNEL ADDITIONS ON FREELY The Chase Saturday Night Every Night 4Reality 4Homes 4Life 5 GPs Behind Closed Doors 5 Bargain 5 The Yorkshire Vet 5 History 5 Crime Milkshake! 5 Police Interceptors 5 Cops 5 Trucking Hell 5 A&E 5 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Image credit: Everyone TV FREELY ON A STICK? So far, Freely has only been made available on new smart TVs for sale. But BBC boss Tim Davie recently hinted that a Fire Stick-like device with Freely on it could come in the future. 'We have been working hard to build digital platforms and content to meet changing audience needs, enriching our offer and welcoming the possibilities of a post broadcast world,' he said during a speech at Salford's Lowry Theatre. 'We want to double down on Freely as a universal free service to deliver live TV over broadband. 'And we are considering a streaming media device with Freely capabilities built in, with a radically simplified user interface specifically designed to help those yet to benefit from IP services.' WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE REPLACE FREEVIEW Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun DTT - digital terrestrial television - is the system used for Freeview broadcasts today. About 18million homes still use it as their main way of watching TV. Before we even begin to think about switching it off, we have to make sure no one is left behind. So any internet-based alternative - Freely or otherwise - needs to be just as easy to install and use. Then there's the matter of broadband. The UK needs to have reliable broadband everywhere so everyone has access. Emphasis on reliable - no one wants buffering mid-way through a live football match. So not only will broadband need to be pretty much everywhere it will need to be fast enough to handle demand all the time.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Freeview successor is coming to Roku TVs with premium perks to rival Sky
FREEVIEW'S successor will appear on even more screens after landing a deal with one of the world's biggest TV brands. Freely, made from the same company as Freeview, is encouraging viewers away from the humble TV aerial to using Advertisement 2 Now Roku TVs will come with Freely on them Credit: Freely This means you don't need to worry about pesky signal issues - nor having to place your telly near the aerial port in the wall. For the moment, the service is hybrid so it can take Freeview channels the traditional way as well as via broadband. Just recently, more than a dozen channels you can't get with an aerial were added. This includes a channel for game show favourite The Chase, all Channel 4's best property shows on 4Homes, plus 5 Cops for all ofmi 5's real crime hits. Advertisement Read more about TV Freely - which is run by BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5's Everyone TV - has been adding a number of device partners since bursting onto the scene over a year ago. Fire TV was a big newcomer but now Roku is getting on board too. Freely will be available on the next generation of smart TVs powered by the Roku operating system. Roku can be found on a number of major TV models, such as Sharp, Polaroid, and METZ. Advertisement Most read in Tech "Offering Freely on the Roku operating system is a major milestone for us, as we continue to expand reach for the free streaming platform," said Jonathan Thompson, CEO of Everyone TV. Just last month, Freely A new backward TV guide was introduced, allowing people to scroll back on the screen and instantly see what's been on recently, with a quick link directly to a catch up stream if one is available. You can scroll back a full seven days. Advertisement A Never Miss feature was also added, which highlight programmes coming up, on now, and those you just missed, alongside the biggest and best shows available on demand. And My List will let you save up to 50 of your favourite shows from the UK's biggest free-to-air broadcasters all in one place so you can keep track of them. RECENT CHANNEL ADDITIONS ON FREELY The Chase Saturday Night Every Night 4Reality 4Homes 4Life 5 GPs Behind Closed Doors 5 Bargain 5 The Yorkshire Vet 5 History 5 Crime Milkshake! 5 Police Interceptors 5 Cops 5 Trucking Hell 5 A&E 5 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Image credit: Everyone TV FREELY ON A STICK? So far, Freely has only been made available on new smart TVs for sale. But BBC boss Tim Davie recently hinted that a Fire Stick-like device with Freely on it Advertisement 'We have been working hard to build digital platforms and content to meet changing audience needs, enriching our offer and welcoming the possibilities of a post broadcast world,' he said during a speech at Salford's Lowry Theatre. 'We want to double down on Freely as a universal free service to deliver live TV over broadband. 'And we are considering a streaming media device with Freely capabilities built in, with a radically simplified user interface specifically designed to help those yet to benefit from IP services.' WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE REPLACE FREEVIEW Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun DTT - digital terrestrial television - is the system used for Freeview broadcasts today. About 18million homes still use it as their main way of watching TV. Before we even begin to think about switching it off, we have to make sure no one is left behind. So any internet-based alternative - Freely or otherwise - needs to be just as easy to install and use. Then there's the matter of broadband. The UK needs to have reliable broadband everywhere so everyone has access. Emphasis on reliable - no one wants buffering mid-way through a live football match. So not only will broadband need to be pretty much everywhere it will need to be fast enough to handle demand all the time. 2 Roku is used on some TVs by Sharp, Polaroid, and METZ Credit: Alamy Advertisement
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Freeview successor makes huge TV guide change for MILLIONS of Brits with premium perk – days after adding 16 channels
Not tried Freely yet? Get a taster in the video FREE-SY VIEWING Freeview successor makes huge TV guide change for MILLIONS of Brits with premium perk – days after adding 16 channels FREEVIEW'S fresh successor has unveiled a number of big changes coming to screens just weeks after announcing a bunch of new channels. Freely has not long added 16 bonus channels dedicated to Britain's favourite shows, including The Chase, 5 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly and 4Homes. Advertisement 1 Viewers can now go backward up to seven days on the TV guide Credit: Everyone TV The platform is made by the same company as Freeview, Everyone TV, which is a joint project by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5. Freely beams channels into the living room via Wi-Fi instead of an aerial, opening up the possibility of more channels than Freeview could ever handle. For the moment, it uses hybrid tech, meaning viewers get channels via Wi-Fi first and can still plug in an aerial for any other Freeview channels not currently available to stream. The service is vying to be a free alternative to Sky Glass, the premium firm's own internet-streamed TV offering that's been around for a few years now. Advertisement In the latest update to Freely, viewers will discover a number of handy new features to help them find their favourite shows even faster. The biggest of them all is the backwards TV guide. This allows people to scroll back on the TV guide screen and instantly see what's been on recently, with a quick link directly to a catch up stream if one is available. You can scroll back a full seven days. Advertisement Additionally, the Never Miss feature will highlight what's coming up, on now, and what's just missed, alongside the biggest and best shows available on demand. And My List will let you save up to 50 of your favourite shows from the UK's biggest free-to-air broadcasters all in one place so you can keep track of them. "We know viewers love watching live TV and catching up with their favourite programmes soon after broadcast, so we've made it even easier," said Sarah Milton, Co-Chief Product Officer at Freely. 'Our new features—Backwards TV Guide, Never Miss, and My List—make finding, saving, and jumping back into great content effortless, whether live or on demand. Advertisement "Freely keeps evolving, offering premium features for free that other streaming platforms don't have. "And now with Freely becoming available on a wider range of new smart TVs, even more households will be able to enjoy this enhanced free streaming experience." The announcement comes as Freely reveals that it's signed deals with more tech giants to make the service available on more TVs. Freely is currently only available on selected new TVs you buy. Advertisement The platform will now made available on 2025 Philips TVs and JVC models that run the Titan OS.
