In a world where many are paying for increasingly expensive TV subscriptions, you may be interested in the latest free TV streaming service to debut in the UK, Freely. It’s a new totally free streaming platform with the backing of the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, and is owned by the same firm that runs Freeview.
Freely gives users access to free-to-air live TV from these broadcasters as well as on-demand streaming, and could be a great alternative if you’re fed up with paying hundreds a year for paid TV providers such as Sky or Virgin Media.
Unlike Freeview, which is delivered to TVs via traditional satellite aerials, Freely is totally digital and is streamed to TVs via a broadband connection. The catch for those who want to get Freely is it’s not available by purchasing a new set top box. Instead, Freely is built into new smart TVs, meaning you need to buy a new telly to get in on the action.
To boost the availability of Freely to Brits, the company has just announced a new partnership with Amazon Fire TV that will see Freely being shipped installed on new smart TVs that use Amazon’s Fire TV operating system.
“It’s exciting to see the momentum behind Freely building so rapidly as we announce this breakthrough deal with Amazon Fire TV,” Jonathan Thompson, CEO at Everyone TV.
“A deal of this kind, between a technology giant and those working in the public interest, is remarkable. It represents a significant development in widening the availability of Freely and therefore ensuring UK audiences can access free TV well into the future.”
Freely will soon be available on Amazon’s own brand Fire TV 2-Series and 4-Series televisions, which are sold via the retailer’s website for prices that often dip below £200. Upcoming new 2024 models will have Freely installed, according to a Freely spokesperson.
Freely will also start shipping on TVs that run Fire TV OS made by TCL and Panasonic in the near future, and is already installed on smart TVs made by Hisense, Bush and Toshiba.
Amazon Fire TV Stick devices, which are HDMI dongles that plug into TVs to provide streaming services over an internet connection, do not have access to Freely.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing Freely to Fire TV customers in the UK,” said Emma Gilmartin, Director of Fire TV Europe at Amazon. “This new deal for Freely allows us to provide even more value to our customers by giving them easy access to the best free TV shows, films and live channels from UK broadcasters, alongside the great content they already enjoy on Fire TV.”
