Back in September 2023, the UK’s biggest free-to-air broadcasters – the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 – announced a new smart TV streaming service that will allow users to watch live TV via the internet for free. The platform, called Freely, is expected to arrive soon in Q2 2024 and we already have first-look images of its user interface.
Freely is designed to bridge the gap between conventional terrestrial television and online entertainment by offering live free-to-air TV without the need for an aerial, while also ensuring a sustainable future for public service broadcasting in an environment that’s increasingly dominated by the best streaming services.
In short, Freely will contribute to blurring the lines between conventional terrestrial television and online entertainment by offering regular live TV, but without the need for an aerial. But what else do we know about the UK's next streaming service? Here's everything we know about Freely so far.
What is Freely?
Freely is being launched as a streaming-service version of the existing Freeview and Freesat services (both of those services will continue to operate, by the way). It'll show both live and on-demand content from the UK's big-four broadcasters.
With UK viewers increasingly turning to the internet to watch content, Freely will let households with internet-connected TVs to access free-to-air channels via the internet, without the need for an aerial or satellite dish.
You'll access it via an on-screen interface and TV guide, with content from other Freeview channels (such as Dave, Sky News, and Film 4) being added when the service is up and running.
Freely will become part of the Everyone TV family, operators of the Freeview and Freesat free TV platforms, which are delivered via aerial and satellite respectively.
How will you access Freely?
The Freely platform will be built into future generations of smart TVs, alongside services from the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube.
However, it is uncertain whether it will be available as an app on devices like the Amazon Fire TV stick just yet, and it’s also unclear whether owners of current smart TVs will be able to access the service via an app.
Everyone TV has said Freely will place “the distribution of free TV at the centre of the streaming age”, allowing viewers to have access to free TV broadcasting through an internet-based platform.
What will you watch with Freely?
Freely will essentially be 50% live television and 50% on-demand streaming. Since the initial announcement, Everyone TV has released first-look images at Freely's user interface. It will adopt a layout similar to those of streaming platforms, combined with a terrestrial-style TV guide of live and on-demand programmes across BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5. As well as a familiar TV guide, Freely's key features include a browsing tool that allows you to search for live and on-demand content from one place, and a MiniGuide.
Live television has been accessible online for quite some time through individual channel apps such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX, but Freely will be the first to take content from different broadcasters and bring them into one space. As mentioned, the first step in combining the elements of live and online television starts by introducing Freely to the next era of smart TVs.
When will Freely launch?
Everyone TV says the service is set to launch in Q2 2024. We’d expect it to arrive somewhere between April and June, so with April just around the corner it’s launch could be closer than you think. Boldly, it claims that Freely "will replace the terrestrial TV experience" and will build on Freeview, which is now in 16 million homes.
It'll certainly make streaming live TV from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 a lot easier, as currently all of those require a separate app. But we'll update this page with more details about Freely, along with our first impressions, once it gets closer to rolling out.
