The UK TV industry has seen a significant shift in recent years, with the rise of free streaming platforms offering viewers a wide range of on-demand content without the need for subscription or additional costs.
Freely, the free streaming platform built into next-generation smart TVs, has been at the forefront of this revolution, continuing to expand its reach and announcing new partnerships with key players in the industry.
“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.”
These new features are part of the Freely Next update, which includes a revamped search function, Backwards TV Guide, and Never Miss. Backwards TV Guide allows users to scroll back to earlier in the day, making it easier to catch up on shows that have recently aired.
Never Miss is a feature that highlights the most talked-about TV shows and provides users with the ability to stay on top of the latest content. The feature will continue to evolve, introducing new ways to bring live content to the forefront across the Freely interface.
The My List function is another exciting addition to the platform, allowing users to save up to 50 favourite shows from the UK’s biggest free-to-air broadcasters in one place. No more endless searching, just instant access to the best TV from UK’s leading free-to-air channels.
“We’re excited to bring Freely to the JVC TV range, giving customers even more flexibility to enjoy the content they love,” said Paul Slater, Senior Buyer at Currys. “By adding this free-to-use platform to our affordable JVC range, which is available exclusively at Currys, we’re continuing our mission to help everyone enjoy amazing technology.”
| Smart TV Brands | Operating Systems | Freely TV Models |
|---|---|---|
| Philips | TP Vision | 2025 Philips TVs |
| JVC | Titan OS | JVC Freely TVs |
Freely is available on a wide range of new smart TVs, including Philips and JVC models, with more on-demand content than any streaming service in the UK. The platform is backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and 5, and offers 97% of the nation’s favourite shows.
With Freely, users don’t need to do a thing to access new features. Updates are automatically rolled out to Freely enabled TVs, meaning Freely TVs get smarter over time. Whether it’s new features, more channels, or fresh content, Freely TVs are built to last for the streaming age.
The public service broadcaster-backed streaming platform has now signed deals with TV brands that represent half of the UK TV market*. The latest additions further expand the line-up of smart TV partners and operating system providers, joining Amazon Fire TVs, Bush, Hisense, METZ, Panasonic, Sharp, TCL, TiVo, Toshiba, and VIDAA.
- Key features of Freely include:
- Backwards TV Guide: allows users to scroll back to earlier in the day
- Never Miss: highlights the most talked-about TV shows and provides users with the ability to stay on top of the latest content
- My List: allows users to save up to 50 favourite shows from the UK’s biggest free-to-air broadcasters in one place
Freely is an excellent example of how free streaming platforms can revolutionize the way we consume TV content.
