The television landscape in the UK sees Sky and Freeview as dominant players, but a formidable competitor has emerged in the form of Freely. Introduced in 2024, Freely has quickly gained traction, attracting over a million households to its platform.
Since its inception, Freely has enhanced its features and expanded its content offerings, now boasting a lineup of over 50 live channels accessible without the need for traditional aerial or satellite dish installations.
In a recent development, Freely has unveiled its latest offering, the Freely Spotlight Channels, providing additional entertainment options to viewers at no extra cost. These channels will stream exclusively through standard Wi-Fi connections.
According to Freely, the Spotlight Channels will be accessible on channel 31, as well as channels 90 to 99, and will also be made available to CTV OS partners on Freely-enabled devices. V (formerly VIDAA), the company behind the VIDAA OS platform featured in Hisense televisions, has been announced as the launch partner, curating a selection of channels from its lineup for the Freely TV Guide.
The Freely Spotlight Channels will be integrated alongside established UK broadcasters within the TV guide, offering selected channels increased visibility and credibility within the regulated UK TV environment. While specific content details are yet to be revealed, more information is anticipated closer to the launch date.
Chief Commercial Officer at Everyone TV, Deep Halder, expressed the company’s commitment to providing long-term value to its ecosystem as Freely continues to expand. By allowing CTV OS partners to engage in specific sections of the TV guide, Freely aims to create new opportunities while ensuring free, reliable TV content remains easily accessible to UK audiences in the era of streaming.
For those unfamiliar with Freely, it is operated by the same team responsible for Freeview and Freesat, offering a unique approach where all content is delivered through a broadband connection, eliminating the need for traditional antennas or complex setups. To access Freely, viewers only require a compatible TV or set-top box and a stable Wi-Fi connection.
The platform currently boasts a variety of features, including over 50 live channels, on-demand content, personalized recommendations, a comprehensive TV guide, and the ability to pause live TV, catering to the evolving preferences of modern viewers.