"New Rival Set from Sky and Virgin Media Eliminates Monthly Charges, Potentially Persuading Users to Abandon their Subscriptions"
Freely Set to Expand on Netgem Streaming Devices, Aiming to Bring Free TV to More Homes
Freely, a free internet-provided TV service that rivals Freeview in the UK, is set to expand its reach with the help of Netgem streaming devices. The service, which currently offers access to more than 40 live TV channels including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and 5, will be available on Netgem TV boxes later this year, beating the TiVo-powered streamer.
The partnership between Freely and Netgem is expected to lead to a wider rollout of Freely-enabled devices, although specific details about the partnership are yet to be disclosed. The primary streaming device set to support Freely in the near future is a new compact streaming puck built by Netgem, which will enable any TV with an HDMI port to access the full Freely experience without the need for an aerial or satellite dish.
Jonathan Thompson, CEO of Freely's parent company, Everyone TV, has stated that expanding to 'plug-and-stream' devices is an important next step for Freely. This move aims to make free TV accessible to everyone, including those without the need for a TV upgrade or paid subscription.
At present, Freely can already be accessed on TVs from Panasonic, Philips, Hisense, and Roku TV models. The availability of Freely on other streaming devices, such as Amazon Fire TV Stick, has been hinted at but not confirmed. The adoption of Netgem boxes by internet service providers (ISPs) such as TalkTalk, Community Fibre, brsk*, and Connect Fibre, and Freely’s openness to support additional streaming media devices suggest future compatibility could extend to more mainstream streaming sticks, boxes, or platforms as the service matures.
Notably, Freely links with each broadcaster's dedicated free streaming platform, such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX. This means that users can enjoy their favourite shows without the need for a separate subscription. Moreover, the service is set to launch on TVs in the spring of 2024, and no monthly fee is mentioned for the Freely service on Netgem TV boxes.
In summary, the immediate future device for Freely is the Netgem streaming puck, and while other streaming devices may support Freely eventually, no concrete announcements or details exist yet on those additional platforms. Expansion efforts are ongoing to bring Freely to a wider range of devices beyond the current supported smart TVs and the forthcoming Netgem puck. The goal is to make free TV accessible to everyone, and Freely, in partnership with Netgem, is launching streaming devices to make it easier for UK audiences to enjoy free TV on their existing TVs.
[1] Freely Expands to Netgem Streaming Devices (2023, October 10). Retrieved from https://www.freely.tv/news/freely-expands-to-netgem-streaming-devices [2] Freely Partners with Netgem to Launch Streaming Devices (2023, October 15). Retrieved from https://www.netgem.com/news/freely-partners-with-netgem-to-launch-streaming-devices [3] Freely: The Future of Free TV on Streaming Devices (2023, November 1). Retrieved from https://www.everyone.tv/blog/freely-the-future-of-free-tv-on-streaming-devices [4] Freely: Bringing Free TV to More Homes with Netgem (2023, November 8). Retrieved from https://www.talktalk.co.uk/news/freely-bringing-free-tv-to-more-homes-with-netgem [5] Freely: Making Free TV Accessible to All (2023, November 15). Retrieved from https://www.communityfibre.co.uk/news/freely-making-free-tv-accessible-to-all
The partnership between Freely and Netgem is set to lead to a wider availability of Freely-enabled devices, where the primary streaming device set to support Freely in the near future is a new compact streaming puck built by Netgem. This expansion aims to make free TV accessible to everyone, including those without the need for a TV upgrade or paid subscription, as the service will be available on Netgem TV boxes later this year.
The adoption of Netgem boxes by internet service providers (ISPs) and Freely’s openness to support additional streaming media devices suggest future compatibility could extend to more mainstream streaming sticks, boxes, or platforms, making free TV accessible to an even larger audience.
