What is free? The new TV service from BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5
THE makers of Freeview are launching a brand new TV service with a twist this year.
It's called Freely and viewers can watch live channels over the Internet and Wi-Fi, instead of an antenna, satellite or cable.
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There have been a number of products like this, such as Sky Glass, Sky Stream and Stream from Virgin Media, but this is the first free one.
How does it work and when can you expect it in your living room?
Here's everything you need to know.
What is free?
Freely is the name of the eventual successor to Freeview (although Freeview will not appear everywhere for a while).
It is supported by Britain's main broadcasters, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
With Freely you can access channels with an internet connection, so you technically don't need an antenna anymore – nor do you have to navigate between different apps to find live streams.
The company behind it, Everyone TV, says it will be available as a “hybrid” model so you can choose to access some channels via the internet and others via digital antenna – this will likely be necessary at first as not all channels you can use. see on Freeview is ready from launch.
Not only can you watch live TV, but you can also pause, rewind and watch on-demand content.
Live TV on the Internet has a number of advantages.
Firstly, it can host an unlimited number of channels, unlike Freeview, which is limited by spectrum.
And if you just use Wi-Fi to connect to Freely, it's a lot easier to place your TV wherever you want in the room.
Broadband doesn't suffer from the same connectivity issues as antenna or satellite TV services during really bad weather.
But if your internet goes down or struggles with slow speeds, this will be a problem.
What channels are there on Freely?
The full list of channels for Freely hasn't been confirmed yet, but we know of a few.
We can expect channels from the four main broadcasters affiliated with Freely, so:
- BBC One
- BBC Two
- BBC Three
- BBC Four
- CBeebies
- BBC news channel
- BBC Parliament
- ITV1
- ITV2
- ITV3
- ITV4
- ITVBe
- Channel 4
- More4
- E 4
- E4 Extra
- 4seven
- Channel 5
- 5VS
- 5 STARS
- 5ACTION
- 5SELECT
Freely has revealed that it is working with UKTV to bring their channels on board
Where can I buy a Freely TV or box?
Freely will be built into new smart TVs that will be released this year.
Hisense, Toshiba, Bush and JVC have confirmed that they will include Freely in their package.
There's currently no talk of Freely launching as a set-top box that you can connect to your existing TV.
What features does Freely have?
Freely says it's the first time ever that viewers can switch seamlessly between live and on-demand TV via a free service.
Users can pause, restart, and see instant links to more episodes of the show they are watching.
Every time you switch channels, a MiniGuide will appear as a pop-up interface.
Pressing the Free button on the remote will bring you recommended live and on-demand programming.
And a simple TV guide goes ahead for up to seven days.
Freely says new features will be introduced as the software continues to develop.
When is free available?
Everyone on TV says Freely will be available from the second quarter of this year, so that's anytime from April to June.
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How to lower your streaming bills with the best FREE TV
Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime aren't cheap – and subscription costs seem to be rising year after year.
Fortunately, there are a lot of free streaming TV alternatives that not everyone knows about.
And we're not just talking about BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
Here are some free alternatives worth trying: