Last week finally brought the Freely box we’ve all been waiting for – this week, the BBC revealed they want to make their own, simpler streaming box.
When Everyone TV announced their first standalone Freely streaming device (with Netgem), it seemed like the missing piece of the puzzle was finally in place.
No more needing to buy a brand new TV just to access the platform that’s designed to replace traditional Freeview and Freesat.
But now, the BBC has confirmed to Cord Busters that they’re exploring something completely different – a separate, simplified Freely device designed specifically for people who find modern streaming technology overwhelming.
Quick Freely Refresher
If you’ve missed the Freely story so far, here’s what you need to know: it’s Everyone TV’s bold attempt to eventually replace traditional Freeview and Freesat with something that works entirely through your internet connection.
Rather than relying on aerials or satellite dishes, Freely streams live channels and catch-up content directly to your TV.
Since launching in April 2024, it’s been gradually building up its channel lineup – now offering BBC, ITV, Channel 4, 5 and around 40 other broadcasters.
The catch has always been availability. Freely only worked on brand-new smart TVs from select manufacturers. Got a perfectly good telly that’s a few years old? Tough luck – you’d need to buy a whole new TV just to try the platform.
That finally changed last week when Everyone TV announced the first standalone Freely device, made by French company Netgem. And, as we revealed, the new box has no aerial port whatsoever.
Unlike current Freely TVs that let you “top up” with traditional Freeview channels through an aerial connection, this device is streaming-only. You get what’s available through your broadband, and that’s it.
It’s the first device designed to replace Freeview without any aerial backup – and apparently, it won’t be the last.
The Two-Track Freely Strategy
The story of a potential second Freely box actually goes back to May, when BBC Director-General Tim Davie gave a speech outlining the corporation’s vision for television’s streaming future.
During that speech, Davie mentioned that the BBC was “considering a streaming media device with Freely capabilities built in, with a radically simplified user interface specifically designed to help those yet to benefit from IP services.”
Fast forward to last week’s announcement about the Netgem Freely box. Everyone TV referenced Davie’s May speech about a simplified device, and the natural assumption was that the Netgem box was exactly what Davie had been talking about – problem solved, simplified Freely device on the way.
But then this week, the BBC published a new policy document about digital inclusion, and buried in there was another reference to “a new streaming media device, designed with accessibility in mind and a radically simple user interface specifically designed to help those currently underserved by digital services.”
Wait – was this the same device, or something different?
That’s when we reached out to the BBC for clarification.
The BBC confirmed to us that these are “separate things” – the Netgem box and the BBC’s accessibility device are two different projects entirely.
So now it turns out there might be not one, but two (at least) different Freely boxes in the works, serving completely different audiences with very different needs.
The Netgem device is clearly aimed at mainstream users who want a full-featured streaming experience.
It will include popular streaming apps (we don’t know which ones yet), additional FAST channels, and all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a modern streaming box.
But the BBC is exploring something quite different – a genuinely simplified device designed specifically for people who find current streaming technology too complicated or overwhelming.
It’s an acknowledgment that the commercial Freely approach – feature-rich and app-heavy – simply won’t work for everyone who needs to make the transition from traditional TV to streaming.
The £30 Billion Justification
The BBC’s push for a simplified device comes alongside some eye-watering economic claims. A new report they’ve commissioned suggests that achieving full digital inclusion could generate up to £30.8 billion annually in economic benefits for the UK.
But those benefits only materialise if everyone makes the transition successfully.
The BBC has identified three groups who risk being left behind: unemployed people (often held back by affordability), people with disabilities (facing accessibility barriers), and over-75s (many lacking confidence with digital technology).
Without support, these groups – representing around 1.5 million households – could find themselves cut off when traditional broadcasting eventually ends.
And if 1.5 million people can’t access digital services, the economic benefits the BBC is promising simply won’t materialise.
The government is under pressure to make decisions about the television transition by early 2026, and the BBC is clearly positioning itself as one of the solutions to ensure no one gets left behind.
What “Radically Simplified” Actually Means
So what would a truly simple Freely box look like? The BBC hasn’t provided specifics, but we can make some educated guesses based on their target audience.
Think less “smart streaming device” and more “digital equivalent of your old Freeview box.”
Instead of navigating through multiple apps and complex menus, you’d probably get a straightforward channel guide, quick access to catch-up services, and an interface that prioritises simplicity over features.
The contrast with the commercial Netgem box would be stark. Where that device offers streaming apps and dozens of additional channels, the BBC’s accessibility box might focus purely on the essential UK broadcasters with minimal distractions.
Current streaming devices – even the simplest ones – can be overwhelming for people who just want to watch BBC One or catch up on last night’s Coronation Street.
Multiple apps, endless recommendations, subscription prompts, and constantly changing interfaces create barriers that didn’t exist with traditional TV.
A simplified Freely box could bridge that gap, offering the reliability and familiarity of traditional television while delivering content through broadband instead of aerials.
And – it will likely be cheaper.
For rural areas where Freeview reception has always been patchy, this could actually solve long-standing problems – assuming decent broadband is available.
Unfortunately, that’s still a big assumption in many parts of the UK.
What This Means for Viewers
The emergence of two different Freely approaches suggests the streaming transition will be more nuanced than simply switching from aerials to internet connections.
Viewers comfortable with technology and wanting the full streaming experience would likely choose the feature-rich Netgem box. Those who find modern streaming overwhelming or just want something that works like traditional TV would have the simplified BBC option.
It’s a recognition that not everyone wants their television to be a computer with endless apps and features. Sometimes, people just want to turn on the telly and watch what’s on.
The timing remains unclear. The Netgem box is launching later this year, but the BBC is still “exploring” their accessibility device.
There are still fundamental challenges both devices would face. Rural broadband remains patchy, and many of the households most likely to struggle with streaming are also those least likely to have reliable internet connections.
The average broadband cost of nearly £27 per month also transforms “free” TV from genuinely free to requiring an ongoing subscription – a significant change for households already struggling financially.
Either way, the BBC’s two-box strategy reveals just how complicated the transition from traditional broadcasting to streaming really is.
What seemed like a simple technological upgrade – swapping aerials for internet connections – actually requires completely rethinking how different groups of people interact with television technology.
The BBC is clearly positioning itself as the guardian of universal access in a streaming-only future. Whether they can deliver on that promise – remains to be seen.
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I’m 36. I just want to turn the tv on and have a channel appear. I don’t want to have to go through menu after menu to get to what I wanted.
I miss the old days of analogue cable. So much simpler and it just worked.
I think that previous comment about moving to satellite for everybody for telly is the best suggestion it covers all of the country and all of the people
I agree but planning permission can be a stumbling block along with a non co operative landlord property owner so although in theory good solution but in practice it’s a different story, whereas wireless Internet could circumnavigate this.
Not if you have tall trees in the signal path.
I live on a basic state pension and I shall not be able to afford broadband for much longer. Does this mean in the future I won’t get any tv as for elderly folk we depend on it to keep us sane.
This is shortsighted. Freely is not a solution. Regular Internet drop outs and slow speeds could make this unusable. Licence fee + broadband fee is certainly not free no matter what you call the “freely” service.
The bbc should abandon regional TV and run a satellite service of the main network channels only. This would save huge costs. It would be simple for consumers to obtain and instal and cheaper than freeview to run. Nearly 100% signal coverage too. A few transponders would do it.
European countries are moving to satellite. Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain all have free satellite coverage. So why aren’t we following suit? Why are we making the public and vulnerable people pay instead?
There is an investigation looking into the possibility of providing a psb ( public service broadcasting ) emergency service via satellite tv to help reduce the impact of an Internet failure and also provide people in hard to reach areas. I agree if its just a basic service available to most people satellite is a viable solution, but a streaming box would allow a fee to be collected instead of a tv licence.
It doesn’t drop out of fibre to the premises that everybody should be on soon when copper cable is pulled. Openreachs plan. Basically the BBC will be inline with that.
“The Netgem device is clearly aimed at mainstream users who want a full-featured streaming experience. It will include popular streaming apps (we don’t know which ones yet), additional FAST channels, and all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a modern streaming box”
Will the bells and whistles include support for one or more casting technologies (AirPlay, Google Cast, or perhaps even Matter casting)?
Will it thought when you say all bells and whistles I assume you mean an epg with forward backward access and access to iplayer and itvx programmes and other players but not netflix amazon prime now etc as this is not part of the Freely remit and why support a streaming addon like chromecast as the device is already a streamer.
Now the BBC are ignoring the elephant in the room. They’re joining Freely, Sky and Virgin. Producing a box THAT DOESN’T RECORD!
It’s as if they’ve all got together and decided they must stop the viewer recording programmes at all costs.
Who is going to buy these things? I know I won’t.
This with bells on!
This is the future Poppasmurf no recording so no jumping adverts I have an ee tv box pro which in aerial mode allows me to record and jump over adverts but if I set up in Internet mode I am not allowed to do this so yes streaming is the future and an advertising executives dream.
Therein lies the conundrum! The industry is determined to do away with avoiding the adverts, and the paying public want to keep it. Who will win? So far, from what I can glean, Freely uptake is miserable. I don’t know anybody who has it. A salesman told me the other day that nobody is interested in Freely. Sky are frequently giving advert skipping away for free or drastically reduced to keep customers. Will the BBC succeed? Will a box top producer bring out a streaming box that can record. They will make a killing if they do.
Indeed. The last Freesat offer has jumping forward down to one minute. Better positioning with the old Humax box. You just need to be able to set the jump interval in seconds so four presses is one minute. Advert based TV doesn’t like it but it shouldn’t worry the BBC.
Poppasmurf just such a device already exists well sought of, the EE tv box pro (which can be purchased amazon) which is a youview device. When set up in Internet mode gets a good number of channels all the main broadcasters plus a load of others and also allows you to record 2 channels AND on top of that you have most of the streaming apps available so as long as you have the app subscription ie now netflix amazon disney + discovery + you can stream away so for the moment this is near to your request for a combined streamer/ recorder as we can get.
Yes, but to use the streamed channels you need to be subscribed to one of the EE TV packages. Otherwise it only functions as a YouView Box with the aerial connected.
What I was suggesting was a box that can record from the streamed channels without a sub. But I suppose that will depend on the streaming feed being available to all, just like the TV signal beamed from transmitters or satellite is. Somehow I doubt it, which is why I think TV as we have come to know it will be dead within a few years.
Commercial services wont agree to devices that can skip adverts. Broadcast media they dont send the details of the advert to stop you skipping, Internet they do. Youtube has a document set of flags they send which subscription login – ins know how to handle. Its possible that home brew in one form or another could handle methods to deal with these flagd. Depends how well the data stream is encoded. Possibly never, say never.
Indeed. I haven’t paid for Atmos, ad skipping or kids channels on Sky Stream for months. Add them on at a £0 offer then cancel them wait a day after cancellation and the offers are back. They’ll soon cotton on.
Not sure how either of these two proposed streamers can be as cheap, or simple to use, as a Roku streaming stick, where you can have as many or few of the streaming apps on the main home screen eg free selection of BBC I Player, ITVX, Four, Five
I don’t know about as cheap, but their value will come from superior features for watching live free to air UK TV channels. None of the main streaming devices (Apple TV, Google TV, Fire TV, Roku) provide a particularly good experience for this.
Apple TV if not a BT/EE TV subscriber then use TV Launcher (one time purchase). For UK it makes the Apple TV device great for watching linear TV.
Presumably this will also mean the end of the TV licence, the BBC will have no excuse not to simply be one of many streaming services having to set their monthly fee to compete with the other services rather than being able to tax the whole country. Any genuine free service element e.g. a news channel, would need to be paid for by central government or adverts.
Or better ability to enforce license fee. It would be conceivable for Everyone TV to require an account tied to a TV license in order to stream live content through Freely.
Well at last, some thought is going into our future tv. I think the BBC are right, a lot of people are confused and put off by the confusion of it all, a lot of people will be asking is, all I want to do is watch tele, and for all the blurb about the future is streaming that is probably true, but to much choice can be overwhelming and a siplyfied box will have appeal, but is the BBC the right choice to deliver it given their past record and current issues, yes I think there is a need for just such a device but not necessarily designed or managed by the BBC.
Why can’t freely be made available as a app? Looks like the BBC is on the hunt for more money off the public they should show adverts so everyone doesn’t have to pay for a TV licence they don’t offer value for money anymore compared to paid streaming services.
The idea of a simplified box is great my only problem is affordability. If the average broadband subscription is £27 I think there will be a lot of people that will loose television completely as I can’t see the price of broadband ever going down to a price that appeals to those with very little money
As I understand it, there are cut price broadband packages which providers like BT, etc. are obliged to offer to those who are eligible.
I expect they want control over the platform. Building an app for other platforms won’t give them this and would arguably be more work/hassle in the long run (due to the need to support multiple platforms).
Nail on the head John.
Cough up for your license. We dont want to watch adverts and with screening devices on commercial channels you can’t wind past the adverts, not even C4 OR ITV unless you pay extra for advert free. Right wing American toss wanting adverts to wreck public service broadcasting.
The best news I’ve read to date as now I don’t feel I’m being forced by the other broadcasters by their way or no way, and I’m sure there’s a few million viewers who think like me,.
I watch in France, using Freesat. How will this affect me?
Whenever satellite channel feeds are discontinued (don’t expect this to be anytime soon for the most part) you’d have to stream your channels instead. The big issue for you is that you’ll be outside of the UK, so would have to use a UK based VPN in order to watch.
You wont get it. When Freesat finishes you’ll be stuck. Sky is leading the way to come of satellite and the BBC / ITV are on that channel line up but are free. They pay for the transponder themselves outside of Sky. Pass on what C4 do at the minute. When Sky leaves and only the free to air stay the broadcasters will be paying a lot for a reduced audience. This is where they want to on Internet services.
Public broadcaster are getting very good at blocking VPNs. They know the IP addresses used and they use companies to help them out finding VPN use to add to their block list.
Eire has a very large UK viewing base. Their public aren’t going to be very happy when Freesat is turned off. All of this begs the question of rural broadband rollout in the UK. Communities still have very low speeds. OpenReach passing them by on main roads and not cabling down to them. Turning off copper which OpenReach plan to do means that if they haven’t got fibre down the spur roads then the users will be cut off from phone as well. It seems fibre to the home is an extension of fibre to the cabinet, so if it never got to the cabinet it probably wont get to the home in rural communities without a push. Rural folk seem to be a bit quite about saying what about us,
Rural broadband wireless services tend to be unreliable. They take rural broadband grants but provide a lousy service. Spent two years on one of these. It was terrible. Down all the time.
The BBC concerned about the unemployed with little money, do me a favour, it’s not long ago you were taking them to court for not paying your tax.
Well they should and also give them credit record. That would been the silly people that dont pay their license would find they can’t get credit.