Freely’s Next Step To Replace Freeview: New Features

Freely – the UK’s streaming-focused TV platform that launched last year – is getting another major update this month, with new features that should make finding and watching content easier.

At the same time, the platform continues to expand its hardware lineup, with two major TV brands joining the fold.

The “Freely Next” update introduces two eagerly-awaited features: a Backwards TV Guide that lets you scroll back through seven days of programmes, and a Never Miss feature that highlights what’s coming up, on now, and what you’ve just missed.

Meanwhile, the platform is expanding to Philips TVs (via TP Vision) and JVC models in Currys stores (via Titan OS), meaning Freely will now be available on brands representing nearly half of all TV sales in the UK.

But is this enough to make Freely a genuine competitor to traditional Freeview?

What Is Freely (And Why Should You Care?)

If you’re still scratching your head about what exactly Freely is, here’s a quick refresher. 

Launched in April 2024, Freely is essentially the streaming-age successor to Freeview and Freesat. Developed by Everyone TV (the same organisation behind Freeview), it aims to provide a unified interface where you can access both live TV channels and on-demand content from the UK’s major broadcasters – all without needing an aerial or satellite dish.

The platform features a unified Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) that blends live channels with on-demand content, making it easy to find what you want to watch without jumping between apps.

Since its somewhat modest launch last year, Freely has been steadily expanding. By now, it offers more than 55 streaming channels from broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, UKTV, and others.

For users with Hisense and Toshiba TVs, there are also 80+ additional FAST channels from the VIDAA platform.

The New Features Coming To Freely

The “Freely Next” update brings three key features to the platform – though one (My List) has actually been available since January.

Users with supported devices will get these updates automatically, as long as their TVS are connected to broadband.

Here’s what’s new:

Backwards TV Guide

Almost half of all catch-up or on-demand TV viewing takes place on the same day as the live broadcast, according to Ofcom data cited by Freely.

The new Backwards TV Guide feature acknowledges this trend, allowing viewers to scroll back through the TV guide to find programmes that have already aired.

The feature lets you scroll back a full seven days, complementing Freely’s existing seven-day forward planner for a comprehensive viewing experience.

This makes it much easier to find something you missed earlier in the day (or week) without having to hunt through various catch-up apps. Simply find it in the guide, click, and start streaming – or add it to your My List for later.

If this all sounds familiar – that’s because it is. This feature was (and is) a staple of Freeview Play for many years, and it was a bit baffling not to have it as of Freely at launch – but, as the saying goes, better late than never.

Never Miss

The second new feature is called “Never Miss” – and it’s all about highlighting content you might be interested in.

Freely describes it as making it “effortless to stay on top of the most talked about TV by highlighting what’s coming up, on now, and what’s just missed, alongside the biggest and best shows available on demand – right on the home page.”

This feature will continue to evolve, with Freely promising “new ways to bring live content to the fore across the Freely interface” in future updates.

Again, this sounds similar to things we’ve seen from Freeview Play in the past, and – these days – from streaming TV competitors such as Sky Stream – but it’s good to now have it as part of Freely as well.

My List (We Already Knew About This One)

The My List feature, which was actually announced earlier this year, lets you save up to 50 favourite shows from UK broadcasters in one place.

It’s essentially a watchlist that works across different channels and catch-up services, providing a centralised place to keep track of what you’re watching.

New TVs Joining The Party

One of Freely’s biggest limitations has always been its availability – you can only get it on certain newer TV models. But that list is gradually expanding.

The latest additions to the Freely family are Philips TVs (through a deal with manufacturer TP Vision) and JVC models, which will be available in Currys stores across the UK and online.

These TVs will run on Barcelona-based operating system Titan OS, which now joins the growing list of smart TV platforms supporting Freely.

According to the announcement, Freely has now signed deals with TV brands that represent nearly half (48.6%) of the UK TV market. That’s quite a substantial footprint for a platform that’s only been around for a year.

The complete lineup of Freely-compatible TVs now includes Amazon Fire TVs, Bush, Hisense, METZ, Panasonic, Philips, Sharp, TCL, Toshiba, and JVC models. 

Specifically, Philips Ambilight 2025 TVs featuring Freely will be available in May, while JVC Freely TVs with Titan OS will be available in Currys stores from this summer.

A Long-Term Game Plan

As mentioned, many of the features Freely is only now adding – like a backwards EPG and watchlist functionality – have been standard on other platforms (including Everyone TV’s own Freeview Play) for years.

Similarly, the hardware support is expanding at what feels like a rather leisurely pace.

But this seems to be by design rather than oversight. Freely appears to be taking a slow and steady approach, building out its platform methodically rather than rushing features or partnerships.

The Elephant in the Room: Still No Streaming Sticks

Despite these positive developments, there’s still an enormous limitation holding Freely back: you can only get it on newer TVs. There’s no standalone set-top box or streaming stick in sight.

This means that if you’ve got an older telly – even one that’s only a couple of years old – your only option for accessing Freely is to buy a brand new TV.

That’s a substantial barrier to adoption, especially when competitors like Freeview Play are available on a wide range of affordable set-top boxes and older TVs.

I’ve previously spoken with representatives from Freely about this issue, and they’ve maintained that the focus for now is on smart TV integration. While they haven’t ruled out standalone devices entirely, there don’t appear to be any concrete plans in the works.

What About Those Missing Channels?

Another ongoing issue is that Freely still doesn’t offer the complete lineup that traditional Freeview viewers might expect. While major broadcasters are well-represented, many smaller channels are missing from the streaming-only lineup.

In a recent discussion I had with Freely’s team, I asked about these smaller channels – particularly those that might not have the infrastructure or resources to deliver their own streaming versions.

Interestingly, Freely’s position is that they’re not currently in the business of facilitating streaming for these smaller channels.

They believe there are plenty of third-party streaming delivery companies that channels can use if they want to join the platform.

They told me that if demand from channels increases, they might reconsider this position – but for now, they don’t see it as a core part of their mission or expertise.

This pragmatic but somewhat hands-off approach explains why viewers who want access to channels like Talking Pictures, Rewind TV, the NOW music channels and others will still need to keep their aerials connected for the foreseeable future.

For now, Freely continues to play the long game – building out features, adding partners, and positioning itself as the future of free TV in the UK. Whether that future arrives in months or years remains to be seen.

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