Freely, the broadband-based replacement for Freeview and Freesat, is coming soon – and today, we can finally reveal its upcoming launch window and unveil some of its features and user interface.
With a Q2 2024 launch date now confirmed (meaning sometime between April and June), Freely aims to revolutionize the UK free television landscape by merging live and on-demand content in a seamless, user-friendly package – that’s based on broadband and not on aerials or satellites (though Freeview and Freesat are not going anywhere, for now).
Promising features such as live pause, restart, and streamlined access to additional episodes (without the need to record), Freely is designed to cater to the modern viewer’s demands, ensuring that free TV remains a staple in the era of broadband consumption.
- Also see: My full Freely hands-on review
And, while we’re already familiar with some of these features from pay-TV based streaming solutions, such as Sky Stream and EE TV – Freely will be the first service to incorporate these features into a free platform.
What Is Freely?
Freely, which was announced in September 2023, is not merely an addition to the UK’s free-to-air broadcasting ecosystem but a reinvention of it.
Born out of a collaboration between the UK’s major broadcasters – BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 – Freely is being developed by Everyone TV, the body behind Freeview and Freesat.
Freely’s mission is to combine the benefits of Freeview and Freesat with the expansive possibilities of streaming.
This initiative aims to ensure that free-to-air television remains relevant and accessible in the broadband era, offering a comprehensive suite of features designed to enhance the viewer’s experience without imposing additional costs.
According to research, more than half of UK homes will watch TV exclusively over broadband by 2030 – therefore a significant aspect of Freely is its approach to delivery, promising a service that eliminates the need for traditional aerial or satellite connections.
Instead, viewers can look forward to a world where any smart TV with Wi-Fi can access a wide array of live and on-demand content.
This also means that alongside standard broadcast channels, viewers can also access a variety of IP-delivered channels once their Freely-compatible devices are connected to the internet.
However, Freely has also been designed to ensure both backwards and forward compatibility.
Freely devices will operate like a standard DTT (aerial-based) device if only connected to an aerial and not broadband, or (at a later stage) like a Freesat device if just connected to DSat.
But, it’s also important to remember that Freely’s broadband-based channels list and its over-the-air (DTT aerial-based) channels list will most likely not be identical, especially at launch – meaning some over-the-air Freeview channels will not be available on the streaming side of Freely, and vice versa.
And – at launch, Freely will only be supported on next-gen Smart TVs (another Smart TV partner was announced today – Vestel). Therefore, set-top boxes and pre-2024 TV set will NOT support Freely at this stage.
Freely’s User Interface Revealed
Today, Freely has unveiled exciting details about its user interface (UI), showcasing features designed to modernize the free TV experience.
According to Freely, viewers will be – for the first time in a free service – granted the ability to effortlessly switch between live and on-demand content from leading UK broadcasters.
This integration is further enhanced by functionalities such as pause, restart, and access to more episodes, all without additional charges.
Of course, these features are already available on platforms such as Sky Stream and Virgin Media Stream, which put their own UI on a streaming-based Freeview platform – but those services cost money, and Freely is, well, free.
And, just like Freeview Play, Freely will provide a “consistent and recognisable” user experience across all Freely-enabled TVs in the market regardless of how it is accessed.
This approach ensures that regardless of the brand or model of the smart TV, users can enjoy a uniform interface that marries the convenience of streaming with the richness of traditional broadcast content (alas, it will only be available on actual TVs, at least at launch – and not on set-top boxes or mobile devices).
The new user interface features, which are streamlined – and streaming-based – versions of features we know from other platforms, are:
MiniGuide: This pop-up interface appears each time users switch channels, creating a seamless browsing experience and enabling viewers to easily discover related live or on-demand content.
Browse: Viewers will be able to press the Freely button on their remote to explore recommended live and on-demand programming from the UK’s leading broadcasters and free-to-air channels, all in one place.
TV Guide: An intuitive 7-day guide that integrates live TV and on-demand content discovery, simplifying access to favourite shows and new episodes.
Today Freely is also announcing its upcoming collaboration with UKTV (soon to be called U) to bring its portfolio of free channels to the platform via broadband. Those channels include Dave, Drama, Yesterday and W.
Sarah Milton and Carl Pfeiffer, Joint Chief Product Officers at Everyone TV, said: “It’s clear the way people are watching TV is changing, with more audiences switching over to a broadband-only connection.
“We’ve built Freely around the needs of British audiences, bringing them the freedom to choose how they want to watch, with all their favourite shows from the UK’s leading broadcasters all in one place for free.
“We’re really proud of what we’re launching with Freely and are excited about bringing major enhancements like the MiniGuide to viewers as Freely launches in Q2 this year.”
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Your data and your responses to advertising is their income stream. Which is why, unless you’re paying a subscription, you have to have a box between you and the broadcast source and/or waste your life watching adverts for incontinence pads and laxatives in order to watch second rate TV programmes. It’s known as civilization.
I note that the Freely interface, as expected, is clearly not aimed at those over 70 and 80 ..
It has come down from on high that we shall not be allowed to record programmes and zip through the advertisements. That is now as clear as day. First Sky Glass and Sky Stream, then the Virgin version, and now this. Having experienced Sky Stream for the past year, I can tell you that the Ad Skipping Service is feeble and works haphazardly. Each channel (ITV, C4, C5, etc) have differing methods for zipping through ads, some a lot more successful than others. Even Sky can’t use the system it uses with NowTV (which automatically keeps ads off air), relying on much work with the finger on zapper to watch.
My 19 month trip with Sky Stream is soon to end, and will not be renewed. In all that time, I think that apart from Sport, I have not watched a single TV programme on broadcast TV from any of the Sky channels.
Most of my viewing has been catchup, Netflix, Discovery+ and You Tube, the occasional Premier League match, and F1. I think just a sub to NowTV will suffice in future. And I have a YouView recorder in perfect condition, which I shall resurrect and press into service.
Streaming without recording is bound to fail. The big cheeses just haven’t realised it yet.
Is it worth buying a new 4k Freesat box just now or better to wait until Freely is up and running?
Will they work off freesat dishes and what if you don’t have wi fi .?????
As I understand it, your Freely TV or box will need to be connected via ethernet or WiFi only. It is not an “over-the-air” broadcast system.
Freely will support over-the-air channels (first via aerials and later via satellite on specific devices), in addition to the broadband-based channels – but the whole point is the broadband-based channels, otherwise it’s better to just stick with Freeview or Freesat.
ITV X still can’t transmite local News / weather at the moment
It’s important that music TV channels are eliminated from Freely and will only be available on subscription by traditional satellite and cable. The Box and 4 Music are being closed so that Freeview will never have any music TV again, and all music channels have been eliminated from Sky Stream maintaining a clear and permanent difference between Sky Stream and the Sky Dish where MTV and even a few free music TV channels are permitted, for now. But can we be sure that (a) Freely will have NO music channels at launch, and (b) Freely will NEVER have a music TV channel? Futhermore there is sometimes music TV on the BBC Red Button. Can we be certain that the BBC Red Button will not be available on Freely, and that it will be reserved only for Freeview via an aerial, Sky Dish and traditional cable as at present? Otherwise the threat of free music TV could be allowed to grow unregulated with disastrous consequences for commercial radio. Music TV must only be permitted by subscription to MTV on traditional Dish or Cable. This is the effective status quo, with only a few restricted exceptions such as Clubland TV, awaiting closure.
The idea is to allow the BBC to continue charging for a TV license, don’t buy a compatible TV, don’t watch BBC or terrestrial live TV.
Cancel your TV license save 170.00 a year give it to netflix Amazon.
Why is it important for them to be banned from Freely?
There is no reason whatsoever for them to be paid, why can’t those who use free TV have access to music channels?
While we’re at it, music TV DOES stream on Sky Glass/Stream, heres the list:
• B4U Music – 712
• Kerrang! – 358
• KISS – 356
• Magic – 357
• MTV – 137
• MTV Music – 350
• MTV Hits – 351
• MTV 80s – 353
• MTV 90s – 352
• The Box – 355
• 4Music – 354
I don’t have broadband will it effect me
No, not at all, Freeview and Freesat will be part of Freely for the foreseeable future.
Clearly a few commentors have not read the article properly.
Freely will operate by aerial , has to for those who do not have broad band . There will be the option of top set boxes so no need to upgrade tv again.
Unless the tv is so old it will not support 1080p. (4k programming does not exsist on free to air or satellite ) 4k tvs provide an upscale from 1080p to a simulated 2k . ..
My daughters 108p runs my old Sony watch only sky box (free to air) aerial for the rest and amazon stick for every thing else.. ps sky subscribers have a look at now tv app (part of sky) much cheaper same TV channels no tie in .
I bet amazon will support freely when it launches
Will every channel on freely be in high definition? I sincerely hope so as that’s the only reason I subscribe to sky stream
Can’t see how to comment so I’m replying to this. The benefit of recording, not streaming is skipping the adverts. How do we do that on streaming?
Yes likewise!
Agree Brian. Recording and archiving are important features for me.
Take itvX as an example. You can’t skip adverts watching live, whether on terrestrial or streaming (the itvX app, in some of its incarnations, let you watch linear* (live) TV).
To skip adverts on On Demand, you can subscribe to itvX Premium, which cuts them out for you.
If you record itvX on the EE (was BT) Pro box in terrestrial mode, you can skip the adverts when watching back.
But if you record in IP mode, you can’t skip them – even if you have the Premium subscription.
This is a taste of things to come, especially if other commercial channels follow suit; they can make recording unattractive.
It will be interesting to see what Freely’s position on this is going to be, if a recorder for Freely becomes available,
I just hope that my Humax will continue to chug along for as long as possible. I record any programmes on commercial TV channels and watch later so I can “jump” all the commercial breaks. I know why they have commercials but I don’t know why they have to be so dumb and boring, I just can’t stand them.
1. Will I be able to organise the tv channels into the positions I want in my favourites.
2. Will I be abke to remotly set up recordings and delete recordings
3. Will it have a 7 or 8 dat TV guide
4. Will it have a Search function that shows all the prorammes on TV during the next week with the day time & channel.
5 Please tell me it wont have the STUPID dark blue text on black bachground as the Manhatton box has so people cant read it
1. No one knows yet.
2. See 1, though being an onlime streaming syatem, I would assume yes.
3. The article / Press release clearly states 7 days.
4. Theirs clearly a magnifying glass icon on the images, also, the fact that Freely is to blend live TV and On Demand together, it will obviously show results for 7 days live TV, full series, catch-up / On Demand content.
5. Theirs a load of images in the article and on Freely’s press release, it clearly shows white text on dark grey.
Any idea.
Can I record using freely.
Will I be able to avail of all features e.g.finding material already shown on UK TV.
I am located in Republic of Ireland
John O’Brien
Thanks
Any idea when new boxes are coming, as I’ve been waiting a ages for one, constantly being told there coming.
It’s not even launched yet, not until Q2 (anytime up until June), and may not even launch then if it’s not ready.
They just want us to watch averts in the future .
They should also release this as an app for the likes of Apple TV’s, Firesticks etc, there is no real need to restrict to this to new televisions and down the line their own hardware.
The reason for this is to eventually replace Freeview / Freesat. Therefore it’ll be (they’re hoping) in all TVs just as Freeview is now.
Broadcast tv is one way, any internet connection works in both directions. We all know the streamers collects lots of information on the viewing habits of their users. What information will Freely collect, who will own that data and how will it be used?
Can Cordbusters ask Freely for their privacy policy?
What of major sporting events? Sometimes contracts did not allow streaming. Has that era passed? Or will people find suddenly they’ve moved over and an event isn’t available?
It never made sense to me TVs don’t come with the ability to Pause and Rewind Live TV.
You only get this today if you have an additional device plugged in.
Fitting memory to a TV would be cheap for manufacturers.
So it’s good after over 20 years this will finally be a standard TV feature.
Most TV can record and pause Live TV, all you need is a USB stick and you’re all set, been around for many years now.
Though, I do agree, it’s about time TV manufacturers install decent hard drives in their sets.
a set top box connected to ethernet then a HDMI lead to a existing TV would sell (no aerial or satellite dish needed) if a new tv is needed for freely the take up will be very small.
Setttop boxes are coming later too.
Why should I have to buy a new set top box. I have s feesat humax recorder which I use alot
You don’t have to. Your freesat box will continue to do what it always has done.
I know it’s a long way off, but I read that the Sky Contracts with Astra need renewing in 2028 and it’s likely that they will not renew (they don’t offer satellite TV to new customers anymore, only Sky Stream or Sky Glass).
If they don’t sign up it’s likely that Satellite TV in the UK will disappear.
Although they will be welcome when they come, I can’t see anything that they will do that you can’t already do by having ITVX, BBC iPlayer and the 4 and 5 apps on a FireTV/Roku/AppleTV/AndroidTV box. It looks like the only advantage of a Freely app would be a slightly simpler UI.
How will we record programmes,?
You’ve never been able to record if all you’ve got is a TV. Setttop boxes are coming later though.
Millions dying record any more. It’s seen as less crucial.
I’m assuming this will only be available on new devices and existing devices won’t receive a update to switch over to freely even if they support all the features that freely offer. I got a Freesat box a year ago and if it doesn’t receive a update to freely and I’ll have to get another box I’ll probably just keep the current box because it was kind of expensive and I expect the freely boxes to be the same.
They may support the features but they don’t have the Freely hardware.
If you’re happy with Freesat you don’t need to replace it though. It’s for new purchases.
There’s another reason they want to move to broadband: They want to turn off the high power transmitters which cost a great deal of money to power.
Though they are, for the foreseeable future continuing broadcasts on both terrestrial and satellite, so those savings won’t come quickly.
Broadcasters are required by law to provide terrestrial and extra-terrestrial distribution of their channels. The terrestrial distribution will be the last to go, as it is important to maintain it in order to prevent foreign intervention in broadcast systems, such as the shooting down of satellites. However, due to Europe’s current precarious situation, it is suspected that the government may hesitate to switch off the broadcast systems.