Panasonic, the popular Japanese electronics manufacturer, has officially entered the Freely arena with its first range of compatible TVs now available for purchase in the UK.
Consumers can find these new models at major retailers such as Currys and John Lewis, offering a fresh option for those looking to embrace the new broadband-based successor to Freeview and Freesat.
The new 4K TVs are available in four sizes (from 43″ to 65″) and start at £449 (see more details below).
What is Freely?
For those not yet familiar with Freely, it’s the UK’s new free-to-stream TV platform that aims to change the way Britons consume TV.
Launched earlier this year, Freely is designed to be the broadband-based heir to Freeview and Freesat, offering viewers a unified platform for both live and on-demand content without the need for an aerial or satellite dish.
Developed by Everyone TV (the organisation behind Freeview and Freesat), Freely provides a seamless experience where viewers can access both over-the-air TV channels and broadband-based, on-demand content within the same Electronic Programme Guide (EPG).
However, it’s worth noting that Freely’s initial channel lineup is still limited.
The platform only features streaming channels from the five main broadcasters – BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and STV.
This selection falls short of the extensive range currently available on traditional Freeview or Freesat devices, and even Freeview Play devices have a wider selection of UK streaming apps.
However, the channel lineup is expected to expand over time as the platform matures.
Meanwhile, one of the key advantages of Freely is its ability to work with both broadband and aerial connections. This means that connecting an aerial to a Freely TV will provide access to all the over-the-air channels currently available on Freeview, in addition to the broadband-based channels.
However, some advanced features like Live Pause or programme restart may not be available for over-the-air content.
Similar services from the pay-TV companies – Sky Stream / Glass, Virgin Media Stream and EE TV, also stream Freeview channels over broadband, but with a much broader selection of channels.
However, those are paid services – while Freely is, as the name suggests, free (if you don’t take into account the TV Licence fee and the need to buy a brand-new TV at this point.)
Freely TVs Already Available in the UK
For now, Freely is only available on new (2024) Smart TVs from a limited selection of manufacturers – and is not available on older TVs or on any set-top boxes or streaming sticks (even the brand new Manhattan T4-R Freeview Recorder can’t offer Freely at this point).
Prior to Panasonic’s entry, Freely was already available on select TV models from other manufacturers.
Hisense was the first to bring Freely Compatible TVs to the UK market, with its 2024 range including the U8N, U7N, U6N, and E7N PRO series.
Bush TVs, available at Argos, joined the Freely lineup in June 2024, offering more affordable options for consumers looking to access the platform.
Additional Brands Announced
In June 2024, Everyone TV confirmed four new Smart TV partners for Freely, although these were not yet available to purchase at the time:
Toshiba: Set to offer Freely-compatible QLED 4K TVs with Dolby Atmos sound.
Sharp: Planning to integrate Freely into their GK4 4K and GM6 4K QLED models.
Metz: One of Germany’s oldest TV brands, aiming to launch new Freely-compatible QLED+ TVs with Dolby Vision and Atmos.
Panasonic’s New Freely-Compatible Models
Now, Panasonic has joined the fray with its W60AE series, offering four size options to suit various living spaces and budgets:
– 43W60AE 43″ (£449)
– 50W60AE 50″ (£499)
– 55W60AE 55″ (£599)
– 65W60AE 65″ (£749)
Key features of the Panasonic W60AE series include:
- 4K Ultra HD Resolution (3840 x 2160p)
- HDR support including Dolby Vision, HDR10, and Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG)
- Dolby Atmos sound processing
- Three HDMI 2.1 ports (one ARC compatible)
- Built-in WiFi and Ethernet connectivity
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Freeview HD tuner (DVB-T2) and DVB-S2/DVB-C
- 7-day EPG and 7-day catch-up with Freely
- TiVo OS smart platform
The W60AE series offers a range of smart TV services, including popular catch-up TV apps (BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, My5 and others) and streaming services (Amazon’s Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix, YouTube).
For gamers, the inclusion of a Game Control Board feature promises low latency and “super fast reaction”, although the 60 Hz refresh rate may not satisfy next-gen players.
The larger 65″ model boasts a slightly sleeker profile, weighing 11.6 kg without the stand compared to the 43″ model’s 8 kg. All models feature a black finish and come with a one-year guarantee.
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The EPG in recent applications allows previously broadcast programmes to be listed and then accessed through the appropriate streaming service. This is a useful facility. The current Freely implementation on my Hisense TV doesn’t do this. I hope a future update will fix this.
I would want a new TV with both FREESAT and FREELY. Any TV without freesat is no use to me. I cannot get freeview and freely alone is useless.
I hope TV makers understand that.
Imagine a world where the consumer no longer gets what they want. Recordings to keep of programmes that are never repeated, ability to fast forward credits, round ups of what happened five minutes ago, and of course adverts. All gone in their brave new world. Freely is backwards technology for the benefit of the TV industry and advertisers, at the expense of viewers.
Hands up all those happily awaiting another TV system where you can’t record programmes and FF through the adverts. I think it is now becoming obvious that it’s an industry wide move. One can’t help if the advertising industry is perhaps financing a lot of the development?