Freely

Last updated
Freely
Industry IPTV
Founded30 April 2024;2 months ago (2024-04-30)
HeadquartersUnited Kingdom
Products Free-to-air television and video on demand
Owner Everyone TV
Website freely.co.uk

Freely is a British free-to-air IPTV service launched in 2024 by Everyone TV, a joint venture between the country's public broadcasters BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. [1] The service offers the ability to watch live television and on demand content from the main broadcasters while seamlessly switching between them in a unified electronic programme guide (EPG). [2] Freely uses broadband internet and, other than a broadband connection, does not require a television aerial - although an aerial can be additionally used to create a hybrid platform and allow the viewing of DTT channels that are not yet available for IP streaming. The service is expected to gradually replace Freeview. [3]

Contents

Background

The Freeview digital terrestrial television service was launched in 2002 by the public broadcasters and the older analogue services were switched off by 2012. Since the 2010s, the number of live television viewers has declined in favour of internet streaming services and this trend is set to continue, especially as the availability of gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure has expanded throughout the country. [4] Due to this shift, audiences for the British public service broadcasters's content has been increasingly challenged by major global streaming services. [5]

Furthermore, the operating costs of traditional terrestrial broadcasts would outstrip usage as more viewers opt to move to broadband-only solutions delivered over IP (the internet). Most Freeview services make use of the DVB-T standard, which dates back to 1997, and only a few high-definition channels broadcast using the more efficient and newer DVB-T2 standard. [6] [7] Despite the creation of Freely, the government has stated that it is committed to the Freeview digital terrestrial platform until at least 2034. [8]

The service was first publicised as the Next Generation Platform (NGP) in May 2023. [9] Freely was unveiled in September 2023 and the first products implementing it launched on 30 April 2024, with the advertising campaign headlined "Set yourself Freely". [10]

Features

All the Freely linear channels are directly streamed via broadband and have their own channel numbers in a familiar guide, as is the case with other traditional TV platforms, instead of being confined to their individual apps (as has been the case with Freeview Play [11] and a phenomenon sometimes called "walled gardens" [1] ). A stated advantage has been that it would not require setting up and logging in to user profiles for the different on demand services such as BBC iPlayer or ITVX, thus simplifying the process. [12] Live pause and programme restarting are also offered. [13]

However, as of launch, the service only comes with the channels from the four stated public broadcasters and lacks the other or smaller channels that are additionally offered through Freeview such as Quest and Dave. [14] Freely has stated that more Freeview channels will eventually be available for IP streaming as it develops, and users may continue receiving such channels using an aerial until then. [15] A noted disadvantage has been that Freely has no recording capability as there is currently no Freely-supporting PVR on the market. [16]

Hardware and devices

Freely launched initially on brand new Hisense 4K and Bush television sets and is set to launch later in 2024 on new TVs from Toshiba, Sharp, Panasonic and Metz. [17] While support for other devices is under consideration, it is currently not offered in the form of a set-top box or dongle for existing or older TVs. [14] The new Hisense televisions continue to have terrestrial Freeview receivers as is standard, so they can be connected to an aerial and receive the remaining channels offered on Freeview. [18]

Technical

Freely is based on HbbTV Operator Application specifications. [19] It has not been publicly stated by Freely whether the streams originate from in-house servers or directly from each broadcaster's servers.[ citation needed ]

Comparison

Comparison with other British public service broadcasters' platforms
FreeviewFreesatFreeview PlayFreely
Delivery methodTerrestrialSatelliteBroadband alongside terrestrialBroadband
Launched2002200820152024
Live channelsAbout 60 TV channels (plus BBC and commercial radio channels)About 100 TV channels (plus BBC and commercial radio channels)About 60 TV channels (plus BBC and commercial radio channels) (on terrestrial)About 25 TV channels (plus BBC radio channels)
Browsing method/interface EPG EPGEPG (for terrestrial channels) or individual apps (for streaming channels)EPG
On demand contentNo, but internet-capable Freeview devices may have individual applications for the on demand platformsNo, but internet-capable Freesat devices may have individual applications for the on demand platformsYesYes
User interface typeSpecific to TV/STB manufacturerStandardisedSpecific to TV/STB manufacturerStandardised

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freeview (UK)</span> British digital terrestrial television platform

Freeview is the United Kingdom's sole digital terrestrial television platform. It is operated by Everyone TV and DTV Services Ltd, a joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky. It was launched on 30 October 2002, taking over the licence from ITV Digital which collapsed that year. The service provides consumer access via an aerial to the seven DTT multiplexes covering the United Kingdom. As of July 2020, it has 85 TV channels, 26 digital radio channels, 10 HD channels, six text services, 11 streamed channels, and one interactive channel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DVB</span> Open standard for digital television broadcasting

Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) is a set of international open standards for digital television. DVB standards are maintained by the DVB Project, an international industry consortium, and are published by a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) and European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

MHEG-5, or ISO/IEC 13522–5, is part of a set of international standards relating to the presentation of multimedia information, standardised by the Multimedia and Hypermedia Experts Group (MHEG). It is most commonly used as a language to describe interactive television services.

Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom encompasses over 100 television, radio and interactive services broadcast via the United Kingdom's terrestrial television network and receivable with a standard television set. The majority of digital terrestrial television (DTT) services, including the five former analogue channels, are broadcast free-to-air, and a further selection of encrypted pay TV services are also available.

Analogue television in the United Kingdom includes terrestrial, satellite and cable services that were broadcast using analogue television signals. Following the termination of Virgin Media's analogue cable television service in Milton Keynes in November 2013, all television in the United Kingdom is broadcast in digital only.

Freesat is a British free-to-air satellite television service, first formed as a joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc and now owned by Everyone TV. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008. Freesat offers a satellite alternative to the Freeview service on digital terrestrial television, with a broadly similar selection of channels available without subscription for users purchasing a receiver.

Now is a subscription over-the-top streaming television service operated by British satellite television provider Sky Group and American cable provider Xfinity. Launched in the United Kingdom in 2012, the service is also available in Ireland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everyone TV</span> Operator of the UK Freeview TV platform

Everyone TV is a British television communications company owned by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 that supports Freely (IPTV), Freeview (terrestrial) and Freesat (satellite) viewers and channels. It provides information about receiving terrestrial TV and advice on reception and equipment. The company also handles day-to-day technical management of the Freeview Electronic Programme Guide (EPG), allocates channel numbers and manages the launch of new services and multiplexes onto the platform. Everyone TV has been licensed by Ofcom as an EPG provider.

Freeview is New Zealand's free-to-air television platform. It is operated by a joint venture between the country's major free-to-air broadcasters – government-owned Television New Zealand and Radio New Zealand, government-subsidised Whakaata Māori, and the American-owned Warner Bros. Discovery.

EE TV is a subscription IPTV service offered by EE; a brand of British telecommunications company BT Group. It requires the signing up to and use of the EE Broadband internet and phone service, with connection via EE's official router, the EE Smart Hub.

DVB-T2 is an abbreviation for "Digital Video Broadcasting – Second Generation Terrestrial"; it is the extension of the television standard DVB-T, issued by the consortium DVB, devised for the broadcast transmission of digital terrestrial television. DVB has been standardized by ETSI.

TalkTalk TV is a UK-based consumer television and video on demand service, operated by the TalkTalk Group. It originally launched in 2000. In September 2012, the current TalkTalk TV was launched in partnership with YouView. Its television and video on demand service is delivered over a BT phone line, using ADSL or VDSL. It provides IPTV, video on demand, telephony and broadband internet access.

There are four major forms of digital television (DTV) broadcast in the United Kingdom: a direct-to-home satellite service from the Astra 28.2°E satellites provided by Sky UK, a cable television service provided by Virgin Media ; a free-to-air satellite service called Freesat; and a free-to-air digital terrestrial service called Freeview. In addition, an IPTV system known as BT TV is provided by BT. Individual access methods vary throughout the country. 77% of the United Kingdom has access to HDTV via terrestrial digital television. Satellite is the only source of HDTV broadcast available for the remaining 23%.

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YouView TV Ltd. is a British media company, a partnership of four broadcasters: the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5; and two telecommunications operators, BT Group and TalkTalk Group. It launched in 2012 the hybrid television platform named YouView, which was formed from an ambitious project between the UK's four terrestrial broadcasters originally titled Project Canvas.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV</span> Industry standard for hybrid digital television

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References

  1. 1 2 "New streaming service, Freely, launches in landmark collaboration between UK broadcasters". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  2. ↑ Goren, Or (2024-05-20). "Freeview Alternative Freely Debuts: Hail A Cab, Win A TV". Cord Busters. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  3. ↑ https://www.techradar.com/streaming/what-is-freely-the-new-bbc-itv-and-channel-4-smart-tv-platform-explained
  4. ↑ Jackson, Mark (2024-02-05). "Freely's New Live UK Broadband TV Service to Launch Q2 2024". ISPreview UK. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  5. ↑ "The UK's leading public service broadcasters set to evolve free TV for the streaming age". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  6. ↑ Goren, Or (2024-05-09). "The End Of Freeview As We Know It: Ofcom Unveils Plans". Cord Busters. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  7. ↑ "DVB-T2". BBC R&D. 2006-01-01. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  8. ↑ "Minister commits to DTT until 2034". Broadband TV News. 2024-05-10. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  9. ↑ Goren, Or (2023-07-04). "Freeview And Freesat's Big Shift: A New TV Era Is Coming". Cord Busters. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  10. ↑ "Freely "Set yourself Freely" by TMW Unlimited". www.campaignlive.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  11. ↑ "What is Freely and why is it important?". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  12. ↑ https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/285018/Future-of-TV-Distribution-Report-to-Government.pdf
  13. ↑ Goren, Or (2024-04-24). "Freeview's Future Uncovered: Freely Hands-On Review". Cord Busters. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  14. 1 2 Goren, Or (2024-04-29). "Freely Channel List Revealed: No Match For Freeview Yet". Cord Busters. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  15. ↑ Jackson, Mark (2024-04-30). "Freely's Live UK Broadband TV Stream Service Goes Live TODAY UPDATE". ISPreview UK. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  16. ↑ Goren, Or (2024-05-04). "The Death Of TV Recording: Freely Signals End Of An Era". Cord Busters. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  17. ↑ Archer, John. "Freely Smart TV Service Signs Up Four More Major TV Brands". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  18. ↑ "How to connect your device to the internet and an aerial". www.freely.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  19. ↑ Eoghan (2024-03-18). "It comes down to DVB-I versus HbbTV OpApp, right? Wrong!". DVB. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
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