Freeview Faces New Rival: Freely TV Set to Launch Without an Aerial
A new rival to Freeview is set to launch, offering a way to watch TV without the need for an aerial. Freely TV, owned by the same team as Freeview, has been gaining traction since its launch last year and is expected to become a major player in the market.
According to a report from the Mirror, Freely TV is a smart system that is receiving significant investment, with new features being added regularly. One recent update includes a backwards TV guide, allowing users to find previously aired content. This development has sparked speculation that Freely TV may soon be available via a dedicated set-top box, making it a more viable alternative to traditional Freeview.
Currently, Freely TV is only available on certain new televisions with the service pre-installed. However, some manufacturers, such as LG and Samsung, have yet to join the Freely revolution. If a standalone set-top box were to be launched, it would open up Freely TV to a wider audience and make it a more attractive option for those looking for an alternative to Freeview.
The Mirror reports that the BBC is also backing Freely TV, with director-general Tim Davie stating that the corporation is working to "double down on Freely as a universal free service to deliver live TV over broadband." Davie also mentioned that the BBC is considering a streaming media device with Freely capabilities built in, which would provide a radically simplified user interface.
In addition to the BBC’s support, TV team at TiVo has also hinted that they may bring a Freely-powered set-top box to the UK in the future. This would provide a direct rival to Sky Stream, which turns old TVs into fully smart content hubs.
The potential launch of Freely TV via a set-top box has significant implications for the TV market. With more and more people switching to streaming services, traditional methods of watching TV are becoming less popular. Sky recently confirmed that its Stream box and Glass TV are now its biggest sellers, highlighting the shift towards streaming.
As the TV market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Freely TV develops and whether it can provide a viable alternative to Freeview. With the support of the BBC and potentially a new set-top box, Freely TV is set to become a major player in the market.
The Mirror reports that Freely TV has been gaining traction since its launch, with more manufacturers including it in their screens and new features being added regularly. As the service continues to improve, it is likely that we will see a significant shift in the way people watch TV in the UK.
In conclusion, the launch of Freely TV via a set-top box has the potential to disrupt the traditional TV market and provide a new way for people to watch TV without the need for an aerial. With the support of the BBC and potentially a new set-top box, Freely TV is set to become a major rival to Freeview.
Source: Mirror
Published: 07:10, 01 Jun 2025
Updated: 07:29, 01 Jun 2025
