Sky and Freeview have long been dominant players in the UK TV market, reaching millions of households with their content. However, a new contender has emerged in the form of Freely, which entered the scene in 2024 and has quickly gained traction, attracting over one million households.
Since its inception, Freely has continuously enhanced its features and expanded its TV guide to include more than 50 live channels accessible without the need for traditional aerial or satellite dish installations.
In a recent development, Freely has introduced its new offering, Freely Spotlight Channels, providing additional entertainment options to households at no extra cost. These channels will be streamed exclusively through standard Wi-Fi connections.
The Spotlight Channels are set to occupy channel positions 31, as well as channels 90 to 99, and will also be accessible to CTV OS partners on Freely-enabled devices. V, the company behind the VIDAA OS utilized in Hisense televisions, will be the launch partner, curating a selection of channels from its lineup for the Freely TV Guide.
These new channels will be integrated alongside established UK broadcasters in the TV guide, offering selected channels increased visibility and credibility within the regulated UK TV landscape. While specific content details are yet to be confirmed, more information is expected closer to the launch date.
Deep Halder, Chief Commercial Officer at Everyone TV, emphasized Freely’s commitment to delivering long-term value across the ecosystem, enabling CTV OS partners to engage in specific sections of the TV guide while ensuring free, reliable TV content remains easily accessible to UK audiences in the digital era.
Freely, operated by the same team behind Freeview and Freesat, stands out for delivering all content through broadband connections, eliminating the need for traditional aerial or satellite installations. Users only require a compatible TV or set-top box and a stable Wi-Fi connection to access more than 50 live channels, on-demand content, personalized recommendations, a comprehensive TV guide, and the ability to pause live TV.