What is Freely, and can I get it on my TV?

The age of streaming means we’re watching live TV less and less and paid-for streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus are competing with free TV channels for our attention. 

Freely aims to tackle this shift head on and protect free TV for the future. However, you’ll need a Freely-compatible TV to get it.

Check our TV streamer reviews for the some of the best ways to get extra streaming services for your TV.

What is Freely?

Freely is a new streaming service launched by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. It lets you watch live TV and on demand content on your smart TV for free using just a wi-fi connection. You don’t need an aerial, dish or box to access it.

This collaboration between the four public service broadcasters, which was launched in April 2024, aims to ‘secure the future of free TV’. 

Freely lets you watch live TV via streaming alongside on demand content for the first time and easily switch between them. You can watch live or on demand programmes from all four channels without needing to use different apps. It’s run by Everyone TV, which also runs Freeview and Freesat.

Do I need a Freely TV?

Yes, you’ll need a TV with Freely already built in to watch it. You can’t get it on your existing TV, whether it’s smart or not.

Hisense and Bush were the first TV brands to partner with Freely, which is now available on their 2024 4K models. It’s also been announced that Metz, Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba will be launching Freely TVs.

As with other smart TVs, you’ll be able to add paid-for TV streaming services such as Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video and Now. Which ones you can add depends on the apps that are available on the specific model you’re buying.

How much does Freely cost?

The service itself is free but you’ll need a Freely TV to get it. These are currently available for between £230 and £1,599.

You’ll also need to pay for an internet connection with a speed of at least 10Mbps and a TV Licence, which costs £169.50 a year in 2024.

What useful features does Freely offer?

Freely has many of the features you’ll find on other TV sets and services, including: 

• the ability to pause, restart and rewind live TV
• a TV guide showing what’s on now, next and later
• a MiniGuide that pops up at the bottom of the screen when you’re switching between live channels
• an accessible TV guide for people with sight or hearing needs
• a browse page to help you find programmes you want to watch
• parental controls and PIN protection.

However, what sets it apart is that you can get live TV and on demand content in one place without an aerial or dish. This means your TV can be anywhere in or around your home where it can connect to the internet via wi-fi or an ethernet cable. New features will be added in the future.

What channels can I watch on Freely?

You can stream all the TV channels available from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. These include ITV2 and ITV3, BBC News and BBC Four, Film4 and More4, and 5STAR and 5USA. You can also watch the channels from the public service broadcasters for Scotland and Wales – STV and S4C. 

By connecting an aerial as well, you’ll be able to ‘top up’ to get even more channels through Freely. These include Really and Sky Arts.

As well as watching TV, you can listen to national and local BBC radio stations through your Freely set too.

What other devices can I watch Freely on?

You can’t currently watch Freely on anything other than a smart TV. Unlike Freeview, you can’t watch it online and there’s no app that lets you watch it on a tablet or smartphone. It’s not clear whether this will be available in the future. 

What’s the difference between Freely and Freeview? 

Freeview gives you access to live TV via an aerial while Freeview Play integrates on demand content so it’s all in one place like Freely. The difference is that you don’t need an aerial to use Freely as it lets you access live TV through the internet. 

Freely gives you many of the same channels as Freeview via streaming alone but you still need to connect an aerial to get all the channels Freeview offers. 

Will Freely replace Freeview? 

When you buy a new Freely TV you’ll get Freely to access free TV instead of Freeview. However, Freeview will still continue to operate – as will Freesat – and be available on other smart TVs. 

How else can I watch free to air TV in the UK? 

If your smart TV has Freeview Play you can watch both live and on demand free to air TV. Otherwise, you’ll need to watch live TV through Freeview and on demand content through the individual channel apps – BBC iPlayer, ITVX, the Channel 4 app and My5. 

Most smart TVs have these apps already installed or you may be able to install them if not. You can also access them online, by downloading the apps onto a mobile device or through paid-for TV services such as Sky or Virgin Media. You can also use a TV streamer such as an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Chromecast