Advanced Television

Freely unveils new features, partners

May 8, 2025

By Colin Mann

Everyone TV has announced three new partners for its free streaming platform, Freely, as well as unveiling new features coming to the platform later this May.

Freely, the free streaming platform built into next-generation smart TVs, continues to expand its reach announcing partnerships with additional smart TV manufacturers and operating systems. Following a deal with Barcelona-based operating system Titan OS, Freely will be made available on selected 2025 Philips TVs and JVC models in Currys stores across the UK and online. Philips TVs with Freely will be available through a deal with manufacturer TP Vision. The public service broadcaster-backed streaming platform has now signed deals with TV brands that represent half of the UK TV market. The latest additions further expand the line-up of smart TV partners and operating system providers, joining Amazon Fire TVs, Bush, Hisense, METZ, Panasonic, Sharp, TCL, TiVo, Toshiba and VIDAA.

Freely continues to design features which enhance viewers’ TV experience, introducing Backwards TV Guide and Never Miss, set to launch on the platform in June. These additions will join the previously-announced My List function, making Freely even more intuitive and reinforcing the platform’s seamless viewer experience.

The features come as part of the Freely Next update that develops the platform’s live and on demand search functions:

• Backwards TV Guide: Almost half of all catch-up or on demand TV viewing takes place on the same day as the live broadcast (according to Ofcom figures) so, to make it easier for viewers to watch shows that have recently been on TV, the TV Guide now allows scroll back to earlier in the day – quickly enabling users to start streaming or add to My List. This seamlessly bridges the gap between live and on demand, with less searching and switching between apps. The new feature allows viewers to scroll back a full seven days, complementing Freely’s existing seven-day forward planner for a comprehensive viewing experience.
• Never Miss: Freely makes it easy to stay on top of the most talked about TV by highlighting what’s coming up, on now, and what’s just missed, alongside the biggest shows available on demand – right on the homepage. In its first phase, this new feature will continue to evolve introducing new ways to bring live content to the fore across the Freely interface.
• My List: For the first time, viewers can save up to 50 favourite shows from UK free-to-air broadcasters – all in one place.

“We know viewers love watching live TV and catching up with their favourite programmes soon after broadcast, so we’ve made it even easier,” said Sarah Milton, Co-Chief Product Officer at Freely. “Our new features—Backwards TV Guide, Never Miss, and My List—make finding, saving, and jumping back into great content effortless, whether live or on demand. Freely keeps evolving, offering premium features for free that other streaming platforms don’t have. And now with Freely becoming available on a wider range of new smart TVs, even more households will be able to enjoy this enhanced free streaming experience.”

“We’re excited to bring Freely to the JVC TV range, giving customers even more flexibility to enjoy the content they love,” added Paul Slater, Senior Buyer at Currys. “By adding this free-to-use platform to our affordable JVC range, which is available exclusively at Currys, we’re continuing our mission to help everyone enjoy amazing technology.”

Backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5, Freely enables audiences to watch live and on-demand content all in one place for free, without the need for a dish or aerial. With an active Wi-Fi connection, updates are automatically rolled out to Freely enabled TVs.

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, Catch Up, Connected TV, IPG, Middleware, OTT, OTT, Search/Recommendation, VOD

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