Freeview Play is a new service from the well-known digital TV platform that aims to rival YouView by offering a wide range of catch-up and on-demand content — all without a subscription fee.
We want to keep television fair and open for everyone.
Due to launch later this year, Freeview Play will be available subscription-free on a variety of smart TVs and set-top boxes. At launch, on-demand options will include major broadcasters’ services such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, and 4oD (soon to be All4).
This initial lineup is unsurprising, given Freeview’s backing by major industry partners including the BBC, Sky, Channel 5 and Arqiva.
Guy North, Managing Director of Freeview, said: “Our new brand identity is bold and contemporary and will stand out in what is a very crowded TV market. Today marks the start of an exciting future for the Freeview brand.”
Freeview will likely expand the available apps and services before launch to match competitors, aiming to include platforms such as Demand 5, Netflix, Sky Now, Sky Store, Quest, UKTV, Milkshake and S4C. The service’s success will depend in part on being preinstalled on new television models, since many users already own streaming devices or set-top boxes like Apple TV, Roku, Google Chromecast or Amazon Fire TV.
“In the same way that we took the UK from analogue to digital, Freeview Play is the next step in that vision and it will put the viewer in control, without complexity, commitment or unnecessary cost – we want to keep television fair and open for everyone,” North added.
Taking this step is important for Freeview as it upgrades its platform to compete more directly with rival providers. BT’s YouView currently holds a content advantage and benefits from being offered as an add-on with the company’s broadband packages.
Freeview, by contrast, has the benefit of being built into a large number of television sets. That preinstallation increases the likelihood that future sets will continue to include Freeview Play, and it helps keep the brand familiar to a wide audience, including older viewers.
We look forward to learning more about Freeview’s plans for Play and will provide updates as further details emerge.
Do you think Freeview Play will compete with rival services? Let us know in the comments.