Freely to be integrated into Amazon Fire TV smart TVs
Monday 7th October, 2024: Everyone TV - the organisation behind new streaming platform Freely and the evolution of free TV in the UK - today announces a deal with Amazon Fire TV.
In a significant development for the new platform, Freely will now be available on a wide range of new next-gen smart TVs which use the Fire TV operating system (OS), bringing one of the world’s biggest brands into the family of manufacturers and OS providers who have embraced the revolutionary technology Freely offers.
Freely will be available this autumn on Amazon Fire TV smart TVs and other smart TVs with Fire TV OS built-in, both online and in store. Freely and Amazon coming together is a landmark deal between Britain’s home of free live and on demand television and a global leader in the entertainment and technology sectors.
Jonathan Thompson, CEO at Everyone TV, said: “It’s exciting to see the momentum behind Freely building so rapidly as we announce this breakthrough deal with Amazon Fire TV. A deal of this kind, between a technology giant and those working in the public interest, is remarkable. It represents a significant development in widening the availability of Freely and therefore ensuring UK audiences can access free TV well into the future.”
The Fire TV operating system will provide Freely on Amazon Fire TV smart TVs including Fire TV 2-Series and 4-Series.
Everyone TV has also entered into a partnership with smart TV provider, TCL, who will bring their new 2024 4k smart TVs with Fire TV OS and Freely to market this autumn. Panasonic smart TVs with Fire OS will also get Freely this autumn, giving viewers the opportunity to experience Freely on premium OLED TVs for the first time.
Freely, which launched in April 2024, is the new streaming platform backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. For the first time, audiences can buy smart TVs that can stream live channels alongside on demand content for free, removing the need for a dish or aerial. Featuring world-first innovations for free TV, viewers can switch seamlessly between live and on demand content from the UK’s leading broadcasters. Freely will also become the main TV guide across Amazon Fire TV smart TVs and smart TVs with Fire TV built-in, providing a familiar and consistent experience.
Jonathan Thompson added: “Everyone TV is delighted to be working with such an important global player in the TV market through a deal that allows us to bring Freely to Amazon Fire TVs. I am pleased Amazon sees the immense value that easy access to public service broadcaster and other free-to-view content brings to UK audiences. This is the beginning of a journey, bringing invaluable content to UK audiences and uniting what was an increasingly fragmented viewing experience.”
“We're thrilled to be bringing Freely to Fire TV customers in the UK," said Emma Gilmartin, Director of Fire TV Europe at Amazon. "This new deal for Freely allows us to provide even more value to our customers by giving them easy access to the best free TV shows, films and live channels from UK broadcasters, alongside the great content they already enjoy on Fire TV."
Gareth Rayworth, Manging Director, Panasonic UK said: “Panasonic recognises how much UK viewers value content from national broadcasters, so we are delighted to be able to offer Freely to customers on our range of new FY24 TVs with Fire OS. A collaboration between Panasonic, Amazon Fire TV and Freely is a great result for viewers in the UK by combining a trusted and highly regarded TV brand, a modern and intuitive operating system, with the best free live and on demand TV, all in one place.”
Freely TVs are available in stores across the UK and online at retailers such as Currys, Argos, AO, Very and John Lewis.
Freely is currently available on Hisense, Bush, and Toshiba and Panasonic with Tivo 2024 4K smart TVs. More smart TV, OS providers and content partners are still to be announced.
Notes to Editors
Freely will be available on Amazon Fire TV smart TVs including Fire TV 2-Series, 4-Series and Omni Series as well as smart TVs with Fire TV built-in, this does not include portable Fire TV devices.
Freely brings the free TV experience into the streaming age. For the first time for free, viewers can switch seamlessly between live and on demand TV, taking advantage of features such as pause, restart and access to more episodes, without having to pay. Freely TVs can be placed anywhere in the home where there’s a Wi-Fi connection, without the need for a dish or aerial. Freely ensures all audiences continue to have easy access to an aggregated free TV experience, however they choose to connect.
The first iterations of Freely are now in market available on Hisense (Vidaa), Bush (Tivo), Toshiba (Tivo) and Panasonic (Tivo), 2024 4K smart TVs, with additional features and updates being provided to users as the platform develops. Freely can be accessed via a broadband and/or DTT connection. Homes connected via IP-only and those using a hybrid IP and DTT connection may experience varying channel offerings as Freely continues to evolve.
Freely will be available on the following TCL models with Fire OS: 43-inch Model: 43PF650K, 50-inch Model: 50PF650K, 55-inch Model: 55PF650K, 65-inch Model: 65PF650K
Manufacturers make the TV hardware, whereas the TV OS partner runs the software platform on the TV. Freely is partnering with both manufacturers and OS providers and is based on open standards available to all.
Programmes showcased within images provided are for illustrative purposes.
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