Freely, which went live in April 2024, is designed as a modern complement to traditional Freeview and Freesat. Instead of relying on aerial or satellite signals, it delivers live TV over Wi-Fi and broadband connections. The platform is run by Everyone TV – the organisation jointly owned by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 that oversees free-to-air TV in the UK.
With traditional terrestrial TV expected to phase out gradually by 2032 as gigabit broadband coverage reaches nearly every home, Freely is being positioned as part of that long-term shift.
4Reality (Channel 67): home to reality TV favourites like Married at First Sight, Naked Attraction, First Dates and Made in Chelsea.
4Homes (Channel 68): a mix of property and lifestyle shows including Grand Designs, A Place in the Sun and Location, Location, Location.
4Life (Channel 82): focused on travel, food, pets and people, with shows such as The Dog House and Travel Man.
More exclusive channels are expected to follow as Freely expands.
Grace Boswood, Channel 4’s Director of Technology & Distribution, said the move was part of the broadcaster’s transformation into “the world’s first public service streamer.”
Freely now offers over 50 live channels via broadband, along with a large library of on-demand shows. The service is also rolling out on more devices, including Netgem’s new streaming TV box, which is often bundled by broadband providers such as Brsk, TalkTalk, Community Fibre and Wightfibre.
One potential hurdle for Freely is device availability. At present, it’s not yet supported on popular streaming platforms such as Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast or Roku. Until that happens, adoption is likely to remain limited.
As TV services like Freely continue to shift from aerials and satellites to streaming over broadband, having a fast, reliable connection will be increasingly important – especially if multiple people in your home are streaming at the same time. Find out what connection is available to you right now with our postcode checker.
Freeview – traditional free-to-air TV delivered via an aerial. You’ll need an aerial connection to watch live Freeview channels.
Freesat – free TV delivered via a satellite dish. Works in areas where aerial reception is poor.
Freely – the new service that delivers live TV and on-demand shows over broadband (Wi-Fi or wired). No aerial or satellite dish needed – just a reliable internet connection.
With Freely, your broadband becomes your TV signal. That means the faster and more reliable your internet is, the smoother your streaming experience will be.
