Sky and Freeview have long been dominant players in the UK TV market, reaching millions of households. However, a strong competitor, Freely, emerged in 2024 and quickly gained popularity with over one million households switching to the platform.
Since its inception, Freely has enhanced its features and expanded its TV guide to offer over 50 live channels without the need for traditional aerial or dish setups.
In a recent development, Freely introduced its new Freely Spotlight Channels, providing extra entertainment to users at no extra cost. These channels will be accessible via a standard Wi-Fi connection and will be located on channel 31 and channels 90 to 99, also available to CTV OS partners on Freely-enabled devices.
V (formerly VIDAA), the company behind the VIDAA OS used in Hisense TVs, has been announced as the launch partner for the Freely Spotlight Channels. This partnership will bring a curated selection of V’s channels to the Freely TV Guide, giving these channels increased visibility within the UK TV landscape.
While the specific content for the Spotlight Channels has not been disclosed yet, more details are expected closer to the launch date. Deep Halder, Chief Commercial Officer at Everyone TV, expressed the company’s commitment to delivering long-term value and creating new opportunities for partners while ensuring free and trusted TV accessibility for UK audiences.
For those unfamiliar with Freely, it is operated by the same team behind Freeview and Freesat, offering broadband-delivered content without the need for traditional antennas or dishes. Users only require a compatible TV or set-top box and a reliable Wi-Fi connection to access Freely’s offerings, including over 50 live channels, on-demand content, personalized recommendations, a comprehensive TV guide, and the ability to pause live TV.