The latest Freeview Play update offers viewers a greater choice of recommendation genres, a new way to find Box Sets as well as a new watchlist feature.
Alongside over 80 live TV channels, Freeview Play is now home to over 40,000 hours of on demand content and 10 on demand players.
Viewers can explore Freeview Play’s content library through channel 100. Freeview Play’s Search and Recommendation tools are designed to assist with browsing and finding programmes from across TV channels and on-demand players.
What’s new?
The Freeview Play update brings a brand-new look, including a dark background, and larger imagery to better showcase the content available.
For viewers seeking to watch something specific, the latest update also brings new recommendation genres including:
- Food,
- Music and Arts,
- Science & Nature,
- History.
That’s on top of the existing genres that include Comedy, Drama & Soaps, Entertainment, Factual, Food Entertainment, Factual, Movies, and Lifestyle.
A new Box Sets area allows viewers to browse what’s on offer across the on-demand players on Freeview Play. For example, viewers can find box sets from BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and All4.
Viewers will also be able to curate their own watchlists via the new My Shows feature.
Freeview Play is built into most new TVs in the UK. Since launching in 2015, the platform has seen impressive growth, and now has over 11 million regular users.
Owen Jenkinson from Freeview Play commented
“We are continually evolving and adding new free features so we can provide excellent value to consumers. With the Women’s Euro and the Love Island final just days away, millions of us will soon be searching for our next TV obsession and these latest updates to Freeview Play will be on hand to help.”
The on-demand players available as part of Freeview Play
Any TV or receiver that is compatible with Freeview Play will automatically include the following services:
- BBC iPlayer,
- ITV Hub (ITVX from autumn 2022)
- All 4,
- My5,
- UKTV Play,
- CBS Catchup Channels UK,
- Legend,
- POP Player,
- BBC Sounds,
- STV Player.
In addition, most devices also have their own selection of free and premium on-demand and streaming apps. Each TV manufacturer will have its own agreements with streaming services.
Iain Hatton, features writer, RXTV