LG smart TVs will include Freeview Play as standard for at least the next five years, providing certainty for LG TV buyers and guaranteeing ongoing support.
The agreement ends a turbulent two years between Freeview and LG. After years of supporting Freeview Play, LG lets its licence lapse in 2020. This resulted in 2020 model LG smart TVs going on sale with Freeview Play’s apps. Last year, the two organisations agreed a deal covering 2021 models only. Now, after today’s agreement, Freeview Play is guaranteed on LG smart TVs until at least the middle of the decade.
LG now accounts for around a fifth of smart TV sales in the UK.
As part of the arrangement, Freeview and LG will also work together on future product updates.
What is Freeview Play?
Freeview Play is designed to cater for changes in how viewers consume television. It currently combines services delivered online with services received through an aerial. However, Freeview is planning to make more of its service available without an aerial in the long-term.
All Freeview Play compatible devices include BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub (soon ITVX), All 4, My5, UKTV Play, CBS CatchUp Channels UK, Horror Bites, POP Player, STV Player and BBC Sounds as standard.
The platform has over 30,000 hours of on demand TV. Users can explore the full range of content by accessing Channel 100.
New Freeview Play devices will also support channel list management (CLM). This will allow broadcasters to swap HD and SD channels around in the future on compatible devices.
All Freeview Play devices also include an accessible TV guide (channel 555) and support additional HbbTV-based interactive and streaming services. These include the BBC green button service to restart the current programme and streaming portals found above channel 260 in the guide.
Speaking of the LG-Freeview Play deal, Simon Hunt, Director of Business Development and Strategy for Freeview Play said:
“Freeview Play is going from strength to strength, and we are delighted that LG, our biggest brand TV partner, continues to show its commitment to the platform and the value it delivers to UK viewers.”
Peter Booth, Commercial Director CE from LG said:
“The strength of support and partnership from the Freeview Play Team at all levels makes our lives both easier and more enjoyable. The launch of the 2021 Freeview Play platform was incredibly ‘en pointe’ given the vast change and dynamics of how our joint end users have consumed world-leading catch up services throughout the recent pandemic.”