Freely users will be able to access more channels without needing an aerial in 2026, as a number of Freeview services, plus streaming-only channels join the platform.
- Blaze, Talking Pictures and Gemporia among the Freeview channels streaming along to Freely.
- Crime reality streaming services from AMC join in 2026.
Everyone TV, the operator behind the Freely TV platform has unveiled new deals with broadcasters as it seeks to bolster its fledging streaming TV platform.
Freely launched in 2024 as a next generation streaming TV service which works on wi-fi or ethernet connections. However, viewers still need to plug an aerial in to receive the full set of free-to-air channels in their area. That’s because not all broadcasters available on Freeview have signed up to join Freely’s streaming service.
This week’s announcement confirms Blaze, Gemporia (formerly known as Gems TV) and Talking Pictures TV will join Freely’s streaming service in 2026. An exact date isn’t yet confirmed.
Pre-empting Ofcom’s announcement on local TV licence extensions, Local TV services should also start to become available as Freely streams.
How will this affect me if I use Freely?
Once the above mentioned channels are activated on Freely’s streaming service, any Freely TVs connected to both the internet and a TV aerial should switch from receiving these channels via an aerial to streaming them.
At the same time, any Freely devices only connected to the internet (i.e. no aerial plugged in) will begin to receive the channels for the first time.
For example, if your Freely TV is connected to a TV aerial, you can currently see Blaze on channel 41. The signal is delivered through digital terrestrial TV – the same technical platform used by Freeview, although it appears on a different channel number. If your Freely TV is only connected to the internet, Blaze isn’t currently available. That will change next year. Freely’s backers – the main UK broadcasters – want to ultimately ensure all Freeview channels can be streamed, so they can turn off digital terrestrial TV.
Notably, the internet streams of all channels should be at a higher resolution than the signals currently delivered terrestrially.
New streaming channels
Freely has also signed deals with Bloomberg and AMC Networks International.
Bloomberg TV+, a streaming service you may have encountered on other streaming TV platforms, will also become available on Freely’s channel list in 2026.
Additionally, AMC Networks International will add crime reality streaming channels True Crime UK, Evidence of Evil and Bloodline Detectives. It will also launch two reality channels: Love After Lock Up and AMC Reality.
That will mean there’s two near identical sounding channels on Freely – there’s already a regular broadcast channel called True Crime (channel 37). It is best known for wall-to-wall Judge Judy during the day. True Crime UK is the similarly-branded streaming-only service, joining Freely on a non-exclusive basis. Both True Crime and True Crime UK are operated by AMC Networks International.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Everyone TV