Explainer | If you are buying a TV, you may find many models no longer reference Freeview support. Particularly among budget models, Freely has largely replaced Freeview.
- Should you opt for a Freely TV over Freeview?
- What are the differences?
What’s the difference between Freeview and Freely?
Freeview relies on digital terrestrial TV to broadcast channels, which are received by an aerial.
If your Freely TV is plugged into an aerial, it will also receive the same channels via the digital terrestrial TV network.
- However, the channels will be listed in a different order. For example, ITV3 will appear on channel 7, not 10. That’s because the Freely channel list overrides the Freeview channel list.
- If an individual channel can be streamed instead (via an official stream supported by Freely) your TV will stream the channel via the internet instead of receiving it through an aerial.
- You’ll be offered a better quality stream than the terrestrial equivalent. For example, a channel can be offered in HD on Freely, but is only SD on Freeview.
- Freely also offers full ongoing support for all the main streaming apps offered by the main channels. Starting this summer, this includes access to streaming-only channels from ITV, Channel 4 and 5 that are not available on Freeview.
Does a Freely TV support Freeview?
As a last resort, if your Freely TV is disconnected from the internet for a longer period of time, it will begin to behave like a normal Freeview TV. In time, it will revert back to the Freeview channel numbering system. That’s because without an internet connection, it can’t connect to the Freely channel list.
Can I access TV without an aerial?
Freeview devices need an aerial to work.
Freely devices don’t need an aerial. But some channels won’t be available if you only connect your Freely TV to the internet (either via wi-fi or an ethernet cable to your router). On the flip side, you’ll get some services that you can’t with Freeview. This includes S4C outside of Wales and BBC Scotland outside of Scotland.
See also: Freely channel guide.
Which TVs now include Freely?
TV partners include Amazon Fire TVs, Bush, Hisense, JVC, METZ, Panasonic, Philips, Roku, Sharp, TCL, Titan OS, TiVo, Toshiba, and VIDAA.
Older TVs made by the above companies will still support Freeview instead, and that won’t change.
Some of the above brands are actually made by Turkish manufacturer Vestel. They’re behind a range of budget and mid-range brands you’ll find a major electronics retailers and supermarkets, including some of their own-label TVs. As a result, particularly at the value-end of the market, Freely now dominates.
But some big premium labels including LG, Samsung and Sony haven’t joined in yet. Some of their TV models don’t openly support Freeview either. That’s because of the rules surrounding when a TV can advertise Freeview support. But they all support reception of Freeview channels through an aerial alongside their own internet TV services. Samsung’s internet TV platform is called TV Plus. LG has LG Channels. Meanwhile, Sony’s offer varies, depending on the model.
Will my Freeview TV be automatically upgraded to Freely?
No. You’ll need to buy a new TV to use Freely. There’s also a suggestion there might be a streaming stick available in the future to upgrade older TVs.
It’s only relevant if you want to ditch the aerial now and receive TV services via the internet instead.
Why wouldn’t I choose Freely?
If you have a slow or unreliable internet connection, then Freely isn’t for you. It needs a minimum connection of 10Mbps.
It’s also not ideal if you’re on a metered internet connection, as live streaming TV will quickly eat into your data allowance.
In contrast, if you have a reliable high speed full fibre internet connection, Freely might be a good option. It can be used with any internet service provider.
However, if you’re planning to install the TV a long way from your router, you may need to enhance your wi-fi. That might be difficult if you’re in a building with thick walls, or you live in a densely populated area, like a block of flats, where there’s lots of interfering wi-fi signals. No problem for a tech expert, but not straightforward if you’re not.
Why is Freely a long-term replacement for Freeview?
Broadcasters are talking about an IP-switchover. This involves switching viewers over from traditional TV platforms to streaming TV platforms.
At the present time, Freely offers viewers a channel list that contains both terrestrial and streaming channels. As you browse through the channels, it may not be obvious that the channel you’re watching is streamed instead of being received through an aerial.
In time, more channels will become available as streaming channels.
At this point, broadcasters can specify if they want to force Freely receivers to prioritise reception of a particular channel via an internet stream instead of via an aerial. When a channel switches to streaming, you’re no longer reliant on the terrestrial TV signal.
Once the number of people using Freely TVs outnumbers the number of people using Freeview TVs, broadcasters can look at turning off the terrestrial TV signal altogether.
The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5 see Freely as a key tool to speed up the migration, particularly among TV viewers who don’t subscribe to pay TV.
Could Freely also replace Freesat?
Freely’s specifications also covers new devices that can access satellite TV. Again, a Freely satellite receiver would prioritise internet streams of channels like BBC One. Meanwhile, channels that currently don’t stream via Freely can continue to be received via satellite.
The future role of satellite TV in the UK is yet to be determined. The BBC has already voiced its concern that any withdrawal from satellite by Sky may affect the future viability of satellite TV. As a result, Freely may in time also replace satellite.
Is Freely guaranteed to replace Freeview?
The BBC has indicated it doesn’t want to continue its digital terrestrial TV network. The BBC was the main broadcaster involved with setting up Freeview in the first place, back in 2002, working with Crown Castle (now Arqiva) to create a free-to-air platform that could speed up the transition from analogue to digital using the bandwidth vacated by the failed ITV Digital.
But whether Freely in its current form will become the main replacement remains to be seen.
It’s still fairly unique in the technology it uses. Other countries looking at migrating to an IP-streaming environment are looking at different approaches. If you remember VHS v Betamax, there’s still a similar battle to be fought over which set of standards will win.
By: Marc Thornham