Everyone TV, the organisation behind the PSB-backed Freely, has signed an agreement with Amazon that puts the streaming platform on a range of Smart TVs using the Fire TV operating system.
From the autumn, Freely will be available on Amazon Fire TV smart TVs and other smart TVs with Fire TV OS built-in, both online and in store.
“A deal of this kind, between a technology giant and those working in the public interest, is remarkable,” said Jonathan Thompson, CEO at Everyone TV. “It represents a significant development in widening the availability of Freely and therefore ensuring UK audiences can access free TV well into the future.”
The Fire TV operating system will provide Freely on new Amazon Fire TV smart TVs including Fire TV 2-Series and 4-Series.
Everyone TV has also entered into a partnership with smart TV provider, TCL, who will bring its new 2024 4k smart TVs with Fire TV OS and Freely to market this autumn. Panasonic smart TVs with Fire OS will also get Freely this autumn, giving viewers the opportunity to experience Freely on premium OLED TVs for the first time.
Freely, which launched in April 2024, is backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. It’s widely seen as the successor to Freeview and Freesat.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing Freely to Fire TV customers in the UK,” said Emma Gilmartin, Director of Fire TV Europe at Amazon. “This new deal for Freely allows us to provide even more value to our customers by giving them easy access to the best free TV shows, films and live channels from UK broadcasters, alongside the great content they already enjoy on Fire TV.”
Gareth Rayworth, Manging Director, Panasonic UK said: “Panasonic recognises how much UK viewers value content from national broadcasters, so we are delighted to be able to offer Freely to customers on our range of new FY24 TVs with Fire OS. A collaboration between Panasonic, Amazon Fire TV and Freely is a great result for viewers in the UK by combining a trusted and highly regarded TV brand, a modern and intuitive operating system, with the best free live and on demand TV, all in one place.”
Freely will also become the main TV guide across Amazon Fire TV smart TVs and smart TVs with Fire TV built-in, providing a familiar and consistent experience.
Freely is currently available on Hisense, Bush, and Toshiba and Panasonic with Tivo 2024 4K smart TVs.
Source: https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2024/10/07/freely-agrees-distribution-deal-with-amazon/