S4C to be available on Freely

The service was announced earlier this week…

Viewers will be able to watch S4C programmes on Freely, a new streaming service for the UK. Freely is a collaboration between UK broadcasters BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 to futureproof free TV for the streaming age.

For the first time, audiences can stream live TV channels alongside on demand content for free via their smart TVs, removing the need for a dish or aerial. Featuring world-first innovations for free TV, viewers can switch seamlessly between live and on demand content from the UK’s leading broadcasters. Hisense, previously announced as the first Freely smart TV partner, is responsible for bringing Freely TVs to market.

Elin Morris S4C’s Chief Operating Officer:

“We are proud to be able to bring Welsh language programming to a new audience on Freely. We’ll be able to showcase the creativity and talent that we have in Wales in to homes across the UK. Viewers will be able to watch documentaries, drama, news and sport live and on-demand.”

The TVs will be available in major stores across the UK and online.

Freely is available through the next generation of smart TVs and can be placed anywhere in the home where there’s a Wi-Fi connection, removing the need for a dish or aerial.

For the first time for free, viewers will be able to switch seamlessly between live and on demand TV from leading UK broadcasters, taking advantage of features such as pause, restart and access to more episodes, without having to pay for the service.

The new service marks the first time all of the UK’s PSBs have come together to launch a streaming proposition, signalling the beginning of a journey to secure the future of free TV through collaboration. During the late 2000s, the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 joined forces on a video-on-demand platform named ‘Kangaroo’, however, the project was discontinued in 2009 following objections from the Competition Commission.

Launched on April 30th Hisense will be bringing Freely TVs to market in retailers such as Currys, Argos, AO and Very. It has also been announced that TiVo, a subsidiary of Xperi Inc., will be offering Freely as part of its TiVo OS platform. Initially Freely will be available via Vestel smart TVs Powered by TiVo.