Freeview

Freeview is the UK's digital terrestrial television platform launched in 2002 as a joint venture between BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and Sky. The service provides access to over 80 live TV channels, including standard and HD channels, and over 30 radio stations without requiring any monthly subscription. Through its upgraded service, Freeview Play, launched in 2015, users can access over 60,000 hours of on-demand content as of April 2024, representing a significant increase from 20,000 hours in 2020. The platform combines live TV viewing with catch-up services through an electronic program guide (EPG) that allows users to browse upcoming shows and scroll back through the previous week's content. Users can access the service through TVs with built-in Freeview capabilities, set-top boxes, or Freeview recorders that enable program recording and live TV pause features.

Key customers and partnerships

Freeview statistics indicate the platform has sold nearly 23 million TVs since launch. The service has integrated eleven on-demand players including BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All 4, My5, UKTV Play, CBS Catchup Channels UK, Legend, STV Player, POP Player, PBS America, and BBC Sounds. In terms of device partnerships, Freeview Play is available on TVs from major manufacturers including LG, Panasonic, Sony, and Hisense. The platform works with over 1,500 boxset models, and since 2019, has supported mobile devices through its Explore Freeview Play app.