Freely is a new service that delivers all of your favourite live and on-demand channels to your PLEIO puck using just your internet connection.
Think of it as the next generation of Freeview. With Freely, you don't need a traditional TV aerial or satellite dish to watch live television.
How Freely Works
How Freely Works
The service streams over 100 of the most popular free-to-air channels, including all the main public service broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5), directly to your TV using Wi-Fi.
Freely seamlessly combines live TV with catch-up and on-demand content from all the major broadcasters. This means you can easily go from watching a live programme to catching up on a previous episode, all within one simple TV Guide.
Key Features of Freely
Key Features of Freely
Here are some features of Freely:
No Aerial Needed: Enjoy high-quality live TV with no need for a rooftop aerial. Simply connect your PLEIO puck to the internet.
Live and On-Demand in One Place: The Freely TV Guide integrates live programmes with catch-up content, making it easy to find and watch whatever you want.
Free-to-Air Channels: Access a huge range of live channels at no extra cost, including all your familiar favourites.
Freely is built into your PLEIO puck, making it the core of your TV experience. All you need to do is connect it to the internet during the initial setup to get started.
What are the full capabilities of the Freely TV guide?
The Freely TV Guide is your main screen for all live, free-to-air channels, delivered over the internet. It combines the functionality of a traditional programme guide with modern streaming features.
Capability | What it means for you | Example |
Seamless Live Viewing | You can see what's on now, next, and later for all Freely and associated channels in one place. | You can scroll to check the schedule for next Tuesday evening on ITV2 or BBC Four. |
Pause and Restart Live TV | If you miss the start of a live programme, you can jump back to the beginning with a single button press. | You tune into the news 15 minutes late, but you can hit 'Restart' to watch the entire broadcast from the start. |
Integrated Catch-Up | The guide allows you to scroll backwards in time to see programmes from the last seven days, which you can instantly watch on-demand. | You scroll back to yesterday afternoon, select a show you missed on Channel 4, and it instantly loads in the Channel 4 app. |
Mini Guide | A small banner appears at the bottom of the screen when you change channels, giving you information about the current show and suggestions for what to watch next. | As you switch from BBC One to ITV, a pop-up shows the current programme name and the next show on the schedule. |
How Channel Updates Work
How Channel Updates Work
How do I receive the latest Freely channels?
One of the great benefits of your PLEIO is that it keeps your channel list automatically updated. You'll never need to worry about manually searching for new channels again.
The Automatic Update Process
Your PLEIO puck is constantly connected to the Freely service via the internet. This connection allows it to receive the latest channel information in the background, including any new channels, changes to existing ones, or channels that have been removed.
These updates are typically picked up and installed overnight while the puck is in a low-power state. This means every time you switch on your TV in the morning, your channel list is fully up-to-date and ready to go.
If you need to update manually, click on the gear icon on your Freely TV Guide (at the top right of the screen) and select Software Updates. This will check for the latest software and give you the option to update.
Why Some Freeview Channels Aren't Available
Why Some Freeview Channels Aren't Available
Why can't I stream all Freeview channels over the internet?
Freely is the next generation of free TV, allowing you to watch live programmes from the UK’s main broadcasters over your internet connection, without needing an aerial.
While Freely offers a vast range of channels, not every channel available on the full legacy Freeview list is currently available to stream over the internet.
Why the full list is not available (for now):
Right now, you can already enjoy over 95% of the UK's most watched shows without needing an aerial. This includes all the main public service broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5).
However, not every channel is ready to stream just yet. Here are the main reasons why the full legacy Freeview list isn't available over the internet at this moment:
Waiting for Permission: Some channel owners do not yet have the necessary agreements or content rights that allow them to stream their programmes over the internet across the whole of the UK. They may have rights only for the traditional aerial broadcast.
The Big Switch: Every channel has to go through a large technical process to convert its service from an aerial broadcast (terrestrial signal) to an internet stream (IPTV). Some smaller channel providers are still completing this work to join the Freely platform.
Keep up-to-date on latest channel additions