UK broadcasters agree Freely distribution deal with Amazon

Everyone TV, the organisation behind Freely, said the platform will now be available on a wide range of new next-gen smart TVs which use the Fire TV operating system (OS).

Backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, Freely allows audiences to stream live TV channels alongside on-demand content from the UK’s leading broadcasters, removing the need for a dish or aerial.

Jonathan Thompson, CEO at Everyone TV, said: “It’s exciting to see the momentum behind Freely building so rapidly as we announce this breakthrough deal with Amazon Fire TV. A deal of this kind, between a technology giant and those working in the public interest, is remarkable. It represents a significant development in widening the availability of Freely and therefore ensuring UK audiences can access free TV well into the future.”

Freely, which launched in April, marks the first time all four of Britain’s public service broadcasters have come together to launch a streaming proposition.

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, which 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 watch Freely on premium OLED TVs for the first time.

Freely is currently available on Hisense, Bush, and Toshiba and Panasonic with Tivo 2024 4K smart TVs.

Thompson added: “I am pleased Amazon sees the immense value that easy access to public service broadcaster and other free-to-view content brings to UK audiences. This is the beginning of a journey, bringing invaluable content to UK audiences and uniting what was an increasingly fragmented viewing experience.”

“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.”