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Freeview Play Enabled Devices Pass the One Million MIlestone
Freeview boss, Guy North, announces that one in three TVs now come with Freeview Play.
Freeview has announced that sales of Freeview Play TVs and set-top boxes have surpassed one million units as measured by GFK. Launched in late 2015, Freeview Play brings UK consumers a combined Free To View combination of on demand content, accessed via the TV, PVR or set-top box user interface.
Guy North, Managing Director of Freeview said, “I’m delighted that we have reached this major sales milestone so early in Freeview Play’s lifespan. This achievement is a testament to all our many partners whom I’d like to thank for their outstanding support. With new content, manufacturer and product enhancement announcements on the horizon, Freeview Play is on track to becoming the new normal way viewers access TV.”
The 2017 Freeview Play specification is being enhanced to include optional support for Ultra HD (4K) and HDR content for programmes delivered via broadband.
Whilst this is good progress for a service that offers viewers an easy access point for primarily public service broadcast content from the core non subscription channels such as BBC, ITV and Channel 4 not all manufacturers have yet signed up to offer this service on their TVs. One area of manufacturer disatisfaction remains the fact that device manufacturers have to pay a licence fee to enable this service on their devices, where historically most Free To View services have not made that demand and have provided the technology platforms free of charge.
