What is Freely? The UK's free TV alternative to Sky and Virgin Media explained

UK TV viewers are spoiled for choice when it comes to streaming services. Not only are there the global platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Disney+, but each of the main broadcasters operates its own free option – BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and 5.

Add paid TV services, such as Sky and Virgin Media, and we're inundated with choice in this country. Even the terrestrial TV service Freeview has its own catch-up mode, Freeview Play, which enables you to replay shows you've missed at the tap of a button.

However, there's also a relatively new kid on the block that's rapidly growing in popularity, and as it's completely free, it could save you a bundle.

Freely is all-internet TV service supported by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and 5, and it provides access to the UK's live TV channels, plus a whole lot more. It is supported by TVs from multiple major manufacturers, with set-top-boxes now also available to add the platform to an existing set.

So here's everything you need to know about Freely, how to get it, and what it offers.

What is Freely?

Freely is a live streaming platform for the UK that offers an alternative to Freeview, Freesat and paid TV services. It streams live channels over an online connection rather than via an aerial, including all the main stations from the major broadcasters.

Operated by Everyone TV, it is supported by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5. That means you get all of the live channels each broadcaster offers, plus those from U (formerly UKTV), including U&Dave and U&Drama.

In many ways, it is the future of British broadcasting, as a new digital TV switchover is being assessed by the UK government – it could even take place as soon as 2035. If so, Freeview will no longer be available and over-the-air signals will be replaced with over-the-top (OTT) internet delivery.

Set yourself Freely - YouTube

Watch On

What you need to watch Freely

Having been around for just a year and a half, Freely is still finding its feet when it comes to manufacturer support. However, brands such as Panasonic, Philips, TCL, JVC, Sharp, Toshiba, Bush and Hisense already have some TV models with Freely on-board, or plan to soon.

You can see a list of currently supported TVs on the official Freely site.

If you don't need a new TV though, while there are no current plans to release a Freely app for multiple devices, several Freely TV boxes have arrived in the last few months that can add the service to your existing set.

The first to release (at the tail end of 2025) was the Pleio from Netgem. It's an Android TV device with Freely hard-baked into the experience. You even get a game controller in the box, to play games over the cloud.

Then came the Manhattan Aero 4K TV Streamer, a more conventional set-top-box that's powered by TiVo. This offers an even more integrated Freely experience.

And finally, there's a newcomer – the hybrid Humax Aura EZ 4K TV Recorder. This is more expensive, but also includes a 2TB hard drive to record programmes from its Freeview tuner. That means you'll also need to connect it to an aerial.

Will Freely replace Freeview?

As things stand today, Freely runs alongside Freeview, even though it is effectively a rival. It's currently a choice rather than replacement.

However, the UK government is seriously considering a new digital TV switchover, which could take place in the 2030s.

As revealed by government minister Ian Murray, the department of Media, Tourism and Creative Industries is currently "leading a project to assess the future of TV distribution".

"Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is protected until at least 2034, safeguarding access for millions of households," he added.

So nothing will happen until 2035 at the earliest, and it depends on other initiatives to ensure everyone in the country has access to fast, affordable internet connectivity first. But it does seem to be a matter of when, rather than if Freely (and IPTV in general) will replace Freeview.

Will Freely replace BBC iPlayer and ITVX?

As it is primarily a live TV service, Freely is no threat to BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, or 5 streaming platforms. In fact, it supports them, using each to play content selected on the EPG.

Like with Freeview Play, you can scroll backwards through the guide and select retrospective programming. That then loads into the respective service, such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX, and plays the show or movie from there.

What channels are available on Freely?

Considering the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and 5 are Freely partners, all of the UK's main TV channels are available on the platform. And that includes some exclusives.

The U network also provides several channels, including U&Dave and U&Drama.

In fact, there are currently 50 channels available to stream live, with more being added all the time. In addition, devices that support Freely often support other FAST (Free Ad Supported TV) channels too, so you often have access to 100s at your finger tips.

Find out more about Freely

You can find out more about the Freely platform and service by heading to its official website: freely.co.uk.