Freely is not launching for the first time in 2026. The UK internet-TV platform launched in April 2024. What changes in 2026 is wider availability through plug-in streaming devices, so owners of many existing televisions can add Freely without buying a new set. There is no monthly Freely subscription, but you still need compatible hardware and reliable broadband. Freely can replace the free-to-air part of a TV package; it cannot replace Sky’s premium sport, cinema and exclusive pay-TV catalogue, and it cannot replace an EE broadband connection.
What Freely actually is
Freely is the internet-delivered TV platform operated by Everyone TV, backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. It brings live channels, catch-up and on-demand programmes into one guide rather than requiring viewers to switch between separate broadcaster apps. The service is free to use after setup, with no Freely monthly subscription.
Unlike conventional Freeview, Freely does not arrive through a terrestrial aerial. It streams over your home internet connection, so it can be useful in a room with no aerial socket or in an area where aerial reception is poor.
See the platform overview at Freely and the service guide at get Freely.
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Has Freely launched already?
Yes. The initial UK launch was in April 2024, on selected compatible smart TVs. The 2026 development is the expansion to plug-in streaming boxes, including the Manhattan Aero 4K TV Streamer. That lets a household upgrade an existing television instead of replacing it.
Freely announced the device rollout in 2025 and lists streaming devices for 2026 availability: UKTV’s launch announcement and Freely’s device guidance.
What you get on Freely
Public-service broadcasters
- BBC channels and BBC iPlayer programming
- ITV channels and ITVX programming
- Channel 4 channels and on-demand programmes
- Channel 5 channels and 5 programming
Other free channels
The live line-up also includes services such as U&Dave, U&Drama, U&Yesterday and U&W, Sky News, Sky Arts, Sky Mix, Quest, TLC, Film4, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, 5STAR, 5ACTION and 5USA, plus additional news, specialist, international and FAST channels and BBC radio services. The exact selection can change with rights, regional availability and broadcaster decisions. Check the current listing at Freely’s channel page; a dated channel-list document is available at this PDF.
Freely advertises access to 97% of the nation’s favourite TV shows. That is Freely’s marketing claim, not a guarantee that 97% of all channels, programmes or household viewing is included.
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Guide and playback features
- A unified electronic programme guide and MiniGuide
- Live viewing alongside catch-up and on-demand entries
- Pause and restart for supported live programmes
- Guide browsing backwards to find available catch-up content
- Favourites or “My List” functions on supported implementations
- Accessibility features and an accessible TV guide
Menus and feature availability can differ between a television manufacturer’s implementation and a streaming device. Catch-up availability is also governed by programme rights, regional rules and each broadcaster’s retention window.
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How to get Freely
Option 1: buy a Freely-enabled television
Freely is built into selected models from TCL, Toshiba, Hisense, Bush, Sharp and Panasonic. Model ranges and prices change, so confirm the exact set on Freely’s products page before buying. Samsung and LG televisions do not currently have Freely built in, according to Freely’s July 2026 guidance: Samsung and LG advice.
Option 2: add a streaming box to your current TV
The Manhattan Aero 4K TV Streamer connects to a television through HDMI and reaches Freely over Wi-Fi or Ethernet. It supports 4K where the television and programme provide it, and runs TiVo OS with access to apps and services including Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube and TiVo+; those paid subscriptions are separate. Product details are at Freely’s Aero page and the quick-start guide at Manhattan’s PDF.
Freely also names Netgem PLEIO as another compatible device. Availability, specification and price should be checked before purchase: device guidance.
Setup checklist
- Check that the television has a free HDMI input if you are using a box.
- Connect the TV or box to mains power and select the correct HDMI input.
- Join the device to home Wi-Fi, or use Ethernet where the device and router support it.
- Complete the on-screen setup and open Freely from its interface or dedicated remote button.
- Test playback at the television’s actual location, not only beside the router.
Broadband and network requirements
Freely recommends at least 10 Mbps broadband for live and on-demand streaming. This is a minimum recommendation, not a promise of perfect playback: Wi-Fi interference, router distance, household congestion, latency and service outages still matter. Ethernet can be more dependable when available; otherwise consider moving the router or using mesh Wi-Fi.
Freely needs the internet. During a broadband outage it cannot provide live television, and a capped or mobile connection may incur data limits. A conventional aerial-based Freeview setup can remain a useful fallback.
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Can Freely replace Sky?
| Household viewing | Is Freely a realistic replacement? |
|---|---|
| BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, UKTV, news and ordinary catch-up | Often yes, provided broadband and compatible hardware are reliable. |
| Occasional free channels and general entertainment | Usually; compare the current regional line-up first. |
| Sky Sports or other premium live sport | No. Freely does not reproduce those paid rights. |
| Sky Cinema or premium entertainment channels | No, unless you buy separate services that carry the programmes you want. |
| Large pay-TV box-set libraries and a traditional recording/multi-room system | Not as a like-for-like replacement. Freely offers pause, restart and catch-up, not an assumed Sky-style PVR. |
The practical test is simple: list the specific channels, sports, films and box sets your household watches every month. If cancelling Sky would remove an essential item that is not on Freely or a separate service you are willing to pay for, Freely alone is not equivalent.
Can Freely replace EE?
That depends on what “EE” means. Freely may replace some viewing supplied by an EE TV package, but it cannot replace EE broadband or any other internet provider. Cancelling broadband while keeping Freely would leave the service without the connection it requires. Compare the channels and add-ons in the EE TV plan separately from the broadband contract.
Freely’s internet requirement is set out at freely.co.uk/get-freely; the UK Government’s infrastructure paper explains the wider shift toward internet-delivered television at GOV.UK.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does Freely cost?
The service
The core Freely service has no monthly subscription. “Free” does not mean that all television costs nothing: you still need hardware, broadband and, where applicable, a TV Licence. Optional services such as Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video are charged separately.
Hardware snapshots
Prices below were seen on 18 August 2026 and are not fixed prices:
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| Hardware | Price observed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan Aero 4K TV Streamer | £89.00 on Freely; £89.99 on Currys and Argos pages | Freely, Currys, Argos |
| Selected Freely TVs | About £109 for a Bush 24-inch, £169 for a Hisense 40-inch, £249 for a TCL 43-inch and £329 for a Hisense 55-inch | Freely selection page |
| TCL examples | From £199 (43-inch), £249 (50-inch), £279 (55-inch) and £379 (65-inch) | TCL Freely TVs |
| Toshiba examples | From £200.33 (50-inch) and £269 (55-inch) | Toshiba Freely TVs |
Check the live retailer or manufacturer page before ordering because prices, stock and promotions change.
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| Feature | Freely | Freeview |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Home broadband | Terrestrial aerial |
| Aerial | Not required | Usually required |
| Broadband | Required | Not required for conventional broadcast channels |
| Best use case | Homes with reliable internet, poor aerial reception or no aerial socket | Homes with dependable aerial coverage and a desire for broadcast resilience |
| Failure risk | Internet or Wi-Fi outage stops streaming | Poor reception or aerial faults disrupt channels |
Neither platform is universally better. Freely trades an aerial installation for dependence on broadband and the local network.
Problems to check before switching
Your TV has no suitable HDMI input
A plug-in device normally needs HDMI. Very old or unusual sets may have HDCP, power or input limitations, so check the manufacturer’s compatibility information before buying. Retailer reviews can reveal edge cases but are anecdotal, not a universal compatibility test: Argos customer reports.
Wi-Fi is weak in the viewing room
Run a speed test near the television. A package advertised above 10 Mbps can still deliver unstable Wi-Fi at the set. Improve router placement, use mesh Wi-Fi or connect Ethernet where supported.
A channel or programme is missing
Channel numbers and services can be added, removed, renumbered or restricted by region. BBC, ITV, STV, UTV, S4C and local services are not identical everywhere, and rights can remove individual programmes from catch-up.
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You expect paid apps to be included
A Freely TV or Aero may offer access to paid-streaming apps, but it does not pay those subscriptions for you.
Who should choose Freely?
- Households mainly watching the four major UK broadcasters and free entertainment channels.
- People with reliable broadband but poor aerial reception or no aerial socket.
- Renters who want TV in a second room without installing an aerial.
- Owners of a good HDMI television who want a one-off hardware purchase rather than another TV subscription.
Who should keep a paid TV service?
- Viewers who regularly watch premium sport or cinema.
- Households dependent on particular pay-TV exclusives or large box-set libraries.
- Anyone whose broadband is unreliable, capped or unavailable.
- People who require a specific recording and multi-room system that Freely does not provide.
Verdict
Freely is a strong internet-based alternative to ordinary free-to-air viewing, and the 2026 streaming-device rollout makes it far more useful to existing-TV owners. Buy a compatible television or add a box such as the Manhattan Aero, keep reliable broadband, and it can remove the need for a conventional TV subscription for many households. It is not a universal Sky replacement, and it never replaces the broadband provider that carries its signal.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
