FREELY. Live TV over broadband 2024

FREELY. Live TV over broadband 2024

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Discussion

Ham_and_Jam

Original Poster:

2,554 posts

104 months

Monday 18th September 2023
quotequote all
At last. A full live TV service over IP, including a full EPG.

Freely is owned and supported by BBC, ITV, C4 and C5, and they have said it will replicate a terrestial TV experience.

Can’t believe it’s taken this long, but it seems we might be able to finally cut the cord next year.

https://www.everyonetv.co.uk/news/press-release/ne...

x5tuu

12,120 posts

194 months

Monday 18th September 2023
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If they make this an app for iOS / ATV / GoogleTV etc it would be outstanding, I’d expect many like myself would be happy to pay for that app - very long overdue!

Digger

15,156 posts

198 months

Monday 18th September 2023
quotequote all
How would the BBC TV Licence be affected?

Ham_and_Jam

Original Poster:

2,554 posts

104 months

Monday 18th September 2023
quotequote all
Digger said:
How would the BBC TV Licence be affected?
It won’t. For now anyway.

x5tuu

12,120 posts

194 months

Monday 18th September 2023
quotequote all
Digger said:
How would the BBC TV Licence be affected?
Same as now I’d expect - (from Google) You need to be covered by a TV Licence to watch programmes live on any online TV service - such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, Amazon Prime Video, Now or Sky Go. You don't need a TV Licence if you only ever watch on demand programmes on any TV service apart from BBC iPlayer.

NaePasaran

715 posts

64 months

Monday 18th September 2023
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Digger said:
How would the BBC TV Licence be affected?
It won't. If you watch any BBC programmes whether "live" or on catch-up, you need a TV licence.

If you watch any other TV that is "live" whether online, or the more traditional methods, you need a TV licence.

Digger

15,156 posts

198 months

Monday 18th September 2023
quotequote all
So Freely wouldn't be entirely free then? Initially. . .

Ham_and_Jam

Original Poster:

2,554 posts

104 months

Monday 18th September 2023
quotequote all
Digger said:
So Freely wouldn't be entirely free then? Initially. . .
You could say the same about FREEVIEW and FREESAT.

It’s the platform that is free, not the BBCs licence fee.

Digger

15,156 posts

198 months

Monday 18th September 2023
quotequote all
True smile

What would be interesting is whether you wont be able to watch BBC channels on FREELY unless proof of a paid-for licence.

Bikerjon

2,211 posts

168 months

Monday 18th September 2023
quotequote all
Nice to have as it saves getting a dish/aerial installed and keeps everything within one app, but it might not be a huge deal for the younger generation who are now so used to streaming everything that the concept of "live TV" isn't quite the same as it once was!

dickymint

25,727 posts

265 months

Monday 18th September 2023
quotequote all
Bikerjon said:
Nice to have as it saves getting a dish/aerial installed and keeps everything within one app, but it might not be a huge deal for the younger generation who are now so used to streaming everything that the concept of "live TV" isn't quite the same as it once was!
I have a BT Youview Pro box. No dish/aerial and everything I watch live or otherwise is streamed, also 4K UHD, Atmos and recordable.

the-norseman

13,289 posts

178 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
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Most of these channels you can watch live via apps anyway now.

nutsyH

579 posts

205 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
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Firestick does all that and more.

Ham_and_Jam

Original Poster:

2,554 posts

104 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
quotequote all
nutsyH said:
Firestick does all that and more.
It really doesn’t. I have one.

This is EPG based live TV through IP, not individual apps. From what I’ve read it may also record streams as per traditional TV.

Ham_and_Jam

Original Poster:

2,554 posts

104 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
quotequote all
dickymint said:
I have a BT Youview Pro box. No dish/aerial and everything I watch live or otherwise is streamed, also 4K UHD, Atmos and recordable.
That sounds great and very similar, but I think the IP side of the BT is all behind a paywall?

Mr Pointy

11,783 posts

166 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
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Let's hope they insist all the channels are delivered at a decent resolution & bandwidth & not some of the low bitrate rubbish that ITV & C4 push out at the moment. 4K is unlikley but if it's not HD 1920x1080 it shouldn't be on there.

Digger

15,156 posts

198 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
quotequote all
I would think 4K is a given?

eta a whole word that was missing smile

Edited by Digger on Tuesday 19th September 22:37

Supersam83

773 posts

152 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
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Just a quick question: If it's IPTV then with the delays etc it can't really be classed as live TV therefore the BBC licence fee would not apply?

Mr Pointy

11,783 posts

166 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
quotequote all
Digger said:
I would 4K is a given?
I doubt it - the vast majority of material available is HD at best & upscaling at source to 4K would massively increase the server storage requirements.

The majority of the planet still watches TV in SD & even the UK the majority of channels are SD.

PF62

4,065 posts

180 months

Tuesday 19th September 2023
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Ham_and_Jam said:
Freely is owned and supported by BBC, ITV, C4 and C5, and they have said it will replicate a terrestial TV experience.
Pointing a camera at a bucket of st and streaming that would replicate the BBC, ITV, C4 and C5 terrestial TV experience most evenings.