UKTV and Everyone TV have announced that the multi-award-winning broadcaster will bring its on demand service U to new streaming platform, Freely, this month, alongside streamed live channels U&Dave, U&Drama, U&W and U&Yesterday.
UKTV joins the public service broadcasters backing Freely, which is integrated into the next generation of smart TVs and offers viewers 96% of the nation’s favourite shows. The new partnership brings a wide variety of high-quality titles to the platform including "U Originals", "The Marlow Murder Club", "Battle In The Box", "Rosie Jones’s Disability" "Comedy Extravaganza", "Katherine Ryan: Parental Guidance", "Bangers & Cash" and "Emma Willis: Delivering Babies".
Freely, which launched in April 2024, enables British audiences to stream live channels and seamlessly browse on demand content from the nation’s biggest broadcasters – BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 – all in one place, for free. Viewers can take advantage of innovative features on the new platform such as pause, restart and access to more episodes, without having to pay for the service. The new platform ensures all audiences continue to have easy access to an aggregated free TV experience, however they choose to connect. It provides access to 70,000 hours of on demand content. Freely smart TVs are available in stores across the UK and online at retailers such as Currys, Argos, AO, Very & John Lewis.
Jonathan Newman, General Manager, Commercial, UKTV, expressed satisfaction in being part of the new platform:“We’re delighted that our free streaming service U and portfolio of free-to-air channels, recently united under the U Masterbrand, are joining the Freely line-up. It further supports our audience-led strategy, ensuring our viewers can easily access UKTV’s content in a digital world," commented.
Finally, Jonathan Thompson, CEO, Everyone TV, sees the challenge as an opportunity to bring content that reflects the identity of British audiences: “Freely enables audiences to seamlessly browse and stream a vast library of high-quality content from the UK’s biggest broadcasters, all in one place, but with the added advantage that it’s the same trusted, relevant and reliable programming they have always known. "The new platform brings together local, originated programming that champions UK talent and UK stories. It gives viewers access to the best of British TV, with shows that reflect our nation, driving the national conversation and broadening the common investment that all audiences have in our society," stated.