Freeview successor matches Sky with top feature ‘coming soon’ – you’ll never miss a BBC or Channel 4 show again
FREEVIEW successor Freely is set to introduce a fan-favourite Sky and Netflix feature to the platform, the broadcaster’s boss has confirmed.
The feature will help viewers organise all the shows they want to watch, so they never miss out on a recommendation again.
While the feature’s name is still undecided, Freely is working on a bookmark-style tool so viewers can keep the shows they’re interested in watching in one place.
“I think we’re going to call it My List or Bookmarking,” Jonathan Thompson, CEO of Everyone TV, which operates Freeview and Freesat, told The Sun.
“This is to be able to see a list of [on demand] shows… and go ‘A friend of mine’s recommended it, I really want to watch it.
“‘I’m just going to bookmark that. And then when I’ve dealt with the current show I’m watching, I’m going to watch that next.’
“So that’s one thing that’s definitely coming soon.”
Freely, which launched earlier this year, is the aerial-free alternative to Freeview and Freesat.
It’s a platform available on select TVs where viewers can watch top shows from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and more.
Subscription-based platforms like Netflix and Disney+ are also available on the platform.
Streaming services, as well as rivals such as Sky, have long had personalisation features like bookmarks.
But Thompson isn’t fussed about a nosy algorithm that tracks what you watch to recommend similar shows.
It’s under your control. It’s not an algorithm making choices for you.
Jonathan Thompson, CEO of Everyone TV
“Things like My List is a really nice example of just having a bit of personalisation, but it’s done in a nice way,” he added.
“It’s under your control. It’s not an algorithm making choices for you.
“It’s you choosing the shows you want to watch.”
Thompson considers Freely, like Freeview, to be a “fast follower” when it comes to keeping up with rival services.
The service is still new, but the company has a habit of looking to competitors to see what works, before rolling anything out to its own viewers.
“We want to not pioneer with the most kind of cutting edge innovations, but actually look at what really works, what viewers love and make sure that Freely is competitive in offering those kind of services,” Thompson said.
“I think simple, easy access to the shows you love – that’s kind of our mantra, our DNA.”
What is Freely?
Freely is the country's newest way to watch TV without an aerial, from the makers of Freeview and Freesat.
It is a platform that comes built into select smart TVs after launching in April this year.
Freely is operated by the main broadcasters, BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 via an umbrella company known as Everyone TV.
This means it has full access to the content that comes out of the UK’s Big Four broadcasters – that’s around 70,000 hours worth of content, according to Freely.
The platform hosts big-hits like The Traitors, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Happy Valley, Doctor Who, Married at First Sight and Strictly Come Dancing.
Through Freely, viewers can watch live TV channels, as well as access streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV and most recently U.