UK digital TV service Freeview turns 20

Freeview is now home to an astonishing 60,000 hours of fantastic content, giving UK viewers an enormous wealth of TV, for free.

Having increased its on-demand offering by 20,000 hours since April 2022, Freeview is seeing in its 20th anniversary with another impressive milestone as more consumers consider cutting paid-for streaming subscriptions amid the cost-of-living crisis in the UK.

With ITVX, the new streaming destination for all things ITV coming soon to Freeview*, Freeview viewers will have access to the improved service, as well as exclusive ITV programmes, cult classics, blockbuster films, and eye-opening documentaries.

“From 40,0000 hours of content in April 2022 to 60,000 hours today, Freeview Play’s offering just keeps getting stronger and stronger. With more live channels, brand-new on demand player PBS America, and the launch of ITVX, it’s been a great year for Freeview Play and we are so happy to be able to offer viewers so much fantastic content, completely free of charge”, says Owen Jenkinson, Marketing Director at Freeview Play.

20 years of fantastic television

Freeview is the most popular TV platform in the UK, giving 16 million homes access to 95% of the nation’s favourite shows, for free.

Its connected service, Freeview Play, provides access to over 80 live TV channels and eleven on-demand players; BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All 4, My5, UKTV Play, CBS Catchup Channels UK, Legend, STV Player, POP Player, PBS America, and BBC Sounds. With the majority of new TVs sold each month offering Freeview Play, the service is home to a wealth of on-demand shows and films, and more than 1500 boxsets.

With such an extensive range available, Freeview Play makes it easy to find old favourites and discover the best new shows, through universal search, handpicked recommendations, and the ability to curate watch lists.

Since its launch in 2002, Freeview has become a must-have feature for smart TVs in the UK, seeing in the digital switchover, introducing free HD channels, and selling over 15 million devices. The company launched Freeview Play in 2015 to bring the most popular free on demand services to the nation, before branching out to mobile devices in 2019, allowing viewers to browse and watch their favourite shows on the go.

In the last two years, Freeview Play has secured its place as the UK’s favourite free streaming service, bringing boxsets, a new content discovery app (Explore Freeview Play), and accessible TV guides to its 11 million active users.

The fastest growing connected TV service in the UK, Freeview Play continues to be updated regularly, with new content from the likes of PBS America Player and improved discovery features such as genre recommendations joining the service in 2022.