In today’s era that sees much of the entertainment landscape dominated by streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+, it can be easy for confusion to reign on the exact distinctions between services like these and “traditional” free-to-air television.
If you have spent almost any time at all browsing new TV models or using a TV, the chances are that you will have at least heard of Freeview. It is the UK’s only digital terrestrial TV platform, giving access to more than 100 channels and radio stations for free via a TV aerial.
In fact, buying a TV with Freeview built into it pretty much means buying almost any modern TV in the UK. In the case of any given TV model you’re looking at, this may be with the standard Freeview tuner, or it might offer the newer Freeview Play smart platform.
This does, though, bring us onto an important question: what separates “standard” Freeview from Freeview Play? Furthermore, what implications could this have for your entertainment experience, and the choice of TV you make?
A quick introduction to Freeview and Freeview Play
As you might have guessed from the name, Freeview is the “traditional” TV service of these two, providing live channels via an aerial.
Unlike the situation to which so many of us are accustomed with our TV-watching experience these days, you don’t need to pay a penny in monthly subscription fees to watch Freeview.
You will, however, require a TV licence to watch or record live TV on any channel via Freeview. A TV licence won’t be needed, though, if you only watch on-demand or catch-up services on services other than BBC iPlayer.
Freeview Play, on the other hand, is an upgraded Internet-connected version of the Freeview service. It combines live, linear TV with on-demand and catch-up content from such services as BBC iPlayer and ITVX, all accessible via a single integrated TV guide.
Like “standard” Freeview, Freeview Play is free to use, in and of itself. Again, though, you will need a TV licence for watching or recording live TV or using BBC iPlayer.
A summary of how Freeview and Freeview Play stack up
To help you better understand the similarities and differences between these services if you are in the market for a TV with Freeview, here is a “cut-out-and-keep” breakdown of some key aspects.
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Content: even with just the “standard” Freeview on your TV, you can expect to enjoy access to more than 70 standard and 15 HD channels, although the exact number will depend on your location. Freeview Play, meanwhile, encompasses all Freeview channels, as well as tens of thousands of hours of on-demand content and box sets.
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Connectivity: you will need a TV aerial to connect to “standard” Freeview. To take advantage of everything that Freeview Play has to offer, meanwhile, including watching live TV via the Freeview TV Guide on your TV, you will need an aerial in addition to a broadband Internet connection for streaming.
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TV guide: as a user of Freeview, you can expect to see a standard electronic programme guide (EPG), informing you of what is on now and in the future. Freeview Play, on the other hand, presents an enhanced EPG that allows you to scroll backwards up to seven days, so that you can watch programmes you missed.
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On-demand: with standard Freeview, on-demand services aren’t integrated directly within the guide. So, users are required to access separate broadcaster apps manually. By contrast, Freeview Play integrates major UK catch-up apps (such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and Channel 4) directly into the EPG, or via a dedicated “Explore Freeview Play” menu (channel 100).
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Equipment: Freeview is built into the majority of new UK TVs available to purchase today. It is also available on standard set-top boxes. To get Freeview Play, meanwhile, you will need a compatible Freeview Play TV or set-top box/recorder.
All in all, both Freeview and Freeview Play have their merits
In essence, then, Freeview Play is an upgrade of the “traditional” Freeview service for today’s highly Internet-connected world. It effectively merges familiar live broadcasting technologies with modern streaming, thereby providing a more comprehensive and convenient viewing package without month-by-month subscription costs.
Are you browsing your options on the Cello Electronics website for a TV with Freeview, but are unsure as to which model would be best? If so, please don’t hesitate to contact our team for advice and guidance, before you commit to a particular device.