In the world of Free-to-Air TV audiences are everything, the viewer numbers drive advertising rates and the advertising pays the bills. So being available anywhere any time is critical. Today, Free to Air TV in Australia takes another step toward the future ubiquity of content with the launch of Freeview FV on the web.
While Foxtel, Foxtel Now, Kayo, Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime, Hayu, Ten All Access and many more want your cash every month, Free to Air TV is by its very nature FREE to watch.
Some years ago they launched a Freeview Plus access platform that works in many modern internet connected Smart TVs, but it was the launch of Freeview FV that meant the most, giving viewers an app to access their favourite live TV any time any where.
Today, even on your trusty web browser you can access Freeview.
The new Web access gives you all the free-to-air channels at a glance.
Finding out what’s on is easy through the guide, while viewing is instant – almost.
You see, some networks aren’t quite willing to let the viewers be anywhere, and by that, I mean, outside their environment.
To View the ABC and Nine you are directed to their live streaming websites. Not a deal-breaker, but it takes away from the seamless “TV like” channel changing user experience.
Nine would be doing this to gather logged in user data and site access data to help them commercialise and possibly customise advertising, why the ABC needs to is beyond me.
Passionate TV supporter and Freeview CEO Liz Rossis excited about the enhanced access to TV this gives: “Aussies have completely free access to more than 10,000 programs with Freeview. There are no subscription fees, it’s available wherever you are, on whichever device you’re on and at whatever time you want to watch TV.”
“We’ve designed these products to fit in with people’s lives. If you like a certain program, we’ll help you find others like it. Freeview is all about making it easy to watch some of the best TV content in the world, for free.”
“Today’s Freeview FV Web launch comes off the back of a 76%* industry-wide growth in Broadcast Video on Video (BVOD) from the first half of 2017 to the first half of 2018, so we know Australians will love our new product,” Ms Ross said.
We’ve had a sneak peak and it’s slick – the new service should roll-out on Freeview.com.au very soon.
*Source: OZTAM VPM, total BVOD catch up and live minutes viewed by year sourced 25 July 2018.
Trev is a Technology Commentator, Dad, Speaker and Rev Head.
He produces and hosts two popular podcasts, EFTM and Two Blokes Talking Tech. He also appears on over 50 radio stations across Australia weekly, and is the resident Tech Expert on Channel 9’s Today Show each day and appears regularly on A Current Affair.
Father of three, he is often found down in his Man Cave.
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