UK broadcasters partner with free streamer Roku to expand Freely availability

Freely on Roku TV

Everyone TV, the UK-based organisation behind free streaming platform Freely, has struck a deal with streaming company Roku.

Marking a significant step in Freely’s expansion, the free streamer – backed by UK broadcasters the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5 – will now become available on the next generation of smart TVs powered by the Roku operating system.

This means Freely will be the default TV guide on additional Sharp, JVC, and METZ models, while Polaroid TVs will have Freely for the first time. Roku TV models with Freely will be available from this month, starting with Sharp, Polaroid and METZ.

Since launching in the UK in 2012, Roku TV models and streaming players, powered by Roku’s operating system, have become available at all major retailers online and across the country.

The latest deal with Roku further expands the line-up of smart TV partners and operating system providers offering Freely, which launched last year and brings together live and on-demand shows from the UK’s biggest broadcasters.

Other Freely partners include Amazon Fire TVs, Bush, Hisense, JVC, METZ, Panasonic, Philips, Sharp, TCL, Titan OS, TiVo, Toshiba and VIDAA.

Richard Halton, UK country manager at Roku, said: “Roku believes that all TV will be streamed. We are excited to partner with Freely and continue our collaboration with UK broadcasters. Together we will bring the best content discovery experience to viewers across the UK. We look forward to unveiling our new Roku TV models with Freely built in, which will be available from UK retailers this summer.”