FreeviewPlus to launch in September
FreeviewPlus has celebs giddy with excitement, and despite its late arrival and required upgrade, it's not without its attributes.
- Published by David Knox
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Gobsmacked TV personalities are bursting with excitement at the prospect of ‘FreeviewPlus’, the new Hybrid Broadband TV service launching on September 2.
The new free service, which combines broadband and broadcast TV, will be available via new ‘FreeviewPlus’-branded televisions, set top boxes and PVRs and will give viewers access to additional content and functions.
The features include:
A 7-day, easy-to-use EPG
Access to available FTA Catch Up TV in one place on the TV
Recommendations of the best programs on today, on Catch Up and in the future
Ability to browse and search programs across the next 7 days
A favourites function that keeps track of programs on live and Catch Up TV
Networks are expected to include free genre-specific channels and some have hinted at pay per view channels using archival content as a new means of revenue.
“FreeviewPlus is one of the most important advances in free-to-air television in Australia since the introduction of digital TV so it’s important we start to generate a buzz about the new service among Australian viewers,” Liz Ross, General Manager of Freeview, said.
‘FreeviewPlus’ receivers will be available from major appliance and electronics retailers, but consumers who previously purchased ‘Freeview’ branded devices will not have access to ‘FreeviewPlus’ and don’t carry the ability to upgrade.
Some Smart TVs are also likely to access the service but Freeview is only endorsing those carrying the ‘FreeviewPlus’ branding.
The service also launches much later than expected, originally promised for the first half of 2014, then mid-year, and has seen some regional broadcasters exit the Freeview platform citing the costs involved and frustrations with regional broadband services.
For those who are heavy consumers of entertainment, the new service does carry some sexy features pooled into one destination from Free to Air networks. It’s neatly colour-coded so even your Dad can navigate his way around its various functions.
Short answer: worth looking into if you are upgrading and FTA is your main thang.
That appears to be what has celebrities giddy with excitement in the latest ad set to roll out from Freeview -oops, I mean, FreeviewPlus.
19 Responses
How many years do we have to wait for networks to get their act together in getting their digital catch up services on mainstream TV sets. The TV networks need to start organising with Sony, Panasonic, LG and so on to have their digital catch up platforms accessible like the ABC and Iview.
FreeviewPlus will offer mainstream catch-up, but you will need the FreeviewPlus-branded sets for the most part.
I suppose my criticism is’nt that HBBTV is necessarily a bad idea, it does have merits. But just based on the limited information about FreeTV Plus it seems like a backwards idea.
Whether the the local industry likes it or not, the big guns of on-demand streaming services are on their way, (for some of us its already here.) These streaming services are all about flexibility, FreeTV Plus does not address this. These services have been around for some years, they have perfected their platforms and offer a service that no local on-demand provider has even come come to.
The technology isn’t the problem. That’s already been proven overseas. What the Australian broadcasters will do with (or should that be to) it will be the problem. They’ve pretty much cocked-up every other platform they’ve introduced and I expect that HBBTV will go the say way – big splash when introduced and then quitely forgotten about.
Wow. Just wow. Worst commercial ever. It reminds me of an infomercial for a mop or duster. “wow” “Amazing” “I can’t wait” “Bring it on”
Who does the marketing for this company?
30 seconds telling me absolutely nothing about what it is.
Great ad.
This bunch is clueless.
I have no idea what freeview plus is from that ad. And no interest. Epic fail.
Like this new technology here, HBBTV. That way I can see some catch-up shows as well as recording live shows.
It seems to me Freeview are trying to create a closed eco-system for its branded products. The only company that gets away with that is Apple.
I have used Hulu a fair bit over the last 12 months, and cannot understand why Freeview are not investing in a Hulu style platform of thier own. As far as a catchup service goes it offers fairy much everything Freeview are try to peddle with their hybrid service, minus the EPG features of course.
I think on Hulu, each family member can have their own personalised service, (and advertising) simply by logging in, plus it works across a stack of different devices, including internet connected TV’s.
I presume users will need a significant Internet allowance in order to use the service, which is a turnoff for me.
Fail within a couple years.
Why buy crippled equipment that won’t allow ad skipping and polutes the screen with visual mareting polution? This is Tivo all over again. No thanks,
Does FreeviewPlus cripple the ad skip button like Freeview branded devices?
It’d be nice if this could come to existing devices, like Fetch, or perhaps gaming consoles.
Very undetailed commercial and a website that hasn’t been created. Good work Freeview, I think you’ve got the message across that you’re a joke.
Most people already have one place for all their catch up tv and it doesn’t involve buying overpriced freeview branded devices.
Wow!
I’m shocked they’d launch the video directing people to freeviewplus.com.au without actually putting any content on that site.
Great so from what I have seen or heard so far its not compatible with existing TV’s y/n?
That will be great, but there will be a casuality. Regional TV. You can’t see regional commercails on catch up tv.
I’m predicting that the hbbtv service will shut down by the end of 2016, due to lack of numbers.
Lets hope that the Freeview networks will see fit by then in the markets being Adelaide and Perth to agree to retransmission to for Foxtel Satellite Customers. As Foxtel no doubt will want more subscribers as they are already capable of using interactive content through the press red button.
Looks like they were in such a hurry – the website isn’t even up yet.. takes you to Crazy domains… Fail…