Google TV Freeplay gets more free channels and a redesign – but it’s still exclusive to the US

DA Gadgets September 19, 2024 Streaming Devices, Televisions

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As
streaming
app
interfaces
go,

Google
TV
is
one
of
the
best
around,
and
its
free
channel
offerings
continue
to
get
better
as
the
launch
of
the

Google
TV
Streamer
approaches:
there
are
apparently
a
handful
of
new
channels
to
enjoy,
as
well
a
revamped
Freeplay
interface
for
accessing
them.

Some
images
of
the
new
interface
have
been
posted
online
by

9to5Google,
and
it
looks
to
be
a
significant
improvement
over
the
Live
tab,
where
all
of
these
free,
ad-supported
(or
FAST)
channels
can
currently
be
found.

The
new-look
interface
makes
it
easier
to
get
at
your
full
list
of
channels,
as
well
as
giving
you
the
option
to
browse
by
category:
Recents,
Popular,
Drama,
News,
and
so
on.
There’s
also
a
Favorites
category
where
you
can
save
the
channels
you
like
the
most.

The
Live
tab
isn’t
going
away
–
you
can
still
find
FAST
channels
here,
alongside
live
channels
from

YouTube
TV.
It’s
also
worth
noting
that
the
Freeplay
branding
is
still
rolling
out,
so
you
might
not
see
it
right
away
–
it
should
be
showing
up
for
everyone
in
the
US
across
the
next
few
days.

Hundreds
of
channels

The
new
Google
TV
Streamer
is
on
the
way

(Image
credit:
Google)

While
9to5Google
mentions
new
channels,
it
doesn’t
specify
exactly
what
they
are
–
and
Google
hasn’t
said
anything
officially
either.
New
channels
are
now
being
added
on
such
a
regular
basis,
it’s
hard
to
keep
up:
we
got

14
more
free
channels
last
week,
together
with
a
hint
about
this
Freeplay
rebranding.

All
of
these
new
channels
and
various
other
changes
–
like

shifting
all
purchasing
options
to
YouTube
–
seem
to
be
in
preparation
for
the
launch
of
the
new
Google
TV
Streamer,
on
sale
from
September
24.
The
new
box
will

take
over
from
Chromecast
devices.

There
are
now
more
than
800
FAST
channels
available
on
Google
TV,
with
over
150
available
in
the
curated
list
offered
by
Freeplay.
This
comeback
for
ad-supported
viewing
matches
the
recent
trend
in
streaming
services

offering
ad-supported
tiers.

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For
now
though,
you
can’t
get
free
channels
or
Freeplay
on
Google
TV
if
you
live
outside
the
US
–
no
doubt
due
to
complications
around
licensing
issues.
If
you’re
not
in
the
United
States
and
want
to
watch
movies
and
shows
for
free
(in
return
for
a
few
ads),
your
options
potentially
include