10 new streaming channels set to launch as Freely confirms working with Hearst, Bloomberg TV+, AMCNI UK and more
New research reveals viewers find live free-to-air TV to be the most relaxing and entertaining way to watch
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Cannes, 14 October 2025: Everyone TV - the organisation leading the evolution of free TV in the UK - today announces a new wave of content partnerships for Freely, the free streaming platform backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5, bringing together live and on-demand TV all in one place.
The announcement was made at an exclusive event hosted during MIPCOM in Cannes, where Freely confirmed they are working with Hearst Networks, Bloomberg TV+ and others to bring 10 additional streaming channels to the platform in 2026. New channels include BLAZE, Bloomberg TV+, Talking Pictures TV, Gemporia and Local TV. Existing Freely partner AMC Networks International UK (AMCNI UK), will launch 5 of the new channels, three through its joint venture with Paramount — TRUE CRIME UK, Evidence of Evil and Bloodline Detectives — plus two further channel brands, Love After Lock Up and AMC Reality. These new arrivals build on AMCNI UK’s existing portfolio on Freely, which features LEGEND, TRUE CRIME and WATCH FREE UK.
This follows the recent launch of new streaming channels from Channel 4 - 4Reality, 4Homes and 4Life - which are now available exclusively on Freely. Additional streaming channels from ITV and 5 are expected to follow, as the platform continues to expand its live and on-demand offering.
The new additions mean Freely will carry over 70 live channels over Wi-Fi, alongside more on-demand content than any major streaming service in the UK*. As audiences increasingly choose to stream live TV, Freely is fast becoming a major destination for streaming live and on-demand TV, all in one place, for free. With accelerating growth and further expansion planned for 2026, Freely has been independently forecast to be the largest TV device platform in the UK within the next five years.*
To coincide with the new partner announcement, Everyone TV also released new findings from research conducted by Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates. The nationally representative study found that live free-to-air channels – like U&Dave, LEGEND and BLAZE – score highest among audiences for making people feel “relaxed” (32%) and “entertained” (53%), and lowest for making people feel anxious (just 2%)*, when compared with other channels and global streaming and video services. The data underscores the continued importance of ‘lean-back’ TV experiences, with British viewers valuing the breadth, familiarity and comfort offered by free-to-air channels beyond the major broadcasters.
Freely, which surpassed 500,000 weekly users earlier this year, is already available on new smart TVs from manufacturers including Hisense, Bush, Toshiba, Panasonic, Sharp, TCL, Amazon Fire TVs and METZ. ‘Plug-in and stream’ devices are also on the way, making it even easier for households to upgrade to the new platform.
Jonathan Thompson, CEO, Everyone TV, said: “This latest round of content partners marks another step forward for Freely as we scale up the platform for viewers and partners alike. The research we’re releasing today shows just how much audiences still value British free-to-air television - not just the flagship channels, but the wider family of channels that continue to surprise and entertain us. Freely brings all of that together in one place, for free, and it’s exciting to see the momentum behind it as we look to the year ahead.”
Omar Oakes, independent media journalist and event host, added: “There’s huge interest in how broadcasters and partners are adapting to new viewing habits, and it’s vital that free-to-air programming stays relevant in the streaming age. Today’s discussion at MIPCOM underlined how fast the TV industry is changing and how smart collaboration can make it stronger.”
