Google TV has been steadily adding more free, ad-supported TV channels, also known as FAST channels, and has now rebranded all 150 of them under a new home called FreePlay. This name change was first noticed on the Google TV streamer last month, but it's now appearing on more Android TVs. As reported by 9to5Google, customers in the U.S., where these free channels are currently offered, can find the new FreePlay branding under the Live tab on their Google TV home screen on Chromecasts and Android TVs from companies like TCL and Hisense.
The new branding doesn't seem to change how you access Google TV's free offerings, but it's a clear sign that the search giant is committed to FAST channels. In the future, Google TV could potentially fold other types of free media, like movies and TV shows from YouTube or other ad-supported free streaming platforms, under its FreePlay banner.
9to5Mac reported that Google TV has added another 14 FAST channels to its lineup, including the Ghost Hunters Channel, Ebony TV, Untold Stories of the ER, and more, bringing its total library of FAST channels to 150. For reference, Google TV offered about 80 FAST channels at launch. The new channels arrived just a month after Google TV rolled out an additional 10 FAST channels, which added CBC News, Rig TV, and more to its free offerings.
Google TV’s commitment to FreePlay comes with more than just a new name. The company has also added a new app experience for its free channels. The new app features an updated screen for picking channels and sorting through the full channel guide. You can see channels in categories such as recently watched, popular, and various genres of shows.
One of the most useful features of the new app is a Favorites section where you can pick channels that you want to easily find. You can set a favorite by clicking on the channel name on the guide. This updated app experience is just for when you use the Freeplay shortcut on the homescreen. You can still access free channels alongside paid channels from YouTube TV via Google TV’s “Live” tab.
This new design started rolling out a few days ago in line with the “Freeplay” branding on the homescreen, but it’s currently inconsistent. Some devices have the “Freeplay” icon on the homescreen with this new app, while others still have “Free Channels,” but with that shortcut opening either the new experience or the older, limited one. Freeplay branding has also vanished from the “Live” tab on some devices, but it's expected that all these issues will be resolved as the rollout continues.
The appeal of free channels on Google TV (still a US exclusive) was always that they’re built directly into the homescreen, but there’s also been a dedicated app experience for a while. The app was very basic, though, only being able to stream an app and show a horizontally scrolling list of other available channels.
It was a very basic experience, and one that was far inferior to Google TV’s “Live” tab. However, with the “Free Channels” shortcut on the homescreen being a more obvious means of entry for some users, it’s still an important part of Google’s offering. As the library of free channels on Google TV continues to rapidly grow, an updated app experience was inevitable.
As the library of free channels on Google TV continues to grow, Google has also added seven more live channels to its free ad-supported TV (FAST) service this week, bringing the total to 157. These include: The Bob Ross Channel, The Documentary Channel, The Movie Channel, The Hallmark Channel, The History Channel, The Lifetime Movie Network, and The Travel Channel. They join the library of over 150 free channels, bringing the total number of FAST channels available on Google TV to over 800.
With the new FreePlay app experience and the addition of new channels, Google TV is making it easier for users to find and watch free content. The company is also positioning itself to be a major player in the FAST market, which is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
Google’s push into the FAST market comes at a time when many consumers are looking for ways to cut down on their streaming costs. With the rise of streaming services offering ad-supported tiers, FAST channels are becoming increasingly popular. Google TV is now a part of the FAST market, and the company is clearly committed to making it a success.
