Panasonic is to integrate the Freesat Freetime service into new models of its VIERA smart TVs. It means the rollback TV guide and on demand services from the UK’s major broadcasters will be available across both satellite- and terrestrial-delivered channels.
Launched in September 2012, Freetime boxes now accounting for over 40% of all Freesat set-top box sales.
Craig Cunningham, Panasonic’s TV Product Manager, said: “We’ve had a long standing relationship with Freesat and I’m really excited that we are the first manufacturer to have the Freetime service on our TVs. Research tells us that when it comes to smart TVs consumers want three things: the best content available, ease of use and flexibility. The Freetime service delivers on all of these aspects and more and when combined with our heritage in picture quality it’s a great combination.”
Emma Scott, Freesat’s Managing Director, commented: “For such an important global brand as Panasonic to choose Freesat’s Freetime is proof positive of the clear consumer benefits of our service. This is a fantastic acknowledgement of a great British media technology success story and this deal opens up exciting new territories for us. We have enjoyed a strong working relationship with Panasonic over the past six years – Panasonic was the first manufacturer to launch IDTVs with Freesat built in, so the deal for Freetime is a natural and exciting evolution of our partnership.”
The Panasonic deal builds on Freesat’s strong start to 2014 following an excellent Q4 13 in which it added 31,000 new homes taking its base to over 1.8m.
