Four new manufacturers are to adopt the Freeview Play catch-up and on-demand service. Blaupunkt, Hisense, Sharp AQUOS, and Toshiba devices will all be launched in the next few months.
Freeview Play brings an enhanced EPG to TVs and set-top boxes, allowing viewers to access catch-up programming from BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, Demand 5 and UKTV Play through a backwards EPG. Additional on-demand content is also available from the Freeview Play apps page on compatible devices.
Freeview Play compatible Blaupunkt, Hisense, Sharp AQUOS, and Toshiba TVs will be available in 2017.
Speaking at ‘Towards a connected TV nation’, Guy North, Managing Director of Freeview said, “I’m delighted to welcome Blaupunkt, Hisense, Sharp and Toshiba to the Freeview Play platform. With these new manufacturers on board, Freeview Play has become the most-widely adopted catch-up TV platform in the UK, which is no mean feat in just over a year.
“Freeview Play now has the content, functionality and distribution to really deliver scale in the TV market, meaning we are well on our way to achieving our ambition of making connected viewing accessible and affordable for everyone.”
Freeview says it expects to see sales of half a million by the end of the year.
There are now over 200 different models of Freeview Play devices on sale and programme choice has been bolstered this year with the addition of UKTV Play and STV Player.
The recently announced 2017 Freeview Play specification will bring a raft of new features including search and recommendations to many new Freeview Play products next year.
