We have all seen the Freeview ads on TV and some of us may use Freeview. Today the consortium has released a new mobile app called Freeview FV, allowing Aussies to watch live TV from 16 channels on their mobile device.
The live channels available at launch include ABC, SBS, Seven, Channel 9, TEN, ONE, ABC2/ABC4KIDS, ABC ME, ABC News 24, 7TWO, 7Mate, 7Flix, Racing.com, 9Gem, 9Go! and 9Life. More channels are planned to be added in the future. All stations, with the exception of the Channel 9 stations, play within the Freeview FV app itself. The Channel 9 stations direct you to their standalone app, 9Now, or the link on the Play Store to install it. Once installed, though, the transition is mostly seamless.
Within the app there are also links to access catch-up content from all the free-to-air networks. The links send the user to either their app or their online website which differs for different stations. The app also has a very decent TV guide, favourites and reminder functions and also recommendations.
Of the new app CEO, Liz Ross, said:
This is a fantastic new way for consumers to enjoy TV on their terms and never miss a thing, especially when they’re on the go and away from home. The Australian FTA industry has united to create and deliver a powerful mobile consumer experience – in no other market has an FTA industry collaborated to create its own live streaming app.
If you were wondering, for live sport, Freeview FV mirrors the network’s sporting rights agreements — which basically means that if the network does not have the rights to web streaming that content here then it will not show. For example, the cricket today won’t stream on the app, nor will AFL or NRL, as those rights are generally held elsewhere.
The app can be downloaded now from the Play Store. Even though the app’s icon is a touch unappealing, the rest of the app is good looking with better functionality. Head on over to the Play Store and check it out, and start enjoying some TV on the go.
[pb-app-box pname=’au.com.freeview.fv’ name=’Freeview FV’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]
