Freeview rebrands to launch Freeview Play connected TV service

Freeview Play will be free to watch and won't require a subscription, though you will need a new Freeview Play TV or set-top box, and an internet connection. There's no word on any ability to upgrade existing Freeview products.

Scheduled to launch "later this year", Freeview Play will include BBC iPlayer, ITV Player and 4oD (to be replaced by the new All 4 brand later this quarter) and - of course - all the available Freeview channels.

In anticipation of the new service, Freeview has released a new logo "to reflect the platform's evolving service", which we will see introduced across Freeview's products.

Sound familiar? It's a similar approach to the YouView platform, which was launched back in 2012 specifically to combine free-to-air live TV and catch-up programming.

Freeview managing director Guy North said: "Freeview has been built on a vision to make television available to all free from subscription.

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff and The Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).