Channel 4 today (September 24) launches three new streaming channels – 4Reality, 4Homes, and 4Life – exclusively on Freely, the streaming app app that allows viewers to watch live and on-demand TV without a dish, aerial or set-top box.
These are Channel 4’s first ever streaming channels in the UK, and Channel 4 is the first UK public service broadcaster to make dedicated channels available on Freely, which is backed by the UK’s public service broadcasters, Channel 4, the BBC, ITV and 5.
- 4Reality (channel 67): sometimes risqué, often funny and always entertaining. 4Reality from Channel 4 – the original home of the best reality TV – brings favourites across real-life drama, sass, romance and rivalry from Married at First Sight, Naked Attraction and First Dates to Made in Chelsea.
- 4Homes (channel 68): from massive mansions to amazing spaces, from places in the sun and DIY in chateaus, to homes in the best-of-British locations, 4Homes showcases all places great and small spanning shows such as Grand Designs, A Place in the Sun and Location, Location, Location.
- 4Life (channel 82): real lives, real people (and real dogs too). And huge helpings of delicious food. Meet people doing amazing things – often in beautiful places. 4Life showcases the great content genres channel 4 viewers love including travel, food and animals, from The Dog House to Travel Man.
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The new channels offer a fresh way to experience Channel 4 content, tapping into the lean-back nature of live TV while delivering curated programming across reality, lifestyle, and entertainment programming. The channels will be available exclusively on Freely at launch.
With the new streams, Freely will offer over 50 live channels over Wi-Fi, alongside more on demand shows than any other streaming service in the UK. More channels are expected to join the line-up as the platform continues to grow.
“We’re proud to lead the way among Britain’s broadcasters by enhancing Freely’s offering,” said Grace Boswood, director of technology & distribution, Channel 4. “The launch of our new streamed channels further accelerates our transformation into the streaming age as the world’s first public service streamer. It also continues our record of digital distribution firsts to benefit advertisers and viewers.”
Jonathan Thompson, CEO, Everyone TV (formerly Digital UK), added: “We’re delighted to be bringing audiences even more high-quality streamed content, in partnership with channel 4. Freely already offers more shows than any major streaming service in the UK, without the expensive monthly subscription, and for the first time will now offer exclusive channels with entertaining shows from across the Channel 4 portfolio on 4Reality, 4Homes and 4Life – three fantastic channels you won’t find anywhere else.”
Freely is already home to 97% of the nation’s favourite shows and is built into the next generation of smart TVs, with a ‘plug-in and stream’ puck set to launch later this year. Freely partners include Amazon Fire TVs, Bush, Hisense, JVC, METZ, Panasonic, Philips, Sharp, TCL, Netgem, Roku, Titan OS, TiVo, Toshiba, and VIDAA, and is also backed by all of the UK’s main PSBs. Viewers can switch seamlessly between live and on demand content from the UK’s leading broadcasters and other free-to-air content providers.
