Freeview Play at a glance
- Live TV
- Through a TV aerial
- On demand
- Over broadband: BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, 5, U and others
- Broadband
- At least 2 Mbps for catch-up and on demand
- Cost
- No subscription
- Quick check
- Channel 100 opens the on-demand players
From freeview.co.uk, checked 1 October 2026.
How Freeview Play works
A Freeview Play TV or recorder does two jobs:
- Live TV through the aerial, exactly like ordinary Freeview, with the usual channel numbers and TV guide.
- On-demand through broadband. Connect the TV to the internet and the broadcasters’ players appear: channel 100, or the Freeview Play button on some remotes, opens them.
Freeview lists BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, 5, STV and U among the on-demand players, with smaller ones such as Legend and PBS America alongside. Which live channels you get depends on your area and aerial; Freeview’s channel checker shows the list for your area.
What you need
- An aerial for live channels. Freeview says you can still watch some channels on internet-connected devices without one, through the on-demand players.
- Broadband for on-demand. Freeview sets the minimum at 2 Mbps for catch-up and on-demand programmes, which count towards any monthly data allowance.
- A Freeview Play TV or recorder. Check by going to channel 100.
To watch your aerial channels on phones, laptops and other TVs around the house, a network tuner can stream them over your home network. See stream Freeview around your home.
Freeview on a phone, tablet or computer
On a phone or tablet, Freeview’s mobile app lets you browse programmes from the broadcasters’ players in one place, then plays them through each broadcaster’s own app. On a computer, use the broadcasters’ websites. Freeview doesn’t list a Fire TV app; see Freeview channels on a Firestick for the route that works there.
Freeview Play or Freely?
Both are free and come from Everyone TV, the company owned by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5. The difference is the aerial:
- Freeview Play needs an aerial for live channels and uses broadband only for on-demand.
- Freely streams the live channels over broadband too, so it needs no aerial, and Everyone TV recommends at least 10 Mbps.
With a good aerial signal, Freeview Play is the cheapest way to get the UK channels on a TV. Without one, Freely or the broadcasters’ apps on a streaming stick avoid the aerial altogether.
The TV Licence
Freeview Play doesn’t change the licence rules. Watching or recording live TV needs a TV Licence, and so does BBC iPlayer, whether live or on demand. Catch-up on the other broadcasters’ players doesn’t. See do you need a TV Licence for IPTV.