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FreeviewPlus launches new EPG

FreeviewPlus launches its new EPG today, putting Catch-Up services on TV sets by combining broadband and broadcast TV.

2014-09-02_1111FreeviewPlus launches today using HbbTV technology to provide a free-to-air TV electronic program guide to FreeviewPlus-branded TVs, set top boxes and recording devices.

The advanced EPG puts Catch Up services on TV screens with additional content that will allow networks to offer new revenue methods, such as genre-specific and library content.

“We are thrilled to launch FreeviewPlus today, a world-first TV service for Australia that will provide viewers with a whole new way to enjoy free-to-air TV,” Liz Ross, General Manager of Freeview, said.

“It is also a significant and exciting milestone in the history of television in this country, coming as the result of unprecedented collaboration among the Freeview networks, as well as other key stakeholders including developers, manufacturers and retailers.

“FreeviewPlus has been built to deliver Australians the best free-to-air TV experience in the world, allowing viewers to find and watch their favourite shows when they want to watch them on their TV with the simple press of a button,”

While some smart TVs will be able to access FreeviewPlus, the industry group is so far endorsing FreeviewPlus-branded hardware, such as Sony and LG FreeviewPlus receivers, available from retailers including Harvey Norman, The Good Guys, JB Hi-Fi, Myer, Bing Lee, Dick Smith and David Jones. Further devices will be in stores between now and Christmas.

While the service largely requires new hardware, it’s worth considering for your next TV upgrade, but you should also check if your current smart TV can access it. Unfortunately Freeview-branded devices cannot access FreeviewPlus.

FreeviewPlus will offer an array of new features including:

A 7-day, easy-to-use EPG
Access to available free-to-air Catch Up services in one place on the TV
Recommendations of the best programs on today, on Catch Up and in the future
The ability to browse and search programs across the next 7 days
A favourites function that keeps track of programs on live and Catch Up TV

Also launching today is a new FreeviewPlus website.

5 Responses

  1. Bazza, have you ever been a consumer? Freeview don’t expect everyone to bin their perfectly good equipment. What company does? It’s just another product to consider if you’re in the market for an upgrade.

    For me, I might buy one in the future.

  2. This is like the 3rd generation of equipment that Freeview has required, each one incompatible with the equipment that preceded it – first there was plain Freeview and the standard broadcast EPG that all DTV equipment could access, then Freeview introduced its super-dooper EPG that was incompatible with all the plain Freeview TVs and DVRs, you had to buy new gear labelled “Freeview Phase Two” to use the new enhanced Freeview EPG, now there’s another generation of TVs and DVRs that give you access to this new Freeview Plus EPG and broadband catch-up services, but its incompatible with all TVs and PVRs labelled either Freeview or Freeview Phase Two that were sold previously!

    How many times are consumers supposed to buy new TVs and PVRs Freeview?

    What happens to the standard broadcast DTV EPG and the “enhanced” Freeview EPG that came with “Phase Two” gear? Are they going to…

  3. because people are really going to replace all the gear they already own, that already does all this, just so they can maybe access some new features from an EPG… I don’t think so Tim

  4. I turned on TV….ABC24 was on….Ros Childs was interviewing a woman….did not pay much attention….eating…coffee…then all these strange things start scrolling across the screen and what looked liked ads….What?!?….
    After some initial confusion, I realised this was what it was all about….still sounded like a commercial.
    And frankly I prefer watching catchup on my PC…I have a lovely, large HD monitor.

  5. This is so… dull… I’ve watched the whole explanatory video on YouTube, and it’s just a program guide, a good one sure, but that’s all.
    It doesn’t really add anything that Smart TVs (or even my Blu Ray player) haven’t been doing for years, except the ability to get to a catchup program from the EPG.

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