Freetime is coming to new Vestel TVs and set-top-boxes, which is a pretty significant chunk of the UK market.
Vestel makes TV’s for a variety of major Japanese and European brands (Toshiba & Finlux, for two) as well as own brand TV’s sold by major UK retailers including Argos, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s.
The Freetime app will run with new Freesat equipped kit, and provides a roll-back TV guide for the past seven days, with access to the major On Demand services including BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD, and Demand 5.
It will also bring access to Showcase, Freesat’s programme recommendation service. The Freesat mobile app will also work in conjunction with the Vestel Freetime range, offering the ability to plan, record and manage programmes to watch and directly control the TV.
The Freetime app will run with new Freesat equipped kit, and provides a roll-back TV guide for the past seven days, with access to the major On Demand services including BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD, and Demand 5.
It will also bring access to Showcase, Freesat’s programme recommendation service. The Freesat mobile app will also work in conjunction with the Vestel Freetime range, offering the ability to plan, record and manage programmes to watch and directly control the TV.
Freetime boxes now account for over 40% of all Freesat set-top box sales.
As the biggest volume supplier to major retailers such as John Lewis and Dixons, the Vestel agreement is a very significant step for the Freetime service.
Panasonic also recently announced that some of their 2014 TV ranges would carry Freetime, although theirs will work on Freeview as well as Freesat.
Emma Scott, Freesat’s Managing Director, commented: “We are extremely pleased to be able to announce today’s partnership with Vestel, which further builds on the strong momentum for our award-winning Freetime service. This is an exciting time for us – we announced the Freetime Panasonic VIERA TVs range last month and we look forward to extending our reach further with Vestel. Through the new agreement, viewers will be able to enjoy Freetime on a whole new range of leading brands.”
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