New interface rolls out to Android TVs with Freeview Play
Televisions running Android TV with Freeview Play are getting a brand new interface, which comes with a Discover tab of personalised recommendations based on users viewing history and what’s currently trending on Google.
The updated interface is rolling out to TVs across the country now and comes at no extra cost to users. The interface is very similar to Google TV – introduced on theChromecast with Google TV– as the firm transitions over to the new branding over time.
Also coming to the interface is a redesigned TV guide called On Now, with a clearer layout and design for users to understand. There’s also an update to the On Demand section, so content rows have direct links to the streaming players for quick access.
Freeview Play features over 30,000 hours’ worth of on-demand content, with ten major streaming services: BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5, UKTV Play, CBS Catchup Channels UK, Horror Bites, STV Player, POP Player and BBC Sounds.
Popular shows that can be watched on Freeview Play includeLine of Duty, Love Island and The OC.
This update comes after Freeview rolled out auniversal search featureto Freeview TVs and set-top boxes, as well as anaccessible TV guidefor users with hearing and visual impairments.
Freeview Play rolled out tomore Android TV modelsfrom Philips and Sharp in March of last year.
You can get lots of different Android TV models from the likes ofTCL,Sony, Philips and Toshiba. Android TVs boast a simple and clear OS, all the Android apps you need and Google Chromecast.
If you’d like to know how Android TVs compare to models from Amazon Fire TV, Roku and other smart TVs, check out our roundup of thebest 4K TVsand thebest cheap TVs.
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor’s Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She’s also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she’s written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.
