
Get exclusive tech offers and guides
Straight to your inbox
Updated
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
Created in response to the poor state of free-to-air TV in Australia in the late 2000s, Freeview is a digital TV platform designed to challenge the dominance of pay TV services like Foxtel. By uniting all free-to-air channels under a single marketing umbrella and implementing standard features like the Electronic Program Guide (EPG), Freeview aims to promote the benefits of free-to-air TV throughout Australia.
Part of the Freeview initiative includes the certification of Freeview-compliant set-top boxes and Smart TVs. Devices that are Freeview-certified must support both Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) free-to-air broadcasts as well as implement the EPG, an interactive TV guide designed to simplify the process of browsing and recording future programming.
In September 2014, Freeview expanded its platform with Freeview Plus, a Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) service that uses the Internet to enhance your regular TV viewing experience. By connecting an HbbTV-compatible television, set-top box or other viewing device to the Internet, you can access the catch-up TV libraries of each of the five free-to-air networks from the comfort of your couch.
Like the basic Freeview service, Freeview Plus isn't a network in its own right; it simply groups all free-to-air catch-up content in one place so you don't have to swap between multiple apps to browse the entire entertainment menu. Since Freeview Plus makes use of a broadband connection as well as digital TV signals, you can browse the Freeview Plus catch-up catalogue at the same time you're watching a live free-to-air program without one activity interrupting the other.
The basic Freeview service supports all digital free-to-air channels available in your area. This includes both SD and HD channels along with the Freeview EPG for all channels, excluding WIN television. However, it's worth noting that all HD-compatible TV devices can access these same channels, regardless of whether they're Freeview-certified. In short, you don't need a Freeview-certified device to watch Freeview content.
Freeview Plus makes a more compelling case for itself. By collecting all the catch-up content available through ABC iview, SBS On Demand, 7Plus, 9Now and tenplay in one place, Freeview Plus makes it easier to hunt down episodes of shows you missed and keep track of all the latest entertainment options across the entire free-to-air industry.
While all catch-up content on Freeview Plus is available to watch in Standard Definition, support for High Definition video will vary from show to show. This is determined by the individual networks and not by Freeview.
Freeview FV is Freeview's mobile app. Available for both Apple and Android devices, Freeview FV provides on-the-go access to live streams and catch-up services from all the free-to-air networks. Currently, live streaming is available for the following 19 channels:
To access Freeview FV, you'll need to download either the Freeview iOS app to an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch device running iOS 8.0 or later, or the Freeview Android app to a smartphone or tablet running Android 4.2 or later. Additionally, you'll need to download each of the free-to-air networks' own mobile apps in order to watch catch-up content through Freeview FV since Freeview needs to link with those apps to access their catch-up libraries.
As a bonus, the Freeview iOS app supports mirroring to Apple TV devices over AirPlay, letting you watch Freeview FV content on your TV without needing to purchase a Freeview Plus device.
While Freeview recommends using a Freeview Plus-certified device to access Freeview Plus, any HbbTV-compatible device will work just fine. Once you've connected it to the Internet, you simply need to push the green button on your remote to bring up the Freeview Plus interface.
If you want to stick with a Freeview Plus-certified device, Bauhn, Changhong, Hisense, Hitachi, LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL, Philips and Panasonic all make Smart TVs Freeview has given its approval to. Teac and Aerialbox set-top boxes along with Aerialbox Personal Video Recorders have received Freeview Plus certification as well. You can check the specific models Freeview has certified here.
Alternatively you can download the app on iOS or Android devices. You can then get Freeview on the big screen by using Airplay or Chromecast.
Both Freeview Plus and Freeview FV require a constant Internet connection to function, so they will take a toll on your monthly data limit.
Since Freeview Plus uses the TV broadcast network to deliver live TV, you'll only have to worry about your data cap when watching catch-up content. For SD video, Freeview estimates you'll use approximately 585MB of data per hour. In HD, that goes up to roughly 1.6GB of data per hour.
Freeview FV chews through data for both live streaming channels and watching catch-up content, but because the mobile app is built for smaller screens, it doesn’t use quite as much data as Freeview Plus. An hour of viewing through Freeview FV will consume roughly 400MB of data.
Store | Discount | |
---|---|---|
Stream Kayo Sports for 14 days FREE and no lock-in contract Take Kayo Sports' Basic or Premium plan for a spin and stream new sports content daily plus 15,000+ hours of on-demand archives. Last verified |
||
30 DAYS FREE: Sign up to Amazon Prime Video's free trial today Prime Video's free 30-day trial will give you instant access to thousands of premium TV shows and movies. T&Cs apply. Last verified |
Based on the popular video game series of the same name.
Read more…The true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's momentous adventure.
Read more…Not that it matters, but most of this story is true.
Read more…What came first, the music or the misery?
Read more…Based on the popular racing video game franchise of the same name.
Read more…Turns out, the truth is written all over your face.
Read more…Grad student by day, international spy by night.
Read more…To solve the toughest crimes, hire the smartest criminal.
Read more…Eddie Murphy reprises one of his most beloved roles in a sequel three decades in the making.
Read more…The high fashion world is more cunning than you might have thought.
Read more…Business may be slow, but this family never gives up.
Read more…Today's best Finder Daily deals include: 25% off Soda Stream Spirit, $899 Macbook Air laptops, 46% off De'Longhi coffee machines
Every TV show and movie launching on Disney Plus' new Star channel.
Amazon's Fire Stick Lite adds a range of streaming services to your TV for a very low price, including Apple TV, but it's a frustrating platform to use.
Choose the right TV to meet your streaming, free to air and picture quality needs with our round-up of the best smart TVs for any budget.
The AFL match of the rounds pits ladder-leaders Port Adelaide against third-placed Brisbane Lions.
Find out how you can keep up with your favourite motorsport riders.
The Brisbane Heat hosts the Sydney Thunder at The Gabba as the 2019-20 Big Bash League gets underway.
Fetch TV users can now seamlessly stream 10 All Access shows.
The Matildas are set to play a pair of friendlies against South American nation Chile.
Find out how to follow the Bundesliga live online or on your TV in Australia with Finder's broadcast guide.
All the biggest shows and movies from HBO and more on-demand.
Watch your faves from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and more.
Try Amazon Prime Video's huge library for 30 days free.
Binge thousands of reality TV shows with 30 days free.
I am profoundly deaf and watch an enormous amount of television. Without captions I cannot hear what is being said. Yet, a lot of freeview television does not have captions.
Could you please help me?
There must be thousands of hearing impaired elderly people in nursing homes in the same boat.
Hi Ron,
Australia’s biggest streaming services, Netflix, Stan and Presto, all offer Closed Captions. If it’s freeview you’re after, Fetch TV has a list of free-to-air and paid channels that offer Closed Captions.
Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help.
Brodie
can you get freeview on humax recorders
Hi Bill,
May I ask what model Humax recorder you’re using?
Cheers,
Brodie
Hi,
I have recently purchased a new Sony TV with Freeview+ incorporated. I have a problem with playing programs from all providers. I can start a programme and it will play to the first ad break then I get a message that the programme is not available and to try again later. I can continue playing the programme by stopping it restarting it again and fast forwarding to the ad break where it stopped. In doing so I have to watch the initial add and the add where the program stopped again in order to watch the next segment. Could you shed any light on my problem or have any fixes available. Your assistance in this matter is much appreciated.
Len
Hi Len,
This seems to be a common issue with Freeview channels. I’ve looked into it and the only solution seems to be deleting and reinstalling the Freeview Plus application. Are you able to do this on your Sony Smart TV?
Thanks,
Brodie