Google TV’s free channels already have a name and soon also their own app. The question is when will they arrive in Europe?

In addition to the virtues that Android TV and Google TV offer as operating systems for Smart TVs, such as the number of applications available, their operation and the customization options, there is a plus that few people know (in the full sense of the word). free channels. Just like LG and its WebOS have LG Channels, Samsung’s Tizen has Samsung TV Plus and Xiaomi (with a different OS) has Mi TV+, TVs with Google TV also have free channels.

FAST channels are all the rage and if you’re not sure what it is, we’ll quickly clear up your doubts: it’s the acronym for Free TV funded by advertisingso you have them on your TV and you can enjoy free and obvious live content, completely legally. Yes, with ads. Well, a long time ago, Google announced its own FAST channels. The problem? Which are currently only available in the United States.

What’s important is that this differential factor continues to expand and eventually lands in other markets. For now, there’s some good news that suggests Google’s free TV channel project is moving forward: They already have a name and a new visualization app is in the works.

Google TV Freeplay is here and brings new features

In addition to being geographically restricted to the United States, Google’s free channels can only be viewed on devices with Google TV such as Chromecast with Google TV and Smart TVs with built-in Google TV from manufacturers such as Sony, TCL, Hisense or Philips.

In all, Google Integrates Over 800 Free Channels But With a Tricksince they come from different providers. Thus, it unifies them within its ‘Live’ hub, where content from Pluto, Tubi, Plex, Haystack News, YouTube TV, Sling TV or Philo are integrated. If we stick to their native free streaming channels without the need for an app or additional accounts, then there are about 80 channels.

So far, these Free channels organized by Google have been a bit hidden in the interface, you have to go to the menu at the top, in the ‘Live’ option located between ‘For you’ and ‘Movies’ or ‘Series’.

To give more entity and visibility to this project, Google is deploying a new brand for the free channels available on compatible devices: as anticipated by 9to5Google, This is Google TV Freeplay.. This is where they will soon be able to meet again.

While this is more of a change in strategy and organization, it also has a very pleasant side effect in practice: the arrival of an app that hosts them on the Google TV home screen. In fact, the Google TV Streamer already has an app called Google TV Freeplay. This way, accessing Google’s free channels will be much easier and faster. Of course, the app is not yet available, although it will probably be on September 24, the launch date of its new TV device, that it will debut.

When will free Google channels arrive in Europe? This is the million dollar question and unfortunately there is no official answer. At the moment, Google has not made any statement on the matter and the Google website does not provide any additional information, so we will have to wait and see if we will be pleasantly surprised on September 24.

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In Xataka Android | Google TV offers free channels: what they are, how to watch them, full list and where this function is available