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Summary: Google is forcing Google TV device makers to include a new “Free TV” button on their remotes, starting this month. This new button would take users to the “Live” tab and show them free TV from Google’s FreePlay TV app, which is available on every Google TV. FreePlay TV has around 170 channels and is growing.
Starting this month, all Google TV devices will have a button labeled as “Free TV” or “Live TV” on their remotes. The button will open Google TV FreePlay, which currently houses over 170 free TV channels. These are Free Ad-Support TV channels, also known as FAST channels.
Some Google TV devices already include a Free TV button, like the Onn 4K Pro Google TV streamer from Walmart. It featured a pretty prominent blue Free TV button front and center. Now, starting this month, all future releases of Google TV streaming devices will be forced to have this Free TV button.
Google says that this “change will help provide a more consistent experience with quick access at users’ fingertips.”
Google hasn’t published any documentation about the required size, color or placement of the button. If there’s no requirements, we could see some OEMs opting to place it alongside the other dedicated app buttons. Like those for YouTube, Netflix among others.
This is a good way to promote Google TV’s free TV Channels
Despite the FreePlay TV App being one of the first apps that appears on a Google TV device, it’s still a feature that many people don’t know about. Putting a button on the remote to indicate “Free TV” could help make this feature a lot more popular. Of course, Google TV isn’t the only one offering Free TV these days. I have a TCL QM6K that I’m currently reviewing, and it has its own FAST TV App, called TCL TV+ which has a ton of channels that are free, from Pluto and other sources.
Some of the other more popular FAST providers include Sling TV, Pluto TV, and Tubi. These services make money solely on ad revenue. In fact, you don’t even need to sign up to use them.