Google TV Introduces Freeplay, Expands User Base to 100 Million
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Freeplay is officially the new home for Google TV's free streaming channels
Key Takeaways Google TV is getting a big feature update ahead of the Google TV Streamer launch. Free ad-supported channels are now available under the Freeplay umbrella in the US. Google TV is expanding to more devices and countries, including projectors and TCL TVs. Alongside the Google Pixel 9 series and the Pixel Watch 3, Google announced the Google TV Streamer at its 'Made by Google' event on August 13. Over a month later, the company's latest streaming box is ready to hit retail shelves on September 24. To celebrate the occasion, Google is rolling out a major feature update for Google TV, adding support for new free channels, a new Sports Page, and an expansion to more countries. Related Eying the Google TV Streamer? Know these 5 Android TV limitations before you buy Android TV has a long way to go 2 Google is bringing all its free ad-supported channels under a new Freeplay umbrella. Limited to the US and accessible through the standalone Google TV Freeplay app from the Google TV home screen, it provides access to 150 free-to-stream TV channels. The change went live for several Google TV users earlier this month itself. To make it easier to browse the available channels, you can filter them based on genre and topic. You can also add a free channel to the Favorites section for quick and easy access. Source: Google Initially announced with the Google TV Streamer, the latest Google TV feature update brings the Google Home panel to your existing streaming device. With the Home panel, you can control your smart home devices, including the thermostat temperature, lighting, and even view your Nest camera feed. Everything is also automatically synced with the Google Home app on your phone and other devices. Similarly, as teased during the Google TV Streamer unveiling, Google AI is coming to all Google TV devices. Your streaming box will use AI to analyze, curate, and provide content suggestions that better match your taste. Plus, with Gemini, you can get AI-generated summaries of TV shows and reviews, making it easier to find what you want to watch next. Another way Google TV is using generative AI is with its new screensavers. You just tell the AI what you want to see, then Google TV will generate a one-of-a-kind image just for your screen. Source: Google To make it easier to follow your favorite sporting activities, Google TV is adding a new Sports page in the 'For You' tab. It will provide access to all sporting content in one place, so you can quickly watch an ongoing game, check the schedule of upcoming games, view YouTube highlights, and more. Plus, with personalized recommendations, you'll get suggestions to watch games that interest you. The new Sports page is only rolling out for Google TV users in the US. Source: Google Google TV expands to more devices and countries In its announcement, Google claims Google TV (and Android TV) is the world's biggest streaming platform, with over 270 million active monthly devices. To continue this momentum, the company is getting new partners and devices onboard. Thanks to this, you'll soon see Google TV running on Hisense TCL's Art TVs, smart monitors from Asus, and projectors from Epson, XGIMI, and Hisense. Lastly, Google TV is expanding to new markets, including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
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Over 100 million new users flocked to Google TV in the last year alone
Key Takeaways Google TV and Android TV now boast 270 million monthly active devices, up 120M from January 2023. Google TV is expanding to more countries and is now accessible through various devices like the new Google TV Streamer. The base Android TV OS that Google TV is built on top of first debuted in 2014, so the sudden uptick in usership is somewhat surprising. Google dropped a big feature update for Google TV devices today, along with the new Google TV Streamer -- a set-top box that takes over from the old Chromecast. The update adds support for new free channels, introduces a Sports Page, and extends the Streamer's smart home controls to all Google TV devices. Amid these announcements, the search giant also reported a dramatic increase in users for its Google TV and the underlying Android TV OS. Related Eyeing the Google TV Streamer? Know these 5 Android TV limitations before you buy Android TV has a long way to go 5 Google revealed in a blog post that Google TV and Android TV OS are now active on over 270 million devices every month (via 9to5Google). That's up from 150 million in January 2023, so we're looking at a huge jump of 120 million monthly users. This growth is way faster compared to previous years. There were 80 million active devices in 2021, rising to 110 million in 2022. A lot of this growth comes from more brands hopping on the Android TV OS bandwagon in different countries. Google mentioned in its blog post that Google TV is also expanding to more countries, like Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. And you can access Google TV in all sorts of ways -- like the new Google TV Streamer, TCL and Hisense TVs, and smart projectors from Vankyo, Epson, and XGIMI. Google has been working on TV software for over a decade, and it's had its fair share of reboots. The original Google TV, which launched in 2010, was pretty clunky, but that didn't hold them back. At first, the goal was to get Google TV onto most TVs, but the company really started finding success with the simpler Chromecast devices before rolling out the new Android TV platform in 2014. Google TV gets a nice feature boost Google is stepping up its Google TV game with a new Google TV Freeplay app for its free ad-supported channels. Available in the US, it gives you access to 150 free TV channels. Plus, Google AI is rolling out to all Google TV devices, helping to analyze and suggest content that matches your taste. There's also a new Sports page in the For You tab, which makes it easy to catch live games, check out upcoming schedules, and watch highlights all in one place. Related Freeplay is officially the new home for Google TV's free streaming channels Google TV is also getting a new Sports page
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Google TV launches Freeplay, a new hub for free streaming content, while simultaneously reaching a milestone of 100 million monthly active devices. These developments mark significant growth in Google's streaming platform.
Google TV Unveils Freeplay: A New Hub for Free Content
Google TV has officially launched Freeplay, a dedicated hub for free streaming content, marking a significant evolution in its platform offerings. This new feature consolidates all free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels into a single, easily accessible location within the Google TV interface
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.Freeplay aims to simplify the user experience by bringing together over 800 free channels from various providers such as Tubi, Plex, and Pluto TV. This move eliminates the need for users to navigate through multiple apps to access free content, streamlining the viewing process and potentially increasing engagement with ad-supported channels.
Enhanced Discovery and Personalization
The new Freeplay hub introduces several features designed to improve content discovery:
- A dedicated "For you" tab offering personalized recommendations
- Genre-based browsing options
- A comprehensive channel guide for easy navigation
These enhancements are expected to make it easier for users to find content that aligns with their interests, potentially increasing viewer retention and satisfaction.
Google TV Reaches 100 Million Monthly Active Devices
Coinciding with the Freeplay launch, Google TV has announced a significant milestone in its user base growth. The platform now boasts over 100 million monthly active devices, a testament to its increasing popularity in the streaming market
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.This growth can be attributed to several factors:
- Partnerships with major TV manufacturers like TCL, Hisense, and Sony
- The success of Chromecast with Google TV
- Continuous improvements to the platform's user interface and content offerings
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Implications for the Streaming Industry
The introduction of Freeplay and the expansion of Google TV's user base have significant implications for the streaming industry:
- Increased competition in the FAST channel space
- Potential shifts in advertising strategies for content providers
- Greater emphasis on personalization and content discovery features
As Google TV continues to evolve and expand its reach, it is likely to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of streaming television.
What's Next for Google TV?
With these recent developments, industry observers are keen to see how Google TV will continue to innovate. Potential areas for future growth include:
- Expansion of content partnerships
- Further refinement of AI-driven personalization
- Integration of interactive features to enhance viewer engagement
As the streaming landscape becomes increasingly competitive, Google TV's ability to adapt and innovate will be crucial in maintaining its growth trajectory and user satisfaction.
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