The launch of the Google TV Streamer in Spain has been a before and after for the company’s platform for smart televisions. We have said goodbye to the Chromecast, but in return we have won an ecosystem that may be more powerful and capable, offering more possibilities to manufacturers. Such as the latest novelty for Google TV devices.
Google has confirmed Android Authority That from this month, the new Google TV devices will have a command with a New button to watch free television. It is a measure that some manufacturers have already adopted, but that will be mandatory to use the platform from now on.
Therefore, it is expected that all future devices, including those of Google itself, include this button, which It can have the name “free tv” or “live tv”to the manufacturer. Actually, Google made the change in its policy at the beginning of last year, but the company decided to give more time to manufacturers to make the necessary changes in their devices.
One of the manufacturers that has already implemented this free television button is Walmart, the American store chain offered by its own player, the onn 4K Pro. This device comes with a new remote control, which includes a Gigantic blue button indicated “Free TV”. It should be clarified that this button does not replace any other, and that the rest of the controls have not changed, including direct access buttons such as Netflix, YouTube or Disney+.
The new Free TV button opens the Google TV Freeplay application, a section within the interface it offers access to more than 150 free television channels and live. The interface shows a programming grill, with the various channels and the programs that are broadcasting at all times.
Actually, Freeplay is not exactly new, since it was first implemented in 2023 with channels such as BBC Earth or Hell’s Kitchen, and over time it has been expanding with channels such as Fox and TV Land. However, At the moment Google TV Freeplay is not available in Spainand the section simply does not appear in the interface; Therefore, the big doubt is what the new Free TV button will do when we press it in Spain. It is possible that Google is preparing to launch Freeplay in the rest of the world, in addition to the United States, but for the moment, the company has not confirmed it.
Google is not the only one that offers free television channels on its platform; That has become one of the great incentives to buy an intelligent television or smart TV. Let us remember, for example, that Samsung televisions offer free football thanks to access to various free channels.
