FreeviewPlus app to allow Australians to watch live TV on phone, tablet

Australians will soon be able to watch live TV on their phones and tablets with a “world first” aggregated app.

A screenshot of FreeviewPlus on the TV. A mobile and tablet app is being developed.

Australians will be able to watch live TV on their phones and tablets aggregated into one app being developed by Freeview.

Freeview, which represents free-to-air television providers, today said it would launch a FreeviewPlus mobile application for access to all of the free-to-air networks’ live streaming and catch up content.

The app was being developed for iOS and Android mobile devices and would be available later this year, a Freeview spokeswoman told The Australian.

Today Freeview hailed the development as “a world first” with all the free-to-air networks working together on the new product.

Freeview chief executive Liz Ross said she was delighted that the strength of collaboration across the FTA broadcasters around the program had also influenced the decision by SBS to rejoin Freeview.

“We have an exciting year ahead in free-to-air television and the spirit of progress and collaboration will deliver some significant innovations in 2016,” Ross said. “We’re especially glad to welcome SBS back to the Freeview family.”

“Freeview has responded to changing viewing habits and we are excited about the FreeviewPlus multi-screen future,” she said.

At the moment ABC, SBS, 7, 9 and 10 have individual apps in the market for their catch-up TV services. How the content on these individual apps works in with an aggregated app is as yet unclear.

The spokeswoman said the new app was purely for phones and tablets at this stage.

There was no suggestion at this time of its catch-up content being available on smart TVs as a distinct app or on third party products such as Apple TV.

Ms Ross said Freeview would build additional features into the app. Details would be released shortly.