London, 25th June 2018
Freeview and Netgem today announce the successful roll out of Freeview Play on Netgem’s SoundBox HD and Netgem’s NetBox HD. The subscription free catch-up and on-demand platform provides access to BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, Demand 5 and UKTV Play.
Viewers with the SoundBox HD and the NetBox HD will now be able to scroll back from the TV guide to access shows from the past seven days. Through the Search function, they can find their favourite programs or discover new ones using Freeview Play’s Recommendations feature. The hybrid platform also provides viewers with 70 digital and 15 HD channels with no monthly cost.
The SoundBox HD combines the set-top box technology of the NetBox HD with a powerful sound system with built-in subwoofers making it easier and more affordable for customers to upgrade their TV viewing experience. Alongside the wide range of content available, viewers will be able to choose between a range of tailored sound settings – such as ‘Clear voice’ or ‘Bass Boost’.
The SoundBox HD and the NetBox HD are both available to buy via Amazon and give viewers access to all Freeview Play content as well as additional pay-as-you-go services such as Amazon Prime Video, Rakuten, Hopster, Hayu and music content.
Sylvain Thevenot at Netgem UK commented “We are very pleased to be launching our first products with Freeview Play. After winning two awards at TV Connect and the The Connies last month, the addition of on demand content from the main UK channels, alongside Amazon Prime Video, further strengthens the SoundBox proposition. With Freeview Play on the SoundBox HD, we are bringing the ultimate entertainment offering to UK viewers, combining live TV and on demand content with an incredible sound experience.”
Guy North, Managing Director at Freeview commented “We welcome innovation from our partners, so it’s great to see Netgem launch a truly unique product with the Soundbox HD. Both this and the NetBox HD offer even more choice for viewers looking for a better TV deal.”
Technical development of Freeview Play, including product specification, is being led by Digital UK.
About Netgem
As a leader of the home entertainment industry, Netgem has always placed the consumer at the heart of its innovation roadmap, from the early days in the UK: from the first connected TV box with ITV Digital in 2000, to BT iPlayer in 2002, then the first connected PVR box with Fetch-TV in 2008, more recently innovating with the advanced multiscreen EE TV since 2014 providing access at any time to hundreds of free and pay-as-you-go channels and thousands of On-Demand content from our Content partners (BBC, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, hayu etc…). Today, Netgem is expanding its Product portfolio with further innovations both in terms of Smart Devices (first all-in-one Soundbar & TV box with ‘SoundBox’) and Content (Freeview live TV, catch-up shows as well as the best from Premium On-Demand with first to market launching Amazon Prime Video combined on a TV box).
Netgem is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris Compartment C (ISIN: FR0004154060, Reuters: ETGM.PA, Bloomberg: NTG:FP), visit www.netgem.com for more info on the Netgem company.
To discover our products, visit www.netgem.co.uk.
About Freeview
Freeview is the biggest and best loved TV platform in the UK. Giving viewers access to 70 TV channels, 15 HD channels and over 25 radio stations through an aerial. The service is free from subscription, so there’s no monthly cost. Freeview launched its connected TV service, Freeview Play, in 2015 which gives viewers the choice to watch what they want, want when they want in a simple way. As with all Freeview products, it’s subscription free and works with all existing broadband providers.
Freeview is managed by DTV Services Ltd, a company owned and run by its five shareholders: BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and Arqiva.
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