Panasonic in UK To Be First To Offer TVs With Rebranded Freeview Play Connected TV Service

Panasonic in the U.K. will be the first manufacturer to launch TVs with the Freeview Play connected TV service, the company said Monday. Freeview, the U.K.’s subscription-free digital TV service, is being rebranded as Freeview Play “in preparation for a new product launch that will introduce a mass market connected TV offer,” said a recent announcement from DTV Services, the consortium of Arqiva, BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Sky that runs the service (see 1502120036). Panasonic will make Freeview Play available in its new 2015 lineup of Viera TVs, the company said.