Free Sky TV rival finally gets a blockbuster upgrade but is it time to switch?

There's a new way to stream telly and it's just got a little bit better.

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Sky definitely rules the roost when it comes to watch TV. Not only does the firm still sell its award-winning Sky Q box but customers can also now opt for streaming gadgets including Sky Glass. This all-in-one 4K screen offers instant access to live and on-demand content along with coming pre-loaded with apps such as Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+.

There's even a soundbar which is tucked neatly under the display to help boost the audio of your next boxset binge.

It's a solid device but you do have to pay a monthly a subscription to take delivery of one which can make it a pretty expensive option.

Luckily, there is now a new way to stream live content, and there are no extra fees to pay.

Freely launched earlier this year and now comes built into a number of TVs from manufacturers such as Toshiba, Bush, Hisense and Panasonic.

Just like Sky Glass, this platform uses the web to beam shows to the big screen and the amount of things available to watch has just received a much-needed boost.

At launch, there were only around 20 channels to view but that's now been increased to over 40.

New things to view include content from AMC Networks International UK (AMCNI UK), PBS America, GB News and QVC.

The new partnerships brings the total line-up to over 40 streamed live channels seamlessly integrated with 74,000 hours of on demand content from eleven different players.

HERE ARE ALL THE NEW CHANNELS COMING TO FREELY

TRUE CRIME - Ch 37

LEGEND – Ch 38

PBS America – Ch 49

TRUE CRIME Xtra – Ch 50

LEGEND Xtra - Ch 51

GB News - Ch 304

QVC - Ch 451

QVC 2 - Ch 453

Speaking about the update Jonathan Thompson, CEO at Everyone TV, said: "These new collaborations mark a significant milestone as Freely continues to redefine the streaming experience, offering something for everyone, with content across a variety of genres.

"From groundbreaking storytelling to rich historical programming and an engaging shopping experience, we are excited to offer an increasingly competitive free viewing experience with these new channels and on demand players. We look forward to continued collaboration across the industry, bringing even more entertaining and engaging content to Freely.”

So, can Freely now match Sky Glass?

The honest answer is no. Yes, Freely does offer recommendations, a TV guide and the option to pause live telly.

However, Sky Glass adds the option for fully personalised content recommendations as well as an online Playlists feature that lets you store things to watch at a later date.

Sky Glass also has over 100 channels to watch including premium services such as Sky Sports and Cinema - it also offers better integration with other streaming apps.

So, Sky Glass is definitely better but Freely is slowly catching up - watch this space.