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Frndly TV

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Frndly TV
Frndly TV Logo
FoundedOctober 1, 2019; 5 years ago (October 1, 2019)
HeadquartersDenver, Colorado, U.S.
Founder(s)Bassil El-Khatib, Michael McKenna, Andy Karofsky, Mike McClain[1]
IndustryPay television
ServicesStreaming television
URLfrndlytv.com
UsersIncrease 700,000 subscribers (as of December 8, 2022)[2]

Frndly TV is an American streaming television service that offers live TV, on demand video and cloud-based DVR[3] for over 40 live television networks.[4] Frndly TV has a channel lineup with a focus on family-friendly programming,[5] and includes U.S. networks Hallmark Channel,[6] The Weather Channel, Curiosity Channel, A&E, History, Lifetime, MeTV, MeTV+, Story Television, and Up TV.[7]

History

Started by Bassil El-Khatib, who worked 12 years at Dish Network & Sling TV, and other former Dish executives who felt many of the streaming bundles were getting too big.[8][9] In October 2019, Frndly TV launched with 12 live TV channels and cloud DVR storage,[8] with channels that included Hallmark Channel, The Weather Channel, and Outdoor Channel.[10] In December 2019, TechHive awarded Frndly TV runner-up for the best new service of 2019.[11]

In March 2020, Frndly TV added Curiosity Channel[12] and INSP,[13] bringing the live TV channel count to 15.

In 2021, Frndly TV added several channels with the addition of Dove Channel (March 2021),[9] via a deal with Cinedigm Networks as well as BYU TV (April 2021).[14] In June 2021, Frndly TV added two new channels owned by Allen Media Group, Recipe.TV and Local Now.[15] In July 2021, Frndly TV added getTV in a distribution agreement with Sony Pictures Television.[4] FETV (Family Entertainment Television) was also added the same month.[16] In August 2021, Circle network was added.[17] Hallmark Movies Now was made available in October 2021 as Frndly's first add on option to the service.[18] Frndly TV and GAC Media reached an agreement to add GAC Media channels, GAC Living and GAC Family, to the service in October 2021.[19] Frndly TV and A&E Networks reached a deal to add A&E's portfolio of channels such as A&E, History, and Lifetime to the streaming service on November 18, 2021. With the addition, the price of the service went up for the first time.[20]

Further additions were made in 2022, including the Family Movie Classics (FMC) channel being added to the service in January 2022.[21] In March 2022, Frndly TV announced a multi-year agreement with Weigel Broadcasting to bring five national TV networks to its lineup: MeTV, Heroes & Icons, Decades (now Catchy Comedy), Story Television, and Start TV. This made Frndly TV the first live TV streaming service to carry all five of the networks.[22] In June 2022, Frndly TV announced the addition of 3 new channels: Movies!, Dove Movies, and Crime & Investigation.[23][24] This bringing the live TV channel count to over 40 channels; however, Weigel Broadcasting's Movies! would not be added to the service until the following year. In December 2022, Frndly TV began adding more on-demand TV shows and movies from A&E networks at no additional charge.[25]

In January 2023, Frndly TV added the Cowboy Way Channel.[26] The following February, Frndly TV added Ion Television, Grit and Ion Mystery networks with an agreement with the E. W. Scripps Company.[27] After a long delay, Movies! was added to the service on February 3, 2023.[28] In September 2023, Frndly TV announced that MeTV+ would be coming to the service in October 2023.[29] This makes Frndly TV the first streaming service to offer the channel. In addition, Frndly TV raised the price on all of their plans by $1.00 in September 2023.[30] In October 2023, Frndly TV added five new channels, MeTV+, Pursuit Channel, Waypoint TV, Justice Central and AccuWeather Network; however, the service dropped two channels, Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network.[31][32]

In January 2024, Frndly TV lost Circle TV due to the network being shut down, but it gained two channels Laff and Court TV. [33]

Supported devices

Frndly TV's service can be streamed via a number of platforms. This includes Android and Apple iOS devices including iPhone & iPad and Android phones. In addition, the service is available via Roku, Vizio, Samsung, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV (Google TV), Chromecast and multiple web browsers.[34]

References

  1. ^ "Dove Channel Joins Frndly TV's Profitable vMVPD Offering". Broadcasting Cable. March 22, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  2. ^ Abarinova, Masha (December 7, 2022). "Frndly TV reaches 700,000 subscribers". Fierce Video. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  3. ^ October 2019, Michael Balderston 01 (October 2019). "Frndly TV Streaming Service Launches for Families". TVTechnology. Retrieved January 21, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b Lafayette, Jon (July 8, 2021). "Frndly TV Adds GetTV to Streaming Lineup". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  5. ^ Baumgartner, Jeff (August 23, 2019). "Frndly TV Seeks Subs in an Unfriendly Pay-TV World". Light Reading. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  6. ^ Elliott, Megan (November 2, 2019). "This New Streaming Service Lets You Watch the Hallmark Channel for Just $5.99/Month". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  7. ^ "4 Things to Know Before You Sign Up for Frndly TV". Clark Howard. December 20, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Gurwin, Jason (August 14, 2019). "Former Sling TV Exec Launches Frndly TV with 12 Live Channels Including Hallmark, GSN, & The Weather Channel Starting At Just $5.99". The Streamable. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Lafayette, Jon (March 22, 2021). "Dove Channel Joins Frndly TV's Profitable vMVPD Offering". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  10. ^ Newman, Jared (August 22, 2019). "Frndly TV: A cheap way to get Hallmark Channel, Weather Channel and more without cable". TechHive. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  11. ^ "The 2019 cord-cutter awards: Best devices, services and innovations". TechHive. December 26, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  12. ^ "The Live TV Streaming Service Frndly Adds CuriosityStream". Cord Cutters News. March 4, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  13. ^ "Frndly TV Has Added INSP to Its Lineup". Cord Cutters News. April 18, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  14. ^ Lafayette, Jon (April 15, 2021). "Frndly TV Adds BYUtv to Streaming Channel Lineup". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  15. ^ King, Michael (June 11, 2021). "Frndly TV Adds Two Free Channels From Weather Channel's Parent, Allen Media". The Streamable. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  16. ^ "FETV (Family Entertainment Television) Joins Frndly TV Lineup". Broadcasting Cable. April 15, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  17. ^ "Frndly TV Adds Circle, Free Country Music & Lifestyle Network". August 10, 2021.
  18. ^ "Frndly TV is Adding a Hallmark Movies Now Add-On on October 1". Cord Cutters News. September 30, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  19. ^ "Frndly TV Will Add GAC Channels on October 19". Cord Cutters News. October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  20. ^ "Frndly TV Will Add A&E Channels & Raise Price to $6.99/Month". Cord Cutters News. November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  21. ^ "Frndly TV Adds FMC to Channel Lineup". Cord Cutters News. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  22. ^ "Frndly TV Will Add Five New Channels to Its Live Streaming Lineup". Cord Cutters News. March 28, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  23. ^ "What channels does Frndly TV offer?". Frndly TV. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  24. ^ Tamanini, Matt (June 30, 2022). "Frndly TV to Add Classic Film Channel Movies! to Streaming Lineup". The Streamable. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  25. ^ Fletcher, Bevin (December 20, 2022). "Frndly TV expands VOD offering with A+E content". Fierce Video. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  26. ^ Bouma, Luke (January 27, 2023). "Frndly TV adds The Cowboy Way Channel, Full of Classic Westerns". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  27. ^ Bouma, Luke (February 2, 2023). "Frndly TV Adds Ion TV, Grit, & Ion Mystery". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  28. ^ Bouma, Luke (February 3, 2023). "Frndly TV Finally Adds The Movies! Channel to Its Lineup". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  29. ^ Bouma, Luke (September 5, 2023). "Frndly TV is Adding MeTV+ To Its Lineup in October". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  30. ^ Cheng, Roger (September 6, 2023). "Frndly TV Raises Price to $7.99, But There's a Way to Still Get a Cheaper Rate". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  31. ^ Bouma, Luke (October 2, 2023). "Frndly TV Adds 2 New Channels But Drops 2 Channels". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  32. ^ Bouma, Luke (October 9, 2023). "Frndly TV Just Added 2 New Channels Today". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  33. ^ Bouma, Luke (January 3, 2024). "Frndly TV Adds 2 New Channels, Including Laff". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  34. ^ "What do I need to watch Frndly TV?". Frndly TV Help Center. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
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