Google TV’s Freeplay Removes Three Channels, Brings Back Two Previously Removed Ones
Google TV’s Freeplay service has recently removed three free television channels, including two holiday-themed channels.
At the same time, the platform has reinstated two channels that were previously removed.
As a result, the total number of available free channels on Google TV Freeplay is now significantly lower compared to December.
Google TV Freeplay Removes Three Channels, Brings Back Two Previously Removed Ones
Google TV users in the U.S. enjoy an exclusive feature that the rest of the world doesn’t—Freeplay. This dedicated app on the Google TV platform provides access to free live television channels. Initially, the channel lineup was limited, but over time, Freeplay expanded to offer over 150 free channels. However, the available channels are not permanent, as Google periodically removes and adds new ones.
The latest update follows this pattern, with Google TV Freeplay removing three channels while reinstating two previously removed ones.
Which Channels Were Removed?
According to 9to5Google, Google TV Freeplay has removed the following channels:
- Xumo Holiday Movie Channel
- Xumo Holiday Classics
- Xumo Christian Christmas
These channels were introduced a few months ago as part of the holiday lineup, so their removal isn’t entirely unexpected.
Which Channels Were Reinstated?
On the positive side, Freeplay has brought back two channels that were removed earlier this month:
- Out TV Proud
- Shades of Black
However, not all previously removed channels have returned.
Google’s Support Page Not Fully Updated Yet
Google maintains a support page listing all available Freeplay channels. While some removed channels no longer appear on the list, Xumo Holiday Classics is still listed at the time of writing. Conversely, Out TV Proud is missing from the updated list, suggesting that Google may not have refreshed the page yet.
This ongoing reshuffling indicates that Freeplay’s channel lineup is subject to frequent changes, so users should check back regularly to see what’s available.
A small price to pay for free TV channels
Google TV Freeplay Continues to Reshuffle Its Free Channel Lineup. This marks the second time this month that Google TV has decided to rearrange its Freeplay channel catalog. For frequent viewers of the affected channels, these sudden changes can be frustrating. While there’s always a chance that Google will bring back some of these channels or introduce new ones in the coming weeks, there’s no way to know for sure.
Google rarely makes official announcements about these removals or additions, leaving users to rely on the company’s support page as the only definitive resource for tracking active channels.
Google TV Freeplay’s Channel Count Keeps Fluctuating
A few months ago, Google TV Freeplay boasted over 170 channels. However, by early February, that number had dropped to 162. With this latest update, the total channel count remains around 160, signaling a gradual decline in the number of free, ad-supported channels available on the platform.
Given the frequent additions and removals, it’s challenging to get an exact count of active channels at any given time. For now, though, Freeplay seems to offer fewer channels than it did a couple of months ago.