Frndly TV

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, Story Television, and Up TV.[7]

Frndly TV
Frndly TV Logo
FoundedOctober 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]

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]

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, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV (Google TV), Chromecast and multiple web browsers.[29]

References
  1. "Dove Channel Joins Frndly TV's Profitable vMVPD Offering". Broadcasting Cable. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  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 2021-01-21.
  4. Lafayette, Jon (8 July 2021). "Frndly TV Adds GetTV to Streaming Lineup". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved 2021-07-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. Baumgartner, Jeff (2019-08-23). "Frndly TV Seeks Subs in an Unfriendly Pay-TV World". Light Reading. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  6. Elliott, Megan (2019-11-02). "This New Streaming Service Lets You Watch the Hallmark Channel for Just $5.99/Month". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  7. "4 Things to Know Before You Sign Up for Frndly TV". Clark Howard. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  8. Gurwin, Jason (2019-08-14). "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 2022-12-28.
  9. Lafayette, Jon (22 March 2021). "Dove Channel Joins Frndly TV's Profitable vMVPD Offering". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved 2021-07-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. Newman, Jared (2019-08-22). "Frndly TV: A cheap way to get Hallmark Channel, Weather Channel and more without cable". TechHive. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  11. "The 2019 cord-cutter awards: Best devices, services and innovations". TechHive. 2019-12-26. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  12. "The Live TV Streaming Service Frndly Adds CuriosityStream". Cord Cutters News. 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  13. "Frndly TV Has Added INSP to Its Lineup". Cord Cutters News. 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  14. Lafayette, Jon (15 April 2021). "Frndly TV Adds BYUtv to Streaming Channel Lineup". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved 2021-07-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. King, Michael. "Frndly TV Adds Two Free Channels From Weather Channel's Parent, Allen Media". The Streamable. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  16. "FETV (Family Entertainment Television) Joins Frndly TV Lineup". Broadcasting Cable. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. "Frndly TV Adds Circle, Free Country Music & Lifestyle Network".
  18. "Frndly TV is Adding a Hallmark Movies Now Add-On on October 1". Cord Cutters News. 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  19. "Frndly TV Will Add GAC Channels on October 19". Cord Cutters News. 2021-10-15. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  20. "Frndly TV Will Add A&E Channels & Raise Price to $6.99/Month". Cord Cutters News. 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  21. "Frndly TV Adds FMC to Channel Lineup". Cord Cutters News. 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  22. "Frndly TV Will Add Five New Channels to Its Live Streaming Lineup". Cord Cutters News. 2022-03-28. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  23. "What channels does Frndly TV offer?". Frndly TV. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  24. Tamanini, Matt (2022-06-30). "Frndly TV to Add Classic Film Channel Movies! to Streaming Lineup". The Streamable. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  25. Fletcher, Bevin (December 20, 2022). "Frndly TV expands VOD offering with A+E content". Fierce Video. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  26. Bouma, Luke (2023-01-27). "Frndly TV adds The Cowboy Way Channel, Full of Classic Westerns". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  27. Bouma, Luke (2023-02-02). "Frndly TV Adds Ion TV, Grit, & Ion Mystery". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  28. Bouma, Luke (2023-02-03). "Frndly TV Finally Adds The Movies! Channel to Its Lineup". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  29. "What do I need to watch Frndly TV?". Frndly TV Help Center. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
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