Google TV is about to add free live TV to its listings

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

We first heard about Google TV adding ad-supported free channels last year. Now, 9to5Google reports they found a channel list inside the code of the Google TV app.

The outlet decompiled the latest Android TV Launcher app to find the list. On it were many free, ad-supported channels, from news to movies.

This could be a list of existing channels, except for snippets of text they also found. Specifically, the line “Enjoy 50 channels of live TV without the need to subscribe, sign-up, or download.”

That’s different from how channel integrations work currently, as those need you to download a new app.

They also found a new graphic in the app, with over 30 channels from the upcoming free-to-watch options. That’s not the full 50 referenced elsewhere, so maybe some deals aren’t quite done.

Here’s the list of channels with free-to-watch options:

That’s still a healthy content list, and more importantly, they’re all referenced as “Google TV Channels.” That means no app downloads, no other subscriptions, just Android TV.

Think of it as the free-to-air channels you used to be stuck with without a cable subscription; for the streaming age.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• New Google Search update makes finding results even easier
• YouTube TV rolls out picture-in-picture support for iPhones, finally
• Netflix reveals its ad-supported plan is coming early 2023
• Amazon Luna game streaming comes to Samsung smart TVs

Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.