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

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.

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