Frndly TV

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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]

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]

History[edit]

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[edit]

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.[29]

References[edit]

  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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frndly_TV&oldid=1162275951"