Google has started rolling out an updated version of its Google TV operating system that offers native access to nearly 80 free, ad-supported streaming channels.
The rollout comes about a week after Google first announced it would update its streaming TV operating system with a refresh of its “Live” tab, which previously offered users a way to access hundreds of streaming TV channels from YouTube TV, Philo, Sling TV and Pluto TV from a single menu.
The update includes support for more streaming services, including Fox Corporation’s Tubi, Haystack News and Plex, with Google itself offering 77 free streaming channels for the first time, without the need to download a separate app.
The Google-distributed free streams are available through a new option on the Live tab called “Google TV,” where 77 channels offer free access to news, weather, sports, general entertainment TV shows, movies, documentaries and music. On Thursday, the website Fierce Video revealed Comcast and Charter’s joint venture Xumo is powering the free channels for Google TV by way of a private label version of Xumo Play, which offers the same content.
Here’s a list of the free channels offered natively through the Google TV option on supported Google TV and Android TV-powered devices, as reviewed by The Desk:
News & Weather
- AccuWeather Now
- Cheddar News
- Court TV
- Law & Crime Trial Network
- NBC News Now
- NBC Boston News (WBTS-CD newscasts)
- NBC Chicago News (WMAQ newscasts)
- NBC Connecticut News (WVIT newscasts)
- NBC Dallas-Fort Worth News (KXAS newscasts)
- NBC Los Angeles News (KNBC newscasts)
- NBC New York News (WNBC newscasts)
- NBC Philadelphia News (WCAU newscasts)
- NBC SF Bay Area News (KNTV newscasts)
- NBC San Diego News (KNSD newscasts)
- NBC South Florida News (WTVJ newscasts)
- NBC Washington, D.C. News (WRC-TV newscasts)
- Reuters
- Scripps News
- Sky News
- Today All Day
Movies
- FilmRise Free Movies
- FilmRise Action
- Hallmark Movies & More
- Maverick Black Cinema
- Xumo Movies
- Xumo Westerns
TV & Entertainment
- America’s Test Kitchen Channel
- At Home with Family Handyman
- Bounce XL
- Circle
- Dateline 24/7
- Deal or No Deal Channel
- Divorce Court Channel
- Dry Bary Comedy Channel
- Dust Sci-Fi
- Family Affair Channel
- Family Feud Channel
- FailArmy Channel
- FilmRise Forensic Files
- FilmRise Hell’s Kitchen
- FilmRise Unsolved Mysteries
- Ion
- Ion Mystery
- Jamie Oliver Channel
- Just for Laughs Gags
- Kevin Hart’s LOL Network
- Lidia Celebrates America Channel
- Midsomer Murders Channel
- Mystery Science 3000 Channel
- Paranormal Files
- Pet Collective
- Reelz Famous & Infamous
- Showtime at the Apollo Channel
- Tastemade
- Wu Tang Collection
- Xumo Crime
Documentary & Knowledge
- Documentary Plus
- Great American Adventures
- Love Nature Channel
- Outdoor America
- PBS Nature
- PowerNation
- Stingray Naturescape
Sports & Gambling
- BeIN Sports Xtra
- Billiard TV
- Impact Wrestling Channel
- Outside Channel
- PGA Tour Channel
- World Poker Tour Channel
Google TV en Español
- Estrella TV
- Estrella Noticias
- Romantico
- Telemundo Al Dia
Music
- iHeart 90s
- iHeart Country
- Stingray Classic Rock
- Stingray Soul Storm
Since Google TV’s free video streams originate from Xumo, the same channels are also available within the free Xumo Play app on Android TV and Google TV-powered devices, which means streamers who don’t yet have access to the updated Live menu can still watch Google TV channels by installing the Xumo Play app.
The updated Google TV interface with the new free channels is rolling out to supported devices now, and will be offered on the Chromecast with Google TV, TCL TVs and Sony Bravia TVs, among others.
