Simplestream today announced its support for local TV channel providers on Freely, delivering fully managed IP channel distribution on their behalf. London TV, Birmingham TV, KMTV, Latest TV Brighton, Liverpool TV, Leeds TV are now live, delivered via Simplestream’s fully managed IP channel distribution infrastructure with integrated server-side ad insertion (SSAI) capability.

The deployment highlights Simplestream’s role in supporting broadcasters as they transition to IP-based delivery, easing the transition to the next generation of free-to-air television. Local TV can now deliver channels over IP to Freely quickly and reliably, easing the transition to the next generation of free-to-air television.

Dan Finch, Chief Commerical Officer at Simplestream commented:
"We’re delighted to have been chosen by Local TV, KMTV and Latest TV Brighton to support the launch their portfolio of channels on Freely. The addition of SSAI on live channels will enable more effective monetisation through targeted advertising, that will help local broadcasters generate revenue while maintaining a seamless viewing experience, demonstrating our ability to help broadcasters launch, scale, and monetise services across IP based TV platforms.”

Jordan Mann, Head of Channels at Local TV, said:
Launching on Freely is a major milestone for Local TV as we enhance our offering to serve local audiences in the streaming age. It marks the first step in our ambitious plans to deliver high-quality, trusted local journalism over the next 10-year licence period, telling the stories that matter most to our communities.

We are committed to providing a platform for the next generation of local talent, helping even more local people develop their skills in journalism and TV production.

Free-to-air access remains vital so viewers can stay informed and connected, and with Freely’s rapid growth - now reaching over one million weekly users - it gives us a powerful opportunity to expand our reach and connect with new viewers.

Andy Richards, Channel Director at KMTV, said:
This is a major step forward for KMTV and for local television as we continue to grow and reach new audiences. Our focus is public service journalism and that will always remain at the heart of what we do, but this also opens up new opportunities for advertisers as we make the most of the technology available to us.

This has been a long time coming and reflects years of work behind the scenes across the sector to get to this point. We’re really proud to now be able to offer viewers even more ways to watch trusted, high-quality local news.

Bill Smith, Founder and CEO at Latest TV, said:
We have always believed in free-to-air TV, so joining Freely feels like a natural fit. Our core local service is built around news and the creative talent in Brighton. We run film festivals including FilmPride, the International Women’s Day Film Festival and the Ukraine International Film Festival, alongside being award-winning filmmakers ourselves. Our news coverage, led by a young team, has helped shape city policies many times, underlining the real impact of truly local journalism.

We are proud to serve the community from our studios on Brighton Palace Pier. Latest TV is already a well-known name in the city, and we’re excited to make sure everyone knows they can now find us on Freely too.

The rollout supports the continued evolution of UK television toward IP-first distribution, giving local broadcasters the tools to remain competitive in a rapidly changing media landscape.

The channels are available now on Freely Channel Guide 8 or 9.