Telly, the free TV company that disrupted the market with its ad-supported model, has started shipping its highly anticipated TVs to its first wave of customers. After opening its waitlist in May, Telly plans to deliver 500,000 free TVs by the end of this year, with millions more slated for shipment in 2024.
Setting itself apart from traditional televisions, Telly’s 55-inch 4K display incorporates a unique feature—a smaller screen positioned below the main display and separated by a soundbar. This secondary display is exclusively dedicated to showcasing advertisements, forming the foundation of Telly’s business model.
To access the free TV experience, users must consent to their viewing data being collected and utilized by advertisers. In addition to displaying ads, the secondary screen also allows users to access various widgets, such as live sports scores, news tickers, weather updates, and more. Telly’s TV boasts a camera with a privacy shutter, enabling users to engage in fitness programs, along with a selection of built-in games.
Telly has also announced strategic partnerships to enhance its advertising capabilities. Collaborating with Nielsen, the company aims to gather groundbreaking viewership and ad effectiveness insights, benefitting advertisers and TV programmers. Telly is also working with Microsoft, Magnite, and MNTN to power the ads on its TV platform. Microsoft, known for its partnership with Netflix’s ad-supported tier, brings valuable expertise to the table.
While the exact number of TVs being shipped in this round remains undisclosed, Telly has stated that recipients will have the opportunity to participate in the public beta program. This grants early access to several features available at launch, including integrations with popular platforms like Spotify, LiveOne, and Zoom. Although Telly does not support the installation of streaming apps directly, it does come with a Google TV dongle. Furthermore, it can be used in conjunction with devices such as Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, or Apple TV.
In a statement, Telly CEO and founder Ilya Pozin expressed excitement about shipping “the smartest television ever built” to consumers. Pozin emphasized Telly’s disruptive ad-supported model, which offers the TV for free to consumers. However, the real allure lies in the technological advancements that enable the dual-screen TV to improve with every update.
While Telly’s privacy trade-off may concern some users, the allure of a free TV proves difficult to resist for many. Just one month after opening its waitlist, Telly attracted a staggering 250,000 sign-ups. Given the initial response, it is safe to assume that this number has increased significantly since then. Telly also confirmed that its TVs are equipped with a Google TV dongle, expanding the range of features and options available to users.
