Is an aerial needed for Freeview on Smart TV

WLM21

Several months ago I cancelled my Virgin TV package and bought a FireStick instead.

Everything works fine .. I can see a few channels and can watch YouTube easily

Only trouble is no live TV... Ok, I have another TV, so not a big problem really. There is an aerial wire going to that TV at the other side of the house, direct from the aerial

However, we are going to buy a new TV and hopefully it will have Freeview pre-installed, but do I still need an aerial for BBC1, BBC2, ITV etc. 

mebu60

I believe you will need an aerial to view terrestrial tv on Freeview. If you can add apps to the tv (or Firestick) you can watch live tv channels through iPlayer, ITVX, All4 and My5 as well as their catch-up services or you could get a standalone indoor tv aerial.  

Rodders53

The only TVs that are guaranteed to need no aerial are those with the Freely system: https://www.freely.co.uk/

Freeview is reception from terrestrial TV transmitters. https://www.freeview.co.uk/

I'd expect a Fire TV stick to offer live TV with some broadcasters' streaming content... have you checked, carefully, for live content from (say) BBC iPlayer?  {Must admit I haven't checked with the Fire stick we have.}

It may be relatively straightforward to get a feed from your roof aerial to the other room for the existing TV?

Modern smart TVs may also be able to get live TV from the streaming apps like iPlayer, even if not as well integrated as via an aerial and the Freeview Play backward EPG for catchup.  (I know my TV offers live TV watching when I go into iPlayer).

Not all broadcasters offer live streaming though.  So it may depend on what services you want.

There are other solutions such as the HD Homerun https://shopuk.silicondust.com/shop/product-category/hardware/ but may require a USB HDD and subscription for the EPG?

molerat

On the Firestick the BBC, ITV, Ch4, Ch5, Discovery+ & U apps give access to live broadcasting of all their channels.

Barkin

My Freeview TV works fine with a cheapo "set-top" aerial tucked behind it. 

Similar to this one:
https://amzn.eu/d/8ifCd5I

WLM21

OP here .. thank you for all the replies.

I've watched BBC 1 on iPlayer on my Firestick but not the others .. do have the apps though, just assumed (and not too bothered) that those were for catch-up services only. Will investigate further.

Never heard of Freely .. another thing to look into more

Regards !

d123

Hopefully Freely will launch a set top box or app for the people who don’t want to buy their specific model of TV.