Vizio Updates Watchfree+ User Streaming Experience
November 11, 2022
Vizio Nov. 11 announced an upgraded design and user experience for WatchFree+, the Irvine, Calif.-based consumer electronics manufacturer’s ad-supported free streaming service featured in Vizio Smart TVs. The update brings a new look and feel, intuitive electronic program guide (EPG), faster and easier navigation, and personalization features to the free streaming service. WatchFree+ has grown to include more than 260 free channels and 6,000 titles on demand, offering an ever-expanding library of movies, TV shows, news, sports, music and programs.
The WatchFree+ Guide now displays upcoming content segmented in 30-minute intervals, allowing viewers to explore the collection of streaming content in a familiar format. In addition, the interface allows advertisers to promote contextually relevant content seamlessly within the program guide.
Additional updates include a schedule of all WatchFree+ programs in a simple grid format, segmented in half-hour intervals. View movie and show descriptions as you move through the WatchFree+ Guide. Continue to watch a show while browsing additional WatchFree+ channels. Long press the “OK” button while in the EPG guide to get a list of channel genres, making navigation easier. Quickly launch an on-demand movie or show directly from the program guide.
“This redesign makes it easier than ever to navigate and explore the continually expanding universe of entertainment across live and on demand programming,” Steve Yum, VP of software product management at Vizio, said in a statement.
WatchFree+ has grown to become the second-most-watched free ad-supported streaming app on Vizio. Driving this momentum are more than 260 premium channels and 6,000 movies and shows spanning 13 content genres, from news, movies and sports to kids and family, music and reality.
Vizio recently announced the launch of exclusive TV series premieres, including “Boston George: Famous Without the Fortune” (Cinedigm), “Sanitarium” (producer Bryan Ramirez and creator Kerry Valderrama), “Haunted Gold Rush” (Blue Ant Media) and the Space Science Now channel (MagellanTV).
With more than 6,000 movie and TV show titles to choose from, On Demand content can now be launched directly from the program guide including recently added titles COPs (Langley Productions), Canada’s “Drag Race and Hotel Paranormal” (Blue Ant Media).
A top performing format on WatchFree+, single series channels provide a unique viewing experience not available on traditional broadcast TV and gives viewers 24/7 free access to shows like “Ice Road Truckers” (A+E), “America’s Test Kitchen” (PBS), “Hell’s Kitchen l Kitchen Nightmares” (FilmRise) and new to WatchFree+, the British fantasy-adventure drama, “Merlin” (Fremantle).
Vizio has expanded crime programming with the addition of the “JAIL” pop-up channel from Langley Productions, the team behind the long-running reality series “COPs”.
Viewers can also enjoy shows on the recently added ION channel, which features series such as “NCIS,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.” and “Blue Bloods.”