There's a problem with cord-cutting that not a lot of people talk about. Yes, you avoid that big, fat, nasty monthly bill that comes with a cable subscription. But you can also end up getting nickel-and-dimed to death paying for content ala carte. It's death by a thousand cuts, so to speak.
That's what makes Vizio's new WatchFree app appealing. By partnering with Pluto.tv, Vizio is introducing a new source of TV shows that won't cost SmartCast TV owners an extra dime. Granted, you're not going to get Game of Thrones or anything of the sort for free, but still--if you want to watch the news or MST3K or stream content from geek-favorite sources like IGN and Nerdist, WatchFree has you covered.
Full details from Vizio:
VIZIO, Inc. announced today the rollout of WatchFree, an all-new streaming service designed with cord-cutters in mind. Now available on nearly all VIZIO SmartCast TVs, WatchFree, in partnership with Pluto TV, takes the entertainment experience one step further by providing free, direct streaming access to more than 100 live and linear channels. WatchFree has all of the attributes associated with traditional cable TV minus boxes, antennas, cords, and most importantly, the cost.
VIZIO's all-new WatchFree service allows VIZIO SmartCast TV users to kick back and enjoy a wide selection of live channels. Powered by Pluto TV, a leading streaming television service, WatchFree offers access to news, sports, movies, TV shows, viral videos, concerts and more - all without the expense of a monthly subscription or transaction fees.
"With the TV landscape continuously evolving, we're excited to offer consumers a comprehensive entertainment solution packed with free and unlimited content offerings." said Bill Baxter, Chief Technology Officer, VIZIO. "Powered by Pluto TV, WatchFree is a next-generation streaming service with an easy-to-navigate, cable-like interface that delivers creative and thoughtful content selections."
In a completely innovative fashion, WatchFree is easily accessible via a dedicated input. SmartCast TV users simply press the Input button and select "WatchFree" to be instantly transported into a free and unlimited live TV experience. WatchFree offers an unrivaled, free viewing experience with endless entertainment options at the forefront.
"Powering VIZIO's WatchFree service is a pivotal next step in our goal to deliver free, premium entertainment to as many consumers as possible," states Tom Ryan, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Pluto TV. "From hit TV shows to blockbuster movies, news, sports, lifestyle and more, WatchFree is a gamechanger for cord-cutting enthusiasts."
Some of the exciting Pluto TV channels that will be available through WatchFree include Pluto TV Movies, Action Movies, Black Cinema, News 24/7, NBC News/MSNBC, Fox Sports, Frontdoor, Cats 24/7, Crime Network, MST3K and The Surf Channel. In addition to the regular channel lineup, coming soon, Pluto TV will launch two new pop-up channels also available on WatchFree, featuring Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and Unsolved Mysteries.
VIZIO's content-first user experience is further rounded out with built-in TV tuners featured in all 2018 VIZIO SmartCast TVs, allowing cord-cutters to easily access free local broadcast TV by utilizing an over-the-air antenna1. With Google Chromecast built-in, users can browse thousands of must-have Chromecast-enabled apps like DIRECTV NOW, YouTube TV, Netflix, Prime Video, Vudu, iHeartRadio, Crackle, and XUMO2 on SmartCast Home for a wide-array of entertainment options. SmartCast Home also features easy-to-browse free and curated content recommendations that are accessible in an instant via the included remote. If users know what they want to watch, but need help finding it, the universal search feature conveniently enables searching across multiple apps at once.
1 Over-the-air antenna sold separately.
2 The third-party applications and content described herein may only be available in certain countries and languages, may require additional fees or subscription charges, and may be subject to future updates, modifications, interruption and/or discontinuation of service without notice, and VIZIO has no control over such content.
Additional Resources
For more information, visit VIZIO.com.
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