LG has today launched its first free ad-supported channel, LG 1, along with free channels from Sony Pictures. They are available in select countries in Europe starting this week.

LG is jumping on the FAST bandwagon – Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television – to compete with Amazon, Pluto TV, Samsung and Roku.

The company's first free ad-supported channel will be known as LG 1 and starting this week it is available through the existing LG Channels app on LG Smart TVs from 2016 or later. LG does not upgrade older Smart TVs after the sale.

The name (LG 1) certainly seems to suggest that LG has more free channels planned.


Free channels from Sony Pictures
LG also confirmed that Sony Pictures' new batch of free ad-supported channels announced last month, known as Sony One, are now available on LG Smart TVs in the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.

- "Available Sony Channels will include Sony One Comedy featuring fan-favorite Seinfeld; Sony One Thriller TV with shows including Breaking Bad; Sony One Faves with timeless classics including Bewitched; Sony One Comedy HITS with classic comedies such as Step Brothers and Jerry Maguire; Sony One Action HITS dedicated to action and adventure movies from box office hits to critically acclaimed films like District 9 and Men in Black; Sony One Shark Tank (Italy and Spain.), one of the most successful reality shows in the world; Sony One Dragons’ Den (UK, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark), the juggernaut reality format behind Shark Tank; and Sony One Blacklist (France and Spain), a dedicated channel featuring the crime thriller series," announced LG.


 The new free 'Sony One' channels will show Breaking Bad with ad breaks. Photo: LG

Again, these channels are available from the existing LG Channels app on newer LG Smart TVs.

LG said that "LG Channels has consistently ranked among the top-five most accessed apps on LG Smart TVs across all regions where the service is offered".