Starting in April 2025, all new Google TV devices will be required to include a “Free TV” or “Live TV” shortcut button on their remotes.
This change is part of Google’s push to emphasize its “Freeplay” experience, which offers users free live TV channels. Sources have confirmed that Google notified its partners about this requirement early last year, and it will now be enforced.
The addition of a “Free TV” shortcut is in response to the overwhelmingly positive feedback Google has received regarding its free TV channels, which include local news, popular shows, and movies. The aim is to provide users with quick and easy access to free TV options right at their fingertips.
Currently, Walmart’s Onn Pro streaming box is an example of a device with a prominent “Free TV” button, and future devices like the Onn 4K Plus are expected to follow suit.
However, devices like the Xiaomi TV Box S (3rd Gen) and Google TV Streamer, which were released just ahead of the requirement, do not have this shortcut.
For most devices, the inclusion of a “Live TV” shortcut is already standard in Google’s reference remote designs, so the change mainly affects devices with custom remotes. This requirement will apply only to new Google TV devices released after April 2025.