Interested in a free TV? Telly has announced that its new 55-inch 4K HDR Smart TV, which is being given away at zero cost as part of an ambitious, ad-supported experiment, is now available to reserve at freetelly.com ahead of its initial release to 500,000 qualifying U.S. consumers this summer. The TV features a second, 9-inch-high “Smart Screen” that appears to have been primarily designed to display ads at all times, although other content, including news, weather, and even video games are also supported, according to a list of features that can be found on Telly’s website. Additionally, users will find a powerful built-in sound bar in the free TV that is said to be valued at $1,000.
“Telly is giving away the device completely free,” confirmed Ilya Pozin, the company’s founder and CEO. “The business will be entirely supported by advertising and affiliate revenue.”
From a Telly post:
Now, all smart TVs come with ads. But you still pay for the TV. All of that changes today. During the signup process we ask questions about you and your household to optimize your ad experience. Brands in turn, pay for the non-intrusive ad on the Smart Screen. That’s how you get Telly free. Plain and simple. It’s time you got cut in on the deal.
From a Variety report:
When you sign up through the company’s app, Telly will ask for specific demographic, TV-viewing and lifestyle info, which the company will use to target addressable ads to individual households. The TVs also have a built-in sensor that can detect the number of people who are watching at any particular time. Pozin emphasized that all of Telly’s features comply with privacy regulations.
Telly’s bet is that it will be able to generate a return on the major upfront investment of getting its ad-enabled TVs in front of U.S. consumers. It’s not clear how long it might take Telly to recoup the sunk costs of the free TVs. Pozin argues that the unusual business plan is “a revolutionary step forward for both consumers and advertisers.”