Are you planning to buy a new TV? Do not rush, as you might get that for free. An electronics company that goes by the name Telly is giving away 50000 free tv sets. Telly, created by the co-founder of Pluto TV, Ilya Pozin, is offering a TV that’s funded by advertising. The TV sets that are being given away for free come with dual screens, one is purely designed to display only ads while the main screen is for your entertainment consumption.
The ads are displayed on a second, smaller screen called the “Smart Display”. This little strip of screen is separated from the main TV by a soundbar, and it’s capable of displaying a bunch of fun widgets like sports scores, news tickers, weather, and even stock prices. It’s like having your very own personalized newsroom right in your living room.
As mentioned listings on Telly’s website, the ads will appear on the far right side of the Smart Display, or they might appear in the form of a sponsored news feed on the left side of the screen. And while the TV itself is completely free, you will have to pay with your attention or data. Telly’s business model is all about selling user data to advertisers and showing targeted ads to viewers.
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According to our source, Janko Roettgers, Telly’s TV could be a total game-changer in the world of television. It’s perfect for those who are looking for a low-cost option, or for those who don’t mind trading a little bit of their privacy for some great entertainment. Compromising privacy for free stuff?
“When I co-founded Pluto TV, we created an entirely new model that offered amazing TV content to viewers for free. Now, with Telly, we are providing the actual television for free as well,” the company co-founder Pozin said in a statement.
If the ad-driven approach bothers you already, do not fret as the Telly Chief Strategy Officer has confirmed that the ads won’t interrupt whatever you are watching on the main screen. The ads are meant to be displayed on the second display that comes with the main unit.
However, he did mention that when the top screen the “Theatre Display” is not in use, the ads might come to life in a fun way by utilizing both displays.
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“When the Theatre display (top screen) is not in use, the ad unit could come to life in a fun way connecting both,” Lawrence said. “There are literally hundreds of things we are thinking about to create the most engaging ad experience ever.”
Lawrence also said in a statement to the Verge that Telly is brainstorming “hundreds of things” to create the most engaging ad experience ever.
Along with that, Telly is also working on something called “Telly Rewards”. By participating in on-screen polls and other activities, users can earn gift cards to popular services like Netflix or Starbucks. It’s like getting paid to watch TV! Lawrence didn’t reveal too many details about Telly Rewards, but we’re already excited to see what they come up with. Notably, the TV is still beyond the reach for the buyers in India.
