Telly, a startup from a cofounder of Pluto TV, is giving away 500,000 TVs, starting this summer.
Telly
A startup from a cofounder Pluto TV is giving away 500,000 TVs — but there’s a catch.
The 55-inch 4K TVs come with two screens. The second shows ads, along with weather, sports, and news.
Here’s how you can join the waitlist for the free TV, which the company says is valued at $1,000.
If you’ve been wanting a new TV, you’re in luck. Telly, a startup from a cofounder of Pluto TV is giving away 500,000 TVs — for free.
It’s not your typical TV, though. It comes with two screens. There’s a 55-inch 4K HDR screen where you can watch TV using the 4K streaming stick that’s included, or by connecting a streaming device.
The second screen is much smaller. Rather than playing your show or movie, this screen will show ads, as well as modules that include things like weather, stock market updates, sports game scores, and news.
Brands buying ads on the second screen are what will allow viewers to use the TV for free, according to Telly’s website. The smart screen will also give viewers access to services like video calling, music, gaming, and fitness programs.
A page detailing the data policy for Telly’s giveaway says one condition of receiving the free dual-screen TV is that you share your viewing and activity data with the company.
If you opt out, you’ll have to give the TV back. And if you opt out but don’t return the TV, you’ll be charged $500, according to an archived version of the page, which no longer specifies the exact monetary amount. The company didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
Telly’s founder, Ilya Pozin, is known for disrupting cable with his free, ad-supported streaming service Pluto TV.
“The TV is at the center of your living room,” he told Insider’s Lucia Moses about Telly. “It should do a lot more than just show content.”
Pozin added that a device like the Telly would retail for $1,000 and said it was built to last longer than traditional TVs.
The waitlist for the TVs — which people can sign up to join — opened Monday. Telly will start shipping the devices this summer, it said.