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Google Replaces Android TV’s ‘Discover’ Tab With ‘Free’ Hub for Ad-Supported Streaming

The change is rolling out via a server-side update with availability varying across devices.

Overview

  • Some Android TV devices now display a Free tab that centralizes movies, shows, and live channels available to watch free with ads.
  • Recommendations that previously lived in Discover are being relocated to the Home screen rather than removed.
  • Early sightings show sections such as “Top free picks for you,” “Top 10 in the United States free with ads,” and SNL-themed rows, though content can differ by user.
  • The shift tracks with earlier 2025 tweaks that surfaced Discover-style recommendations directly on the Android TV Home page.
  • Google TV Freeplay has surpassed 250 free channels after nearly 50 recent additions, including NBC Sports Now, NBC Comedy Vault, Universal Movies, Universal Action, and SNL Vault.