The gist of it: this is a free TV with a separate screen that is, in effect, a large chyron for ads and transaction services. Whether an ad supported TV works or not is a good question because there is no precedence for anything like this at any level approaching scale.
Telly was founded by Ilya Pozin, who also serves as the CEO of the company. Pozin is an experienced entrepreneur and innovator in the media and technology industry. He has a track record of success, having co-founded Pluto TV, an ad-supported streaming service that was acquired by ViacomCBS in 2019. Pozin’s involvement in Pluto TV showcased his ability to identify trends and create new models in the television and entertainment space.
We’ll see if lightening strikes twice because Pluto TV did kind of usher in the era of free ad-supported streaming television (FAST). There is a better than average chance that you can amortized the cost of the hardware over a certain period of time if you have the metrics for ad watching and engagement for your core audience.
Reflections on a Telly
Telly, a company that has recently emerged from stealth mode, has developed what it claims to be the first dual screen smart TV. The television combines a 55″ 4K HDR theater television display with a separate built-in, so-called, smart screen. Telly is powered by TellyOS, an operating system designed for a dual screen experience.
The company has opened reservations for the first 500,000 free units of Telly, which will be shipped to consumers in the summer. Telly aims to revolutionize the television industry by allowing advertisers to fully subsidize the cost of the TV for consumers and deliver it for free.
Telly’s Smart Screen offers various features such as staying updated with news, sports scores, weather, and stocks. It also provides artificial intelligence-driven content recommendations and reviews. The TV enables video calling, gaming, music playback through its built-in sound bar, and includes an innovative AI-driven voice assistant. Additionally, Telly offers fitness programs and supports various streaming services and devices.
The company aims to transform the living room TV into a truly smart TV, providing a comprehensive and interactive entertainment experience. Telly’s dual screen design allows advertisers to reimagine the living room experience while giving consumers a high-quality TV for free.
Telly has attracted leaders from prominent companies such as Apple, Google, Amazon, Netflix, and more. The company emphasizes that Telly is not just a free TV but the most advanced television ever developed, constantly innovating the living room experience through over-the-air updates.
