Meet Telly, A Free-To-Use Dual Screen TV (The First 500,000 Ship This Year)

Telly, a first of its kind dual-screen TV, is set to revolutionize the home theater experience.

Devised by Ilya Pozin, co-founder of Paramount Global’s PARA PARAA Pluto TV, Telly merges the conventional 4K HDR TV with an integrated “Smart Screen," creating a dynamic interface for entertainment and information.

The 55-inch main display delivers high-quality visuals, while a second screen, divided by a sound bar and built-in webcam, serves multifaceted roles. From displaying advertisements to rolling out widgets featuring stock tickers, sports scores, music recommendations and more, the secondary screen enhances user engagement, according to Telly.

But Telly’s standout feature is its pricing model, which is completely subsidized by advertising. The first 500,000 free TVs are planned to ship in 2023. It’s a business strategy that Pozin told AdExchanger he anticipates scaling up exponentially through 2024 and 2025.

Nothing is truly free: Telly’s robust ad network accumulates data from various sources to craft user profiles for targeted advertising. Opting out of data collection is possible, but users then incur the device’s cost of $500 or they must return the TV.

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It should be noted that Telly isn't the first instance of televisions collecting user data, as smart TVs are known for such practices.

Notably, Telly doesn’t classify itself as a smart TV, so don’t expect apps like Netflix Inc NFLX or The Walt Disney Co’s DIS Disney+ to come pre-installed. It ships with a 4K streaming stick, possibly a Google Chromecast produced by Alphabet Inc GOOG GOOGL.

Telly also expands beyond conventional TV functionality, the built-in camera enables Zoom Video Communications Inc ZM-powered video calls and supports Telly’s integrated Game Room featuring over 40 games. A voice assistant activated by “Hey Telly” provides an additional layer of interactivity.

You can sign up here, at freetelly.com to be one of the first 500,000 users to receive a free Telly.

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Courtesy photo.