A Verge correspondent sat down with Telly representatives to explore a bold concept that merges television and advertising in a single device. The project, spearheaded by Ilya Pozin, co-founder of Pluto TV, centers on a television design that features two screens. One screen remains dedicated to standard viewing, while a second screen continuously displays advertisements. The model is designed to be provided at no upfront cost to users.
Promoters describe Telly as a “$1,000 TV” that can be obtained without payment, yet observers at The Verge present a more cautious view. The correspondent could not complete a full test of the device. Still, from the Google TV desktop image shown on the home screen, the Telly interface resembled the layouts found on budget sets from brands like Vizio, TCL, and Hisense, which retail around three hundred dollars in many markets.
Brand claims suggest the 55-inch 4K panel is capable of HDR content. However, verification could not be confirmed during the trial. The device is described as a conventional Google TV-equipped television that gains its smart functionality through a bundled TV stick, with the dual-screen setup forming the core distinction.
During talks with company representatives, it emerged that users cannot disable the advertising window or reboot the system without triggering consequences. In the first scenario, a significant fine or a recall could follow; in the second, the device could malfunction, disrupting the user experience.
The company has public plans to distribute a substantial number of units by the summer of 2023, with estimates suggesting hundreds of thousands of households in the United States would participate as free-TV users. Participation involves providing a credit card that would be charged in case of a violation and agreeing to not disclose certain data about viewing, channels, time spent watching, and related information. The approach is positioned as highly valuable for advertisers seeking granular audience insight.
An earlier report from socialbites.ca mentioned similar consumer-facing vending concepts in other markets, hinting at a broader trend toward free services funded by advertising and data considerations.