Observed Signal · May 20, 2026 · Product Launch · Source: Cord Cutters News · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Plex Adds 13 Free Ad‑Supported Channels
Plex has expanded its free, ad-supported channel lineup by adding 13 new channels across entertainment, science, lifestyle and niche film categories. The additions — which include multiple WBtv-branded channels alongside offerings such as Popular Science, Garden by Monty Don and Home Cooking on the Food Channel — are live within the Plex app and available to all users on the platform’s free tier across smart TVs, mobile devices, streaming sticks and web browsers. Cord Cutters News reported the update on May 20, 2026, framing the move as part of Plex’s strategy to broaden FAST/AVOD-style content and consolidate more viewing options inside a single app.
Expands Plex’s free ad-supported (FAST/AVOD) inventory and audience reach, creating more CTV ad placements and content variety for viewers and advertisers, but is not a major industry-shifting announcement.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Plex added 13 new free, ad-supported channels to its platform.
- New channel list: Generation Drama by WBtv; Classic Cinema by WBtv; Survive or Die by WBtv; Medical Incredible by WBtv; Space & Beyond by WBtv; The Prog G Channel; Popular Science; Ghosts Are Real by WBtv; Cosmic Frontiers; Garden by Monty Don; Home Cooking on the Food Channel; Complex TV; Out Movies.
- Several of the new channels are WBtv-branded (multiple channels in the announced list include 'by WBtv').
- The channels are live and available to all Plex users at no additional cost on Plex’s free tier across smart TVs, mobile devices, streaming sticks and web browsers.
- Article published by Cord Cutters News on 2026-05-20.
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Plex Adds 10 Free Live Channels
Plex announced the addition of 10 new free, ad-supported live channels to its streaming library, spanning drama, true crime, reality, horror and lifestyle programming. The channels — including Heartland, Murdoch Mysteries, Live PD variants, Frightflix, I Shouldn’t Be Alive, Cesar’s Pack Leader TV and The Great British Baking Channel — are available to both paid subscribers and free account holders at no extra cost. Plex said the expansion complements its existing catalog of hundreds of live channels and thousands of on-demand titles, leverages its recommendation engine for discovery, and includes technical improvements such as 4K support on compatible content. The update reinforces Plex’s AVOD/FAST positioning as a hybrid platform combining personal media management with curated streaming content.
Plex Adds Five New Free Live TV Channels
Plex has added five new free ad-supported live TV channels to its FAST service, expanding its lineup to over 600 channels. The new channels include Franklin x bash (legal comedy), Chrome thillee (lifestyle and design), Crime scene TV (true crime), Tennis TV (sports), and Swagtg (entertainment). These channels are available across all major streaming devices and platforms without a paid subscription, supported by advertising. Plex has been steadily expanding its free live TV offerings throughout 2026, positioning itself as a major player in the free ad-supported streaming space.
Plex Adds Five Free Live Channels in June 2026
Plex announced it has added five new free live channels to its ad-supported lineup effective June 4, 2026. The new channels — Lifetime Movies Black Stories, Documentary Plus, Z Nation, Monsters Are Real, and beIN Sports Extra — are available immediately to all Plex users with free accounts. The additions expand Plex’s live TV guide (which now exceeds 400 free channels), broaden genre coverage across entertainment, documentary, sci‑fi and sports, and are supported by advertising to keep them free. Plex delivers the channels as linear-style programming within its streaming platform, accessible across smart TVs, mobile devices, streaming sticks and desktop browsers.
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