Telly’s “free” ad-based TVs make notable income—after they’re really delivered

Telly, an organization that accepts promoting information as a substitute of money for its TVs, has reportedly had a tough time getting its “free” TVs into individuals’s houses.

Telly debuted in May 2023. Its dual-screen design can present adverts, even when individuals aren’t watching. Although the smaller, secondary display screen can be utilized for extra useful functions, like exhibiting the climate or sports activities scores, its main function is to function a billboard south of the 55-inch main show. Owners can not disable monitoring or cowl up the secondary display screen (or they need to pay for the TV, which Telly claims is value $1,000), and so they should fill out a prolonged, detailed survey to get one.

When it debuted its TV, Telly stated it anticipated to ship 500,000 gadgets that summer season. In June 2023, the startup said 250,000 individuals signed as much as get a Telly. In a 2024 press release, Telly stated that it deliberate to ship “millions more in 2024.”

But a report from Lowpass this week, citing a “Q3 update sent to investors in November 2025,” stated the startup had 35,000 TVs in individuals’s houses at the moment. In Q2 2025, there have been 28,000 Telly TVs in use, the observe stated, in response to Lowpass.

The publication reported that the investor observe suggests Telly will order 100,000 TVs from provider Foxconn and improve deliveries quickly.

Telly declined to remark to Lowpass and didn’t reply to Ars Technica’s requests for remark.

Shipping issues

So what offers? Based on early registration numbers, it appears Telly has generated sufficient curiosity to ship greater than 35,000 TVs.

One problem appears to be poor transport. Per the investor observe that Lowpass reviewed, Telly claimed that FedEx delivered 10 p.c of its shipments of Telly TVs damaged. Since transferring to a distinct firm—seemingly Samsung partner RXO, primarily based on Reddit posts—fewer Tellys are arriving damaged, the corporate reportedly stated.

As Lowpass famous, dozens of on-line complaints declare that the free TVs, which ship immediately from Telly, had been damaged upon arrival. The Verge additionally reported receiving a damaged unit in September.