Telly (company)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer electronics, Television manufacturing |
| Founded | May 2021 |
| Founder | Ilya Pozin |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Ilya Pozin (Founder) |
| Products | Smart Display TV with secondary advertising screen |
Telly is a television manufacturer headquartered in Los Angeles, established in 2021 by Ilya Pozin, who also co-founded Pluto TV. In 2023, the company introduced its premier Smart Display TV, distributing it at no cost to consumers across the United States. This television incorporates a secondary screen dedicated exclusively to continuous advertising, which underwrites the expense of providing the device for free.
History
Ilya Pozin founded Telly in May 2021, applying insights gained from Pluto TV to innovate within the TV industry by offering ad-supported hardware. By May 2023, the company opened a waitlist and commenced delivery of its complimentary 55-inch ad-supported televisions in July, drawing more than 100,000 sign-ups within just 36 hours.
Financial backing for Telly comes from investors including Rich Greenfield of LightShed Ventures and Gary Vaynerchuk's VaynerMedia.
Features
The Telly television boasts a primary 55-inch screen accompanied by a secondary Smart Display that continuously streams advertisements. Positioned between these two screens is a soundbar. Beyond ads, the Smart Display provides interactive widgets such as live sports scores, news tickers, weather forecasts, and stock market updates.
Additional functionalities include an integrated camera for video conferencing, voice assistant capabilities, built-in gaming options, a viewer engagement sensor, three HDMI ports, two USB connections, and an over-the-air tuner.
Powered by its own operating system, TellyOS, the device also supports external streaming platforms like Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, and Apple TV. The advertisements are interactive, enabling users to make purchases directly through the television interface.
Controversy
Telly has encountered scrutiny over privacy issues linked to its secondary screen technology, which monitors viewing patterns, advertisement engagement, and audience metrics. Opponents emphasize the possible vulnerabilities inherent in its data-centric commercial approach. In response, Telly asserts that all user information is anonymized and utilized exclusively to improve advertising effectiveness.