The trend of moving from traditional TV to streaming continues to gain momentum without any signs of slowing down. Sky has been at the forefront of this shift, offering devices like the Stream box and Glass TV that utilize broadband to deliver live and on-demand content directly to households, eliminating the need for traditional satellite dishes. While Sky’s innovative hardware has been dominating the market, there are now alternative options emerging.
Freely, introduced in 2024 and supported by the creators of Freeview, provides free access to popular TV shows, sports, and movies via broadband streaming. Initially, viewers required a new TV with built-in Freely to access this platform, which was somewhat inconvenient. However, a recent development introduced a Freely-compatible Pleio puck, enabling access to the service on existing televisions.
Adding to the choices available, Manhattan has unveiled its first Freely set-top box. Known for its popular Freeview boxes that offered functionalities similar to Sky Q, Manhattan is now focusing on a new streaming-only device. The Aero 4K TV Streamer is set to launch in February, promising access to 60 live TV channels and over 75,000 hours of on-demand content without the need for a monthly subscription. Like Sky’s Stream box, all content is delivered over Wi-Fi, eliminating the requirement for an aerial or satellite dish.
Operating on the award-winning TiVo OS, the Aero not only provides access to Freely but also supports popular apps such as Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and YouTube. It also includes TiVo+, offering approximately 400 free streaming channels and a vast library of on-demand movies and TV shows.
The Aero, designed for 4K picture quality, features voice search functionality but does not offer the capability to record programs to a hard drive.
In a statement about the launch, Alex Arbab-Zadeh, COO of Manhattan, highlighted the benefits of the Aero, stating, “Freely is an excellent new platform delivering top British content over broadband without monthly fees. Aero solves the issue for many TVs without built-in access. Simply connect to Wi-Fi, and you have live TV, catch-up, and all your favorite streaming apps. It’s a straightforward and cost-effective way to enhance any TV without replacing it.”
The Manhattan Aero 4K TV Streamer with Freely is scheduled for release in February 2026, priced at £69.99, and will be available at retailers like Currys, John Lewis, and Amazon.