The shift from traditional television to streaming services continues to gain momentum, with Sky at the forefront of this movement, offering innovative devices like the Stream box and Glass TV. These devices utilize broadband technology to deliver live and on-demand content directly to viewers’ homes, bypassing the need for a conventional satellite dish. While Sky has been a dominant player in this space, new alternatives are emerging.
One such alternative is Freely, introduced in 2024 and supported by the creators of Freeview. Freely provides free access to a variety of popular TV shows, sports events, and movies through broadband streaming. Initially, consumers required a new TV with built-in Freely capabilities to access this service, which posed some inconvenience. However, a recent development saw the introduction of a Freely-compatible Pleio puck, enabling existing televisions to connect to the platform.
Adding to the array of choices, Manhattan has unveiled its first-ever Freely set-top box. Known for its successful Freeview boxes that competed with Sky Q, Manhattan is now entering the streaming market with the Aero 4K TV Streamer, set to launch in February. This device offers access to 60 live TV channels and over 75,000 hours of on-demand content without the need for a monthly subscription. Similar to Sky’s Stream box, all content is delivered via Wi-Fi, eliminating the requirement for an aerial or satellite dish.
Operating on the acclaimed TiVo OS, the Aero not only provides access to Freely but also supports popular streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and YouTube. Additionally, it includes TiVo+, offering approximately 400 free streaming channels and a vast library of on-demand movies and TV shows.
As its name implies, the Aero delivers 4K picture quality and features voice search functionality, although it does not offer the capability to record programs to a hard drive. Manhattan’s COO, Alex Arbab-Zadeh, expressed enthusiasm for the product, highlighting its ability to upgrade any TV affordably by simply connecting to Wi-Fi for access to live TV, catch-up shows, and favorite streaming services.
The Manhattan Aero 4K TV Streamer with Freely is set to be released in February 2026 at a price of £69.99. It will be available for purchase from retailers such as Currys, John Lewis, and Amazon.