The trend away from traditional television towards streaming services continues unabated. Sky has been at the forefront of this shift with innovations like the Stream box and Glass TV, using broadband to deliver live and on-demand content directly to homes instead of relying on satellite dishes. While Sky’s cutting-edge hardware has been dominant, other options are now emerging.
Freely, launched in 2024 and supported by the creators of Freeview, offers free streaming of popular TV shows, sports, and movies over broadband. Initially, viewers needed a new TV with built-in Freely to access the service, which was inconvenient. However, this changed with the introduction of a Freely-compatible Pleio puck last year, enabling existing TVs to access the platform.
Adding to the array of choices, Manhattan has introduced its first Freely set-top box. Known for its popular Freeview boxes similar to Sky Q, Manhattan is now focusing on a new streaming device. The Aero 4K TV Streamer, set to launch in February, promises access to 60 live TV channels and over 75,000 hours of on-demand content without requiring a monthly subscription. Just like Sky’s Stream box, content is delivered via Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for an aerial or satellite dish.
Operating on the acclaimed TiVo OS, the Aero not only offers access to Freely but also supports popular apps like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and YouTube. Additionally, it includes TiVo+ which provides approximately 400 free streaming channels and a vast library of on-demand movies and TV series.
Designed for superior 4K picture quality, the Aero features voice search functionality but does not support recording programs to a hard drive.
Manhattan’s COO, Alex Arbab-Zadeh, expressed excitement about the Aero’s launch, emphasizing its affordability and simplicity in upgrading any TV to access live TV, catch-up services, and favorite streaming apps without the need for a new TV.
The Manhattan Aero 4K TV Streamer with Freely is set to be released in February 2026, priced at £69.99, and will be available from retailers such as Currys, John Lewis, and Amazon.