The shift from traditional television to streaming services continues to gain momentum. Sky has been at the forefront of this transition with innovations like the Stream box and Glass TV, utilizing broadband to deliver both live and on-demand content directly to homes without the need for a satellite dish. While Sky’s hardware has been dominant in this field, new alternatives are emerging.
One such alternative is Freely, introduced in 2024 and developed by the creators of Freeview. Freely offers free access to a range of popular TV shows, sports, and movies streamed over the internet. Initially, viewers had to purchase a new TV with Freely built-in to access the platform, which was inconvenient. However, a recent announcement introduced the Freely-compatible Pleio puck, enabling existing televisions to access the service.
Adding to the array of choices, Manhattan has unveiled its first Freely set-top box. Known for its successful Freeview boxes resembling Sky Q features, Manhattan is now focusing on a new streaming-only 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. Similar to Sky’s Stream box, all content is delivered over Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for an antenna or satellite dish.
Powered by the award-winning TiVo OS, the Aero not only provides access to Freely but also offers popular apps like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and YouTube. Additionally, it includes TiVo+ with approximately 400 free streaming channels and a vast library of on-demand movies and TV shows.
Emphasizing its 4K capabilities and voice search feature, the Aero does not support recording programs to a hard drive. Manhattan’s COO, Alex Arbab-Zadeh, expressed excitement about the Aero’s launch, highlighting its ability to upgrade any TV affordably and easily by connecting to Wi-Fi.
The Manhattan Aero 4K TV Streamer with Freely will be released in February 2026, priced at £69.99, and will be available at retailers such as Currys, John Lewis, and Amazon.