Manhattan TV has launched the Aero 4K TV Streamer \u2013 a \u00a369.99 streaming box that brings Freely to any existing television, undercutting the only other standalone Freely device by \u00a350.<\/p>\n
The British TV device manufacturer announced the Aero today, with the device powered by TiVo OS, supporting over 60+ live channels, and launching in February 2026 through major retailers including Currys, John Lewis, and Amazon.<\/p>\n
The timing is significant \u2013 just fourteen months after Manhattan firmly declared they wouldn\u2019t be \u201cjumping on the Freely bandwagon,\u201d they\u2019re doing exactly that with a device positioned to seriously challenge the Netgem Pleio\u2019s early dominance.<\/p>\n
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For anyone who\u2019s been waiting for an affordable way to get Freely without buying a whole new TV \u2013 or who baulked at paying nearly \u00a3120 for the alternative \u2013 this changes the equation entirely.<\/p>\n
Freely\u2019s Standalone Box Market Suddenly Gets Competitive <\/p>\n
When Freely launched in April 2024<\/a>, it was exclusive to brand new smart TVs from manufacturers like Hisense, Bush, Panasonic, and Amazon\u2019s Fire TV sets. If you wanted Freely, you needed to replace your entire television.<\/p>\n That limitation frustrated millions of viewers with perfectly good TVs who were curious about Freely \u2013 Everyone TV\u2019s streaming platform designed to eventually replace traditional Freeview<\/a> and Freesat by delivering live channels and catch-up content entirely through broadband.<\/p>\n The demand is clearly there. Freely is forecast to become the UK\u2019s largest TV device platform<\/a> within five years, providing the primary platform in 7 million homes by 2030.<\/p>\n Research from YouGov found that over 70% of Samsung and LG users want Freely on their next TV \u2013 but most aren\u2019t ready to replace perfectly functional televisions just to access the platform.<\/p>\n The Netgem Pleio launched in November 2025<\/a> as the first standalone solution, selling out within hours at \u00a399. But after a recent price increase to \u00a3119.88<\/a> and its mandatory gaming bundle, the market was ripe for alternatives.<\/p>\n Humax has confirmed a Freely recorder is under development<\/a>, with announcements expected \u201cin the next few weeks\u201d \u2013 likely a hybrid device combining Freely streaming with traditional aerial-based recording.<\/p>\n Manhattan is now beating Humax to market with a pure streaming solution that costs significantly less than the Pleio.<\/p>\n What Is The Manhattan Aero? <\/p>\n Manhattan TV has been manufacturing Freeview and Freesat devices in Britain for over 30 years. They\u2019re the company behind the popular T4-R Freeview recorder<\/a> and T4 Freeview Play box<\/a> \u2013 devices known for responsive interfaces, solid build quality, and competitive pricing.<\/p>\n The company has always used their own custom operating system across their entire range, giving them complete control over the user experience and keeping devices affordable through streamlined development.<\/p>\n The Aero marks a significant departure for Manhattan, running someone else\u2019s software.<\/p>\n By licensing TiVo OS, Manhattan gains instant access to a mature streaming platform with built-in support for major services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and YouTube, alongside Freely\u2019s live TV and catch-up integration.<\/p>\n TiVo achieved Freely certification<\/a> from Everyone TV just last month, specifically for \u201cpuck-style\u201d streaming devices. The timing suggests Manhattan has been working on the Aero for months, waiting for TiVo\u2019s certification to go through before announcing.<\/p>\n What You\u2019re Getting <\/p>\n The Aero delivers 60+ live Freely channels (including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, 5, and dozens more) plus over 75,000 hours of on-demand content from the major broadcasters\u2019 catch-up services (iPlayer, ITVX, etc) \u2013 all accessible without an aerial<\/a> or satellite dish.<\/p>\n On top of Freely, TiVo OS provides access to subscription streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video require separate subscriptions), plus TiVo+ \u2013 a free ad-supported service offering 400+ streaming channels and a library of on-demand movies and shows.<\/p>\n The device supports 4K output and includes TiVo Voice for voice-controlled search across live and on-demand content.<\/p>\n Unlike the WiFi-only Pleio, the Aero includes an Ethernet port for wired network connections \u2013 addressing one of the common complaints about Netgem\u2019s device.<\/p>\n Setup is straightforward: connect the Aero to your TV via HDMI, plug in power, connect to your broadband (either WiFi or Ethernet), and you\u2019re watching Freely channels within minutes.<\/p>\n Alex Arbab-Zadeh, Manhattan\u2019s COO, frames it simply: \u201cFreely is a brilliant new platform that delivers Great British Telly over broadband with no monthly bills \u2013 but there are millions of TVs out there that don\u2019t have it built in. Aero fixes that.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s Missing <\/p>\n There\u2019s no aerial port on the Aero. This is a streaming-only device, delivering everything through your internet connection.<\/p>\n That positioning makes sense when you consider Manhattan\u2019s existing lineup. The T4-R recorder<\/a>\u00a0and T4 Freeview Play box<\/a>\u00a0already cover traditional aerial-based Freeview with recording and live pause capabilities.<\/p>\n Adding Freely to those devices would create a complex hybrid \u2013 requiring support for both traditional broadcast tuners and streaming infrastructure, managing two separate channel guides, and explaining to customers when they\u2019re watching via aerial versus broadband.<\/p>\n When Manhattan dismissed Freely back in November 2024<\/a>, their concerns centred on Freely\u2019s limitations compared to Freeview \u2013 fewer channels, no recording, limited pause functionality. Those remain valid criticisms.<\/p>\n But rather than compromise their existing Freeview recorders with Freely integration, Manhattan has created a separate streaming-first device for a different use case entirely.<\/p>\n The Aero targets households where aerial reception is poor, second rooms without aerial connections, rental properties where installing aerials isn\u2019t practical, and anyone ready to embrace streaming-first television without the baggage of traditional broadcast infrastructure.<\/p>\n For viewers who want recording, the T4-R remains available. For those happy with streaming and catch-up services, the Aero offers a cheaper, simpler alternative.<\/p>\n The TiVo OS Question <\/p>\n Using TiVo OS instead of Manhattan\u2019s own software is unusual, but it solves one major problem: app availability.<\/p>\n Manhattan\u2019s custom interface works brilliantly for Freeview functions, but it doesn\u2019t run Android apps or have established relationships with major streaming services.<\/p>\n Building those integrations from scratch would take years and significant development resources.<\/p>\n TiVo OS comes with Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube, and hundreds of other apps already working. That\u2019s a big advantage for a device positioning itself as an all-in-one streaming solution.<\/p>\n However, TiVo OS isn\u2019t Fire TV<\/a> or Roku<\/a> \u2013 you\u2019re not getting access to every streaming app under the sun. The platform supports major services and popular apps, but niche or regional streaming services might be missing.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll need to see the full app list once the device launches to know exactly what\u2019s available beyond the headline services Manhattan has confirmed.<\/p>\n Aero vs Pleio: The Head-To-Head <\/p>\n The most direct comparison is with the Netgem Pleio, currently the only other standalone Freely box available to buy.<\/p>\n Price: The Aero costs \u00a369.99. The Pleio now costs \u00a3119.88 after a recent price increase. That\u2019s a \u00a350 difference \u2013 nearly 42% cheaper for Manhattan\u2019s device.<\/p>\n Platform: The Aero runs TiVo OS with full access to major streaming apps. The Pleio runs Android TV 14, but with a locked-down implementation<\/a> that prevents sideloading and restricts customisation. Both have their advantages \u2013 TiVo\u2019s polish versus Android\u2019s broader app compatibility \u2013 but neither offers the complete freedom of a standard streaming stick.<\/p>\n Connectivity: The Aero includes both WiFi and Ethernet. The Pleio is WiFi only.<\/p>\n Gaming: The Pleio bundles a wireless gamepad and includes 12 months of cloud gaming access (250+ games) plus 150+ extra FAST channels as part of its subscription price.<\/p>\n The Aero doesn\u2019t focus on gaming, but does support Netflix Games on TV (if you have a Netflix subscription), with a third-party gaming service expected to be supported in the future.<\/p>\n However, there\u2019s no bundled controller, and gaming clearly isn\u2019t the device\u2019s priority.<\/p>\n However, TiVo+ provides 400+ free FAST channels and on-demand content without requiring any subscription beyond the initial purchase.<\/p>\n Positioning: The Pleio markets itself as a multi-purpose entertainment device \u2013 Freely plus gaming plus extra channels, with the subscription model treating the hardware as part of a service bundle.<\/p>\n The Aero positions itself as a straightforward Freely box with streaming apps \u2013 you buy it once, it\u2019s yours, no subscriptions or ongoing fees (beyond any streaming services you choose to subscribe to separately).<\/p>\n For buyers who want cloud gaming and don\u2019t mind the higher price, the Pleio remains the only option. For everyone else who just wants Freely and major streaming apps without paying extra for features they won\u2019t use, the Aero\u2019s pricing is significantly more attractive.<\/p>\n The Humax Factor <\/p>\n Humax discontinued their Aura Freeview recorder<\/a> just last week, confirming \u201cexciting new products\u201d with announcements coming \u201cin the next few weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n We know a Humax Freely recorder is under development \u2013 tentatively called the \u201cAura EZ 4K Freely Recorder\u201d in early documentation, though that name may not be final.<\/p>\n It appears to be a hybrid device combining Freely streaming with an aerial port for traditional Freeview channels and recording capability (likely only from aerial broadcasts, not streaming).<\/p>\n If Humax launches their device at a similar price point to their previous recorders (\u00a3200-300), the Aero immediately looks like excellent value for anyone who doesn\u2019t need recording.<\/p>\n Even if Humax comes in cheaper, Manhattan has claimed the affordable end of the Freely box market with a device that costs less than most streaming sticks whilst delivering a complete Freely experience.<\/p>\n The Humax box will appeal to viewers who value recording and want both Freely and traditional Freeview in one device.<\/p>\n The Aero and Pleio appeal to everyone else \u2013 people ready to ditch aerials entirely, households adding Freely to second TVs, and anyone prioritising affordability over recording features they might not use anyway.<\/p>\n Bottom Line <\/p>\n Until just a few months ago, the Freely market was somewhat dormant. If you wanted Freely, you needed to buy a brand new TV \u2013 end of discussion.<\/p>\n Now we have two standalone devices available (with at least one more coming soon), channel numbers are expanding rapidly with Warner Bros. Discovery\u2019s entire portfolio joining<\/a>, and manufacturers are competing on price and features. Freely is heating up.<\/p>\n The lack of recording will bother plenty of viewers \u2013 and rightly so. The upcoming Humax box might address that in part, though you\u2019d likely need both broadband and an aerial to make it work.<\/p>\n But like it or not, this is the direction television is heading. Streaming and on-demand are replacing recording, whether we\u2019re ready for it or not.<\/p>\nFreely <\/p>\n
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Manhattan T4-R <\/p>\n
The Pleio Freely box <\/p>\n
Humax FHR-6000T <\/p>\n
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