The landscape of television is rapidly evolving towards streaming services. Sky has heavily invested in this technology, offering popular products like Sky Glass and the Sky Stream box in the UK. These products are favored for their simplicity, allowing users to access a wide range of shows, sports, and movies by simply connecting to Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for complex installations. While Sky remains a dominant player with its extensive channel lineup and features, there are now other convenient alternatives for TV viewing.
One such option is Freely, which enables households to watch live and on-demand TV without requiring an aerial, and notably, it does not mandate a monthly subscription.
Previously, Freely was only integrated into the latest TVs from specific brands like Hisense, Panasonic, and Sharp, leaving users with older models or different brands such as Samsung and LG without access. However, a new solution has emerged in the form of the PLEIO Puck device.
Developed by the Netgem team, the compact PLEIO Puck offers full access to Freely on any TV. Users can easily set it up by plugging it into an HDMI port and connecting it to broadband.
Once installed, the PLEIO Puck provides access to over 40 free channels for live and on-demand viewing through Freely. Additionally, the platform allows features like pausing live TV, personalized recommendations, and an interactive guide for browsing current and upcoming programs.
Apart from Freely, the Puck also supports popular streaming apps such as Disney+ and Netflix, offers over 200 games, and features full voice control functionality.
The PLEIO Puck is now available for purchase at £99, which includes the device, a voice remote, a gamepad controller, and a three-month trial of the Netgem PLEIO subscription. This subscription unlocks over 250 cloud games and an additional 150 channels. Following the trial period, users have the option to subscribe for £9.99 per month.
Sylvain Thevenot, Managing Director of Netgem UK, expressed excitement about the launch, emphasizing the platform’s comprehensive viewing experience tailored for fiber broadband-connected households. The PLEIO aims to streamline entertainment consumption in a fragmented market, offering consumers a unified solution for watching, streaming, and gaming.
Industry analyst Paolo Pescatore highlighted the timeliness of devices like PLEIO, addressing the growing demand for affordable content viewing options. He noted that escalating subscription costs, influenced by broadcasters’ expensive sports rights deals, are driving viewers towards disjointed and illicit streaming avenues.