The future of television is undoubtedly shifting towards streaming services. Sky has heavily invested in this modern technology, offering popular products like Sky Glass and the Sky Stream box in the UK. These products are favored for their simplicity; users can easily access a wide range of shows, sports, and movies by connecting to Wi-Fi without the need for complicated installations or equipment.
Introducing another innovative option called Freely, households can now enjoy live and on-demand TV without requiring an aerial, offering a distinctive advantage over Sky by not mandating a monthly subscription.
However, until recently, Freely was only compatible with the latest TVs from brands such as Hisense, Panasonic, and Sharp, leaving older TV models or those from brands like Samsung and LG out of the loop.
Fortunately, this has changed with the introduction of a new device known as the PLEIO Puck. Developed by the Netgem team, this compact box enables full access to Freely on any TV. Simply plug it into an HDMI port, connect to broadband, and start enjoying a variety of free channels, including live and on-demand content.
In addition to Freely, the Puck also supports popular streaming apps like Disney+ and Netflix, offers over 200 games, and features complete voice control functionality.
The PLEIO Puck is now available for purchase at £99, inclusive of the device, a voice remote, a gamepad controller, and a three-month trial of the Netgem PLEIO subscription, unlocking cloud games and extra channels. Following the trial period, the subscription is optional at £9.99 per month.
Sylvain Thevenot, Managing Director of Netgem UK, expressed pride in launching PLEIO, highlighting its comprehensive viewing experience tailored for homes with Fibre broadband. He emphasized the platform’s ability to provide choice and value to consumers while offering a new opportunity for operators.
Industry analyst Paolo Pescatore emphasized the long-overdue necessity of devices like PLEIO, citing consumer demand for more affordable content viewing options. He cautioned against rising subscription costs, driven partly by broadcasters paying higher fees for sports rights, leading viewers towards fragmented and sometimes illicit streaming alternatives.