Streaming has solidified its place as the future of television, with Sky making significant investments in technologies like Sky Glass and the Sky Stream box, which have gained popularity in the UK due to their user-friendly setup that eliminates the need for complicated installations. While Sky remains a dominant force with its extensive channel offerings and features, there are now other effortless options for TV viewing.
One such alternative is Freely, a new service that allows households to access live and on-demand TV without requiring a subscription or an aerial. However, until recently, Freely was only compatible with the latest TVs from select brands, excluding owners of older models or TVs from manufacturers like Samsung and LG.
The introduction of the PLEIO Puck, developed by Netgem, has now addressed this limitation. This compact device enables any TV to access the full range of Freely content by simply connecting it to an HDMI port and broadband.
Once installed, the PLEIO Puck offers over 40 free channels for live and on-demand viewing through the Freely platform. Additionally, users can pause live TV, receive recommendations, and browse current and upcoming programs using the interactive guide.
In addition to Freely, the Puck comes preloaded with popular streaming apps like Disney+ and Netflix, supports a wide selection of games, and offers full voice control functionality.
The PLEIO Puck is 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 offering over 250 cloud games and 150 additional channels. Following the trial period, users can opt for the subscription at £9.99 per month.
Sylvain Thevenot, Managing Director of Netgem UK, expressed enthusiasm about the product launch, emphasizing the comprehensive viewing experience that PLEIO provides to consumers, offering a range of entertainment options tailored for broadband-connected homes.
Industry analyst Paolo Pescatore highlighted the timeliness of the PLEIO device, citing growing consumer demand for affordable content viewing options amidst escalating subscription costs. Pescatore cautioned that rising subscription fees, influenced by broadcasters’ increased sports rights expenditures, are driving viewers towards disjointed viewing solutions and potentially illegal streaming.
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