Netgem has launched PLEIO, a compact 4K streaming puck that brings the Freely internet TV platform, popular apps and a cloud gaming service to almost any TV with an HDMI port. The device is on sale for £99 and is also being bundled with full fibre broadband packages from smaller ISPs such as WightFibre, Connect Fibre and brsk.
What Netgem has launched
PLEIO is a small circular IPTV box that plugs into a TV’s HDMI socket and delivers live and on-demand television over a broadband connection. It is the first standalone device with Freely built in, after an initial phase where Freely was only available on selected smart TVs from brands like Hisense, Panasonic and TCL.
The puck runs Android TV 14 and supports 4K Ultra HD video with HDR10. Netgem packages it with a voice-enabled remote and a Bluetooth gamepad. Out of the box, PLEIO can show free-to-air channels via Freely, run major streaming apps and access Netgem’s own cloud gaming catalogue.
Alongside direct retail sales, Netgem is working with regional and alternative full fibre providers. WightFibre, Connect Fibre and brsk are the first broadband partners to add PLEIO as a managed TV bundle, with more ISPs expected to follow.
Unlike earlier Netgem hardware, PLEIO has no aerial socket and no TV tuner. Live channels and on-demand programmes arrive entirely over broadband, which is a clear step towards streaming-only free TV.
What Freely is and why it matters
Freely is the UK’s new free-to-air internet TV platform created by Everyone TV, the organisation jointly owned by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Everyone TV is also responsible for Freeview and Freesat.
Instead of relying on a rooftop aerial or satellite dish, Freely delivers live channels and catch-up content over a broadband connection. Viewers see a familiar electronic programme guide and can restart many programmes from the beginning or jump straight into catch-up apps such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX and Channel 4. Freely itself does not have a monthly subscription fee, but you still need a valid TV Licence to watch broadcast channels.
Before PLEIO, households that wanted Freely had to buy a new television with the platform integrated. The new puck changes that. Any TV with an HDMI port can gain Freely and a modern app interface without replacing the screen.
Everyone TV describes Freely as the next stage in free TV, running alongside Freeview for now but designed for a period when more homes have reliable, high-speed broadband. Government policy currently commits to keeping digital terrestrial TV until at least 2034, so Freely and PLEIO are joining existing platforms rather than replacing them overnight. Even so, they give a clear indication of the long-term shift towards IP-based delivery.
Hardware and design
PLEIO is a small circular puck measuring roughly 64mm across and 14mm high, and it weighs about 40g. It is designed to sit behind or underneath a TV without standing out.
Key technical features include:
- 4K Ultra HD output with HDR10 support
- Video decoding for AV1, H.265 and VP9
- Wi-Fi 6 for wireless broadband connectivity
- Bluetooth 5.0 for the remote, gamepad and other accessories
- HDMI 2.1 and a USB 2.0 port
- Audio passthrough for Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD and 5.1 surround sound when connected to compatible equipment
The device runs Android TV 14 and supports Google Assistant for voice control. Netgem supplies a remote with dedicated buttons for Freely and major streaming apps, plus a Bluetooth gamepad for cloud gaming.
One important limitation is connectivity. PLEIO does not have an Ethernet port. All TV and gaming traffic relies on Wi-Fi. There is also no aerial input, so there is no way to fall back to over-the-air broadcast channels if broadband fails.
TV apps, channels and gaming
PLEIO organises content in three layers: Freely, Android TV apps and Netgem’s optional subscription features.
Freely on PLEIO gives access to more than 50 live channels from the main public service broadcasters and a growing set of other channels. The interface offers a TV guide, restart functionality on many programmes and links directly into the broadcasters’ catch-up apps. Freely itself remains free to use, beyond the cost of the TV Licence and broadband connection.
Because PLEIO runs Android TV 14, it also behaves like a modern streaming device. You can install services such as Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, NOW, Apple TV+ and YouTube from the Google Play Store, alongside the free catch-up apps from the public service broadcasters. This means live channels and on-demand apps share a single home screen rather than being split across separate inputs.
On top of this, Netgem offers a PLEIO subscription. This adds more than 150 extra streaming channels, many of which are free ad-supported streaming TV services, plus a cloud gaming catalogue of more than 250 games. The bundled Bluetooth controller is used for gaming. If you buy the device at retail, these additional features are included for three months. After that, the subscription continues at £9.99 per month on a rolling basis unless you cancel. If the subscription ends, Freely and normal app usage still carry on.
Pricing, bundles and availability
There are two main ways to get PLEIO in the UK.
At retail, the device sells for £99 through Amazon and other outlets. The box includes the puck, voice remote, gamepad, power supply, HDMI cable and a three-month trial of the PLEIO subscription. After the trial period, the subscription renews at £9.99 per month if you choose to keep the extra channels and gaming service.
PLEIO is also being offered as a white-label TV product by certain broadband providers. WightFibre, Connect Fibre and brsk are the first launch partners. In these bundles, customers usually pay a small monthly amount that covers both the hardware and continued access to the PLEIO subscription features, or the device is included in selected full fibre packages. Prices and contract terms differ between providers and can depend on the broadband plan you choose.
For regional and alternative networks, PLEIO offers a way to add a branded TV and gaming option to fibre packages without investing in a full TV platform of their own.
Broadband and Wi-Fi requirements
Because PLEIO has no Ethernet port or aerial fallback, the quality of your TV viewing is tied directly to your broadband connection and in-home Wi-Fi.
Freely and Everyone TV indicate that you should have at least 10Mbps broadband speed for live and on-demand streaming. In practice, that level may cover one HD stream, but 4K viewing, cloud gaming and multiple devices online at once will need considerably more capacity. Full fibre connections and well-performing FTTC lines should cope with these demands, but performance at the TV position is just as important as the speed headline on your package.
If your router is tucked away in a hallway or downstairs and the TV is at the edge of your Wi-Fi coverage, you may see buffering, picture drops or pauses during busy evening periods. Some homes will need better in-home networking, such as a mesh Wi-Fi system or powerline adapters, to keep a reliable signal at the TV.
There is also the question of resilience. With PLEIO, there is no aerial feed to fall back to if your broadband or router stops working. If the internet connection drops, live TV stops. Any data caps on your broadband package will also apply to PLEIO usage, in the same way they apply to Netflix or YouTube.
For households already using full fibre with good Wi-Fi coverage, the Wi-Fi-only design may feel straightforward. For slower lines or homes that struggle with wireless coverage, a Freeview aerial, Freesat dish or hybrid Freely TV that can use both broadband and broadcast signals may still be a safer main option.
How PLEIO compares with other TV options
The PLEIO approach is similar in concept to Sky Stream and Virgin Media’s streaming hardware. All three deliver channels and on-demand content over broadband rather than through satellite or traditional cable.
There are some key differences:
- PLEIO centres on Freely and free-to-air channels. You add subscription streaming apps separately, instead of paying for a bundled pay TV package.
- The puck is not locked to a particular broadband provider. As long as your connection is fast and reliable enough, you can use it on any ISP.
- Recording is not part of the box. Freely relies on restart features and catch-up apps instead of hard-disk recording.
Compared with a Freeview or YouView recorder, PLEIO offers a unified interface for apps and live channels, 4K streaming and cloud gaming. In exchange, you lose local recording and may not receive every Freeview channel, especially smaller services that have not yet joined Freely or the additional channel range.
For many homes, PLEIO is likely to sit alongside existing Freeview or Freesat equipment rather than replacing it immediately. Viewers who already watch most programmes via apps will be more comfortable moving towards a fully IP-based setup than those who still rely heavily on broadcast reception and recording.
Who should consider PLEIO
PLEIO is likely to be most attractive to:
- Full fibre customers who want Freely, streaming apps and casual gaming without signing up for a large pay TV bundle
- Households with older but good-quality televisions that lack current smart features
- Homes with unreliable or weak aerial reception, where broadband-based live TV is more dependable than a marginal over-the-air signal
- Families who like the idea of casual cloud gaming but do not want to buy a separate games console
It is less suitable for:
- Homes with slow or unreliable broadband, or weak Wi-Fi at the TV location
- Viewers who rely on recording and archiving programmes from broadcast channels
- People who want the full Freeview channel range, including smaller niche channels that may not yet be present on Freely or in the extra channel bundles
As with any streaming-only TV option, the key question is whether you are comfortable relying entirely on your broadband connection for live TV. Some households will value the simplicity of a single interface. Others will prefer to keep an aerial or satellite feed as a backup.
What it means for ISPs and the future of free TV
For smaller full fibre ISPs, PLEIO arrives at a useful time. It gives them a ready-made way to add TV and cloud gaming to their broadband offers and compete more directly with the bundles from Sky, Virgin Media and BT/EE. They can badge the service, bundle it with gigabit broadband and avoid the cost of building and running their own TV platform.
For Everyone TV and the public service broadcasters, PLEIO is another step in shifting part of free-to-air viewing onto broadband infrastructure. Earlier smart TV launches brought Freely into new sets. Plug-in devices like this extend it to existing televisions, which is important if the platform is to reach a wide share of UK homes.
At the same time, the UK still has many areas where broadband speeds are modest and a large number of households that rely on Freeview as their main TV service. That means aerial-based Freeview and satellite-based Freesat are likely to remain important for years. Devices such as PLEIO show where the industry expects viewing habits to move, but they do not remove the need for robust broadcast platforms yet.
Key points for broadband customers
For broadband users thinking about PLEIO, the main questions are straightforward:
- Do you have a fast and reliable enough connection, with strong Wi-Fi at the TV position, to handle multiple HD or 4K streams and cloud gaming?
- Are you happy for all of your live TV to depend on your broadband service, with no aerial as backup?
- Does your ISP offer PLEIO as a bundle, and if so, is that better value than buying the £99 box and choosing whether to keep the £9.99 subscription after the trial?
If you are on a stable full fibre or faster FTTC package, want Freely without buying a new television and like the idea of cloud gaming as an extra, PLEIO is a neat way to bring a new TV platform to an existing screen. It will not suit every household, but it is an important step towards a future where free TV is increasingly delivered through routers and Wi-Fi instead of aerials and dishes.
