Manhattan TV to Launch Cheap Freely Capable Aero 4K TV Streaming Box
British device manufacturer Manhattan TV has just become the latest such firm to announce the imminent launch of their next generation IPTV box – the Manhattan Aero, which is another one that includes support for the new broadband-based live TV streaming service – Freely. Best of all, it’ll only set you back £69.99 (RRP).
Until recently there weren’t any streaming set-top-boxes with support for Freely, but over the past few months we’ve seen new hardware enter the market, such as the Humax FHR-6000T (Aura EZ 4K Freely Recorder) and Netgem TV’s extremely popular PLEIO box and service (here).
The new Manhattan Aero 4K TV box appears to complement the above two through a simplified and cheaper solution. The box costs just £69.99 (RRP) but doesn’t support recording (PVR), although you can pause live TV for up to 15 minutes. You can also restart programmes from the beginning on supported channels, and scroll back through the TV guide to access catch-up content from the past seven days (like a lot of other STBs).
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The Aero’s software is based off TiVo OS and also includes TiVo-powered voice search on the included remote, which also means you’ll get access to the usual apps (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube etc.) and another 400+ completely free streaming channels and a huge library of free on-demand movies and shows. This is on top of the 60+ live TV channels via Freely, with 35+ in HD.
On top of that, you get access to more than 75,000 hours of on demand content through integrated apps like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, My5, and UKTV Play. The device also supports WiFi 6 and Wired (LAN) for connectivity to your broadband router and is powered by an unspecified quad-core CPU, plus there’s the usual Power and HDMI ports (a 1.2m HDMI cable that supports resolutions up to 4K/60Hz is included). But there’s no port for a TV aerial, so this is very much a streaming only device.
The Aero box isn’t available to buy just yet, although it is due to go on sale during “Early February” and will come with a 2-year warranty and in-house UK technical support.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Sounds good, I may buy one for my 4K monitor.
Manhattan thats a name I trust quality items at sensible prices made for the british market wots not to like.
Oh dear… TiVo OS… makes Netgem’s buggy mess appealing by comparison.
They also accidentally mentioned a new Freesat PVR, the S4-R in the Freely FAQ.
Where is the link about the freesat box
It has been removed, but I took a screenshot. It was under the FAQs for Freely – “Can I record programmes”.
https://manhattan-tv.com/freely/aero
Good start for Freely moving away from only pre installed on specific TV models market. Just need it on the fire sticks and android apps next.
Absolutely.
Price is good, but will people want to buy a box that more or less do the same thing as their T.V? If they have a TV that an aerial don’t reach, then maybe.
If I watched normal T.V, I would not bother, I would not see the point in paying out money for a box that got fewer channels than what my Tv got. But I am sure some people will buy it
I can definitely imagine scenarios where this may be useful.
First you’ll have people without Freely TVs.
When I moved into my current house it didn’t come with an antenna and getting one installed would have cost £100-200 at the time depending on how many rooms, even then that was by dropping cables to the socketless rooms, something I know some may hate, so hiding them would be an additional hassle/expense.
When I was at uni, I used a HDMI monitor as my ‘tv’ with a Fire TV and also didn’t have an antenna.
That said, I also believe Freely should be available as an app on various existing devices e.g. Fire Stick, Roku, etc.
@tech3475, oh no doubt it will be useful for some people, I just wonder how many and if there is a large market for it. Manhattan must think there is.
Years ago we used to use indoor antennas, we used to differing results :). Not sure if they would work so well with digital, I presume they would as long as you get a good signal.
I would have thought Uni accommodation would have had an aerial connection, but then again, that would mean a licence is required unless your device is running on batteries, and then you could use your parent’s licence if it is your normal home.
I can’t see it becoming an app, but it was never going to become a separate box, so you never know
It is interesting to see what is happening.
Big potential market is moving away from Virgin Media or Sky TV services.
We have VM bundle currently and considering dropping TV element at next renewal. We have no aerial fitted and no cabling in place either, so a £70 box would be far cheaper than having it all fitted.
Even if self fitted would be far less hassle.
You have to wonder … why not just make an app for all the platforms and call it a day. The vast majority of UK households already have an Apple TV/ Fire Stick/ Google TV / Tizen/ WebOS device.
My Google TV devices have all the PSB apps on them including live streaming so for people like me, i don’t see the point in Freely so, I won’t be rushing to buy a new box with it.
Freely is to ensure that the public service media outlets are not beholden to private companies for access. otherwise the private companies could dictate to public service media.
Now available to buy at Currys it seems: https://www.currys.co.uk/products/manhattan-aero-4k-tv-streamer-with-freely-10297949.html