Broadband ISP Wildanet launch TiVo Powered UK 4K TV Freely streaming service UPDATE
Alternative broadband provider Wildanet, which is deploying a new 2Gbps speed full fibre (FTTP) network across rural parts of Cornwall and Devon (England), today claims to have become the UK’s first internet provider to launch a “Powered by TiVo” broadband TV service that brings live TV, catch-up and streaming services together in one place, using a single box and remote with voice search.
The announcement comes not long after we reported on how a number of UK internet service providers were looking to bundle British device manufacturer Manhattan’s Freely-supporting Aero 4K TV Streaming Box, or similar kit using the TiVo OS, alongside some of their packages (here). TiVo were understood to be in the process of pitching their platform as white-label solution for alternative broadband ISPs to adopt as part of branded broadband bundles.
The news today is that Wildanet has become the first to adopt the new platform from TiVo, which will power their Pay TV service. “Customers across Cornwall and Devon can access hundreds of live TV channels and streaming content, with recommendations and conversational voice search helping them discover what to watch more easily, all through a Wi-Fi connection and without needing a new smart television,” said the ISP.
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The new service is already said to be available to Wildanet customers in live network areas, with “simple monthly pricing and no need to replace existing televisions“.
Simon Hughes, Chief Commercial Officer at Wildanet, said:
“When we speak to residents across the South West, they tell us they don’t want more gadgets or complicated set‑ups; they just want things that work. The growing demand for Wi-Fi and TV in one place shows there is real demand for better, simpler services in rural areas powered by reliable, ultrafast full fibre broadband.
Partnering with TiVo is an important step for us to offer our customers an innovative, easy-to-use and cost-effective TV service. We have moved beyond simply providing ultrafast broadband connections to offering plug-and-play services, powered by full fibre and shaped around the way people want to watch TV nowadays.”
Gabriel Cosgrave, General Manager, EMEA at TiVo said:
“Wildanet’s launch marks an exciting step for TiVo as we enter the UK’s alternative network market. By combining our intuitive entertainment platform with Wildanet’s full fibre connectivity, we are making it easier for customers to find, watch and enjoy live TV, catch-up and streaming services from one simple, seamless experience. Together, we’re bringing a premium TV and entertainment experience to local communities, while demonstrating how fibre providers can extend their offering beyond connectivity and create more value for their customers and themselves.”
The press announcement itself was surprisingly devoid of any real detail, but we did find this page on their website that prices the TV service from £8.99 per month (this will rise to £9.39 from Dec 2027 – a 40p monthly price increase). For that you’ll be tied into a 24-month contract (other altnets we’ve seen have preferred 30-day plans), get a TV box, remote control with batteries, HDMI and power cable.
No details have been provided on the technical capabilities of the set-top-box itself, although it doesn’t appear to support recording (PVR) and the limited description does make us think that it might indeed be Manhattan’s box. This normally retails for about the £90 to £100 mark (one-off without a long contract and future price hikes). So far as we can tell, you’re not getting any premium TV channels for your money above.
UPDATE 10th Sept 2026 @ 10:53am
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Wildanet has confirmed to ISPreview that their kit is a 4K streaming set-top box with Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, HDMI 2.0b, support for AV1 and HDR formats, and Dolby Atmos/DTS:X pass-through. It also includes the DRM standards typically required by major streaming services. But they haven’t confirmed the manufacturer.
Key Features
The box is designed to combine live television, catch-up and streaming in one interface, using one remote:
- Watch around 70 live UK TV channels, including 35 HD channels, via Freely
- Scroll back through the guide (typically up to seven days on supported channels)
- Access 400 free TiVo Channels, alongside free services such as Tubi and Plex
- Open major streaming apps, including BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, U, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, HBO Max, Hayu, Rakuten TV and YouTube
- Use TiVo’s voice search to find programmes, films, actors, genres, channels and supported apps without searching each service individually
- Support 4K Ultra HD and HDR10 where the programme, app and television support them
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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No doubt ad47uk will say he doesnt want it
And that would be a sensible comment if you don’t get anything more than if you bought the box for about one year’s payments.
I don’t, but I can’t anyway, not from them as I can’t get their service, also, I don’t have a TV licence.
But I do wonder what are people getting for their money? i presume these Freely units are a cheap way for this provider to offer a TV service, even if it is the same as what you can get from buying a box from Amazon.
I wonder if these networks/ISPs think that offering these TV services will get more people to use their broadband service or it is something just to try and get some more money in.
A common objection from customers currently taking a bundle from Virgin, Sky or BT is that they also have a TV package from their ISP that they will lose if they switch provider. If someone has been with Virgin for a long time they will often not have a working TV aerial – because the hole was reused for the cabling or because the installer cut the antenna lead.
Having to buy a separate TV box outright is a disincentive to move, as is having to pay to have a new aerial fitted.
Offering a TV box overcomes these objections. For the affected set of customers it overcomes an objection that would otherwise stop them changing provider.
@125us, people can have Sky TV without Sky broadband. I presume sky gives a bit of a discount if people have their broadband as well.
From what I have seen of BT/EE Tv, it is mainly Sky stuff and Netflix.
What on earth are you going on about?
@125us, you said that people would lose their TV bundle if they changed broadband provider. Sky TV is available no matter where you get your broadband from; the other thing is you may pay more
Hence my use of the word ‘bundle’.
If the customer ends up paying more, they’re not getting the bu sled price, are they?
Jeez.
Bundle. Autocorrect.
Why not just buy an Aero 4k box for £89?
It’s a virtual certainty that this is the Manhattan Aero box, and it’s good to see a bit more competition in the Pay TV market. But let’s not be carried away: in no way can a Freely box running TiVo OS by some regional altnets be compared with the recently-announced Vodafone TV which runs Android TV and is supplied by an operator with nationwide reach using Openreach, CityFibre, Community Fibre and its own 5G FWA.
In summary, the Pay TV light market is becoming:
– on retail side (D2C): Netgem Pleio, Manhattan Aero, Humax AuraEZ 4K Recorder
– on wholesale side (B2B): Netgem Pleio, Manhattan Aero, Vodafone TV
The B2B (operator wholesale) market will dwarf the direct-to-consumer (D2C) retail sales as the consumer market is much smaller than the one which can be shipped cheap boxes by the likes of Vodafone.
I doubt they are trying to compete TV wise with Virgin, vodafone or Sky. I think most people who go to Altnets are not really interested in having TV bundled and if they want Sky they still can get Sky TV. Sky is not going to stop selling their TV services to non-sky broadband users, it would be stupid and would lose them money.
I think these network providers are offer the services just to get some extra money, which I can understand, I presume they have done a deal with Manhatten and Netgem. It seems once one started, the rest are following.
Why don’t they focus on finishing their builds to those of us they promised FTTP to years ago, instead of trying to find ways to look like Virgin Media.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/evolution-digital_introducing-wildanettv-powered-by-tivo-activity-7503827578659508224-FoYb/
They wrote “Exciting to see our Android TV solutions continuing to expand globally”
https://evolutiondigital.com/android-tv/
Could be either the EVO FORCE LITE or the EVO FORCE PRO X5M, they have the exact same design as the Wildanet box.