Netgem TV is a pay TV service built around a 4K smart TV box, delivering over 200 live TV channels over broadband via Freely.
It also functions as an entertainment hub via Netgem's Pleio platform, with support for major streaming apps and additional apps and games.
The Netgem PLEIO box is typically offered through selected UK broadband providers, though it can also be purchased directly from Netgem as part of a bundled package.
TL;DR: Quick verdict
Netgem TV is a flexible, broadband-first way to add live TV and streaming apps without a traditional pay-TV contract, sitting somewhere between Freely and full services from Sky or Virgin Media.
Monthly pricing is low on paper, but most premium content must be paid for separately, and the TV box is only free when bundled with partner broadband.
With Sky Essential TV now offering bundled subscriptions and a free Stream box even on monthly contracts, Netgem makes most sense as a simple, bundled TV option for full-fibre broadband customers rather than a direct rival to premium pay TV.
At a glance: Key details
| Price | From £9.99/mth (for extra channels & gaming) |
|---|---|
| Setup cost | Free to £119.88 (includes Puck, Gamepad & 12-month subscription) |
| Minimum term | 12 - 24 months (Varies by bundle/provider) |
| TV channels | Over 50 live channels via Freely (UK broadcasters) + 150+ extra channels with subscription |
| On-demand apps | Netflix, Prime Video, NOW, Discovery+, Disney+, Apple TV+, and others via Google Play |
| TV box | 4K Ultra HD Netgem PLEIO puck |
| Requirements | Broadband connection (no aerial needed) and TV licence to watch live TV (Freely) |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Over 150 additional live TV channels on top of Freely's UK broadcaster streams | Smaller ecosystem than Sky or Virgin Media for bundled TV packs |
| Strong on-demand app support via Google Play, including Netflix, Prime Video, NOW, Disney+ and Discovery+ | Advanced features and extra channels usually require a paid subscription |
| No satellite dish or aerial required, with live TV streamed over broadband | Available through a limited number of broadband providers |
Best Netgem TV and broadband deals
Below are some of the best broadband packages that include Netgem TV, combining fast fibre internet with access to live TV, streaming apps and additional entertainment content through the Pleio platform.
| Package | TV | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
150Mb Fibre Broadband + TV | 240 | 150Mb average | £29.99 | Free | 24 months |
 Offer: Installed in as little as 48 hours + Free setup | ||||||
 |
BetterNet200 + BetterTV | 240 | 200Mb average | £34.99 | £20 | 12 months |
What does Netgem TV offer?
Netgem TV combines live TV channels, free ad-supported streaming (FAST) content and on-demand apps through a single 4K smart TV box.
Channels such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 are delivered via the Freely platform over broadband, alongside more than 150 additional live channels.
Alongside live TV, Netgem supports a wide range of on-demand and catch-up apps. Customers can add subscriptions to popular services such as Netflix, NOW and Prime Video.
On the newer Netgem PLEIO box, which runs on Android TV, major services including Paramount+, Apple TV+ and Discovery+ are available as standalone apps. Prime Video is also supported and continues to offer access to additional subscription channels such as MGM+ and Hayu.
Sky content can be accessed via NOW, and TNT Sports via Discovery+. Unlike earlier Netgem boxes, the newer Netgem PLEIO device, launched in late 2025 and running on Android TV, also supports Disney+, bringing Netgem's app coverage closer to mainstream streaming platforms. Availability may vary depending on the specific Netgem box supplied by individual broadband providers.
The Netgem Pleio box supports Ultra HD 4K resolution and Dolby Atmos audio, offers Bluetooth connectivity for wireless speakers, and includes a limited live-pause feature. Unlike earlier Netgem boxes, Pleio does not support live TV recording via USB, with viewers instead relying on broadcaster catch-up apps for on-demand playback.
Availability is more limited than mainstream TV platforms, as Netgem TV is now primarily offered through selected UK broadband providers rather than as a mass-market standalone service.
Netgem TV & broadband bundles
Netgem TV is now offered through a small number of UK broadband providers rather than being sold widely as a standalone service. Current partners include Community Fibre, Brsk, WightFibre and Connect Fibre.
Availability and hardware can vary by provider. While Netgem's newer Pleio platform is now live, some broadband partners still reference the older Netgem 4K box in their marketing, so customers may want to confirm which device is supplied before signing up.
Here are examples of Netgem TV bundles currently available with Community Fibre and Brsk:
| Package | TV | Broadband | Monthly price | Upfront price | Contract term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
150Mb Fibre Broadband + TV | 240 | 150Mb average | £29.99 | Free | 24 months |
| Offer: Installed in as little as 48 hours + Free setup | ||||||
|
BetterNet200 + BetterTV | 240 | 200Mb average | £34.99 | £20 | 12 months |
Each of these providers operates an independent full fibre network in relatively limited parts of the UK. As of early 2026, Brsk and its build partner Netomnia have jointly passed more than 2.8 million premises nationwide. Community Fibre has passed over 1.3 million premises, with coverage concentrated mainly in London and smaller rollout areas in parts of Sussex and Surrey.
WightFibre operates a full fibre network on the Isle of Wight, with near-universal coverage across the island, while Connect Fibre remains a niche provider with availability limited to a small number of locations in Yorkshire, Cambridge and Essex.
What's on Netgem TV?
Netgem TV offers more than 200 live TV channels delivered over broadband. This includes UK broadcast channels provided via the Freely platform, alongside over 150 additional live channels that are not available on Freeview.
Most of the extra channels are Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) services, covering genres such as entertainment, documentaries, sport, music and lifestyle. While this adds variety, customers shouldn't expect large amounts of premium or first-run content without adding separate streaming subscriptions.
Main channels on Netgem TV
| UK broadcast channels (via Freely) | Popular entertainment & lifestyle | News, factual & culture |
|---|---|---|
| BBC One | Dave | BBC News |
| BBC Two | Drama | Sky News |
| BBC Four | Yesterday | Al Jazeera |
| ITV | Really | France 24 |
| ITV2 | Food Network | RT |
| Channel 4 | Home | Travel Channel |
| More4 | Challenge | Sky Arts |
| Film4 | Blaze | |
| Channel 5 | Talking Pictures |
In addition to the core channels above, Netgem TV includes more than 150 extra live channels delivered as Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST). These cover areas such as music, movies, documentaries, cooking, sport and niche interests, but are ad-funded and typically focus on themed or archive content rather than first-run programming.
As mentioned, the Netgem box does not require a TV aerial for most users. UK broadcast channels are delivered over broadband via the Freely platform, meaning BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 can be watched without an aerial in most cases. An aerial is only required for legacy Freeview reception on older Netgem models or specific regional configurations.
On-demand and catch-up apps
The Netgem PLEIO box supports a wide range of on-demand and catch-up apps, running on Android TV with access to the Google Play Store.
Netgem Pleio Apps screen. Credit: Choose.co.uk
In practice, this gives customers access to more than 1,000 apps and games, alongside all the major UK streaming and catch-up services. Key apps supported include Netflix, NOW, Prime Video, Discovery+, Disney+, Rakuten TV, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and My5, with additional services available to download directly from the Play Store.
The apps available on Netgem TV include:
| Free apps | Catch-up apps | Subscription apps | Kids apps |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | BBC iPlayer | Netflix | YouTube Kids |
| TikTok | ITVX | Amazon Prime Video | POP Player |
| BBC Sounds | Channel 4 | NOW | HappyKids |
| Plex | My5 | Disney+ | Kidoodle.TV |
| Rakuten TV (free) | STV Player | Discovery+ | |
| UKTV Play | Apple TV+ | ||
| Paramount+ |
Aside from free-to-air catch-up apps such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and My5 - which require a TV licence for live viewing and BBC iPlayer - most of the apps available on Netgem are subscription-based and require separate payment.
Unlike TV providers such as Sky, which bundles services like Netflix and Discovery+ into some TV plans, Netgem does not include any paid streaming apps as part of its base package. Subscriptions to Netflix, NOW, Prime Video and other services must be taken out and paid for individually.
Personalised recommendations
Netgem PLEIO's interface is designed to bring together live TV channels from Freely and content from your installed streaming apps in one place, helping you find what's on more easily without switching between services.
The platform includes a universal search function that lets you search across live channels and installed apps to find relevant programmes quickly.
Unlike some traditional pay TV boxes, Netgem doesn't dynamically recommend shows based on your viewing history in the same way - you navigate via the unified guide and search rather than receive tailored suggestions based on what you've watched before.
Netgem PLEIO 4K TV box
Customers who take Netgem TV today are supplied with the newer Netgem PLEIO 4K TV box, which replaces the older Netgem NetBox models and is designed as a broadband-first streaming device.
Netgem Pleio 4K TV box and remote. Credit: Choose.co.uk
The Netgem PLEIO box offers the following core features:
- 4K Ultra HD viewing resolution
- Dolby Atmos audio support (where available)
- Bluetooth support for pairing wireless headphones and speakers
- HDMI connection for TV output
- Wi-Fi connectivity (no aerial required for streamed channels)
- 32GB internal storage for apps and system use
Unlike previous Netgem boxes, the PLEIO does not support recording live TV to USB storage and does not function as a traditional PVR.
Live TV pausing is supported, but only for a short buffer (up to around 15 minutes), with longer time-shifting and recordings instead handled through broadcaster catch-up apps such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
The interface is built around Android TV, with a home screen that brings together live TV, catch-up services and streaming apps, alongside voice search and personalised recommendations where supported by individual apps.
Netgem TV app
Netgem also provides a companion TV app for iOS and Android devices, allowing customers to browse channels, explore on-demand content and manage favourites.
Because UK broadcast channels delivered via Freely are restricted to TV playback, live versions of those channels cannot be streamed directly to mobile devices. Instead, mobile viewing relies on the relevant broadcaster apps for catch-up and on-demand content.
The mobile app is therefore best used as a discovery and control companion, rather than a full replacement for watching live TV on the main screen.
Verdict: A flexible, broadband-first alternative to basic pay TV
Netgem TV sits firmly between Freely-style broadcast TV and full pay TV platforms like Sky or Virgin Media, offering a broadband-delivered mix of live channels and streaming apps without the cost or complexity of a traditional TV contract.
Its biggest strength is breadth rather than depth. Netgem adds a large number of additional live FAST channels on top of UK broadcast TV, alongside support for major streaming services such as Netflix, Prime Video, NOW, Discovery+ and Disney+, all accessible through a single 4K smart TV box.
However, most premium content still needs to be paid for separately, and Netgem does not include bundled subscriptions in the way Sky or Virgin Media often do. Recording features are also limited on the newer Pleio device, with no traditional PVR functionality.
Pricing typically falls between £9.99 and £12 per month, but this only covers the Netgem TV service itself. The TV box is only included free when bundled with partner broadband, otherwise costing around £119 for the puck, gamepad and a 12-month subscription.
By comparison, Sky Essential TV starts at £15 per month on a 24-month contract, or £18 per month on a rolling monthly plan, and includes Netflix, Sky Atlantic and Discovery+ alongside Freeview channels, with the Sky Stream box provided at no upfront cost on both options.
With Sky Stream and Virgin Media Flex now targeting similar price points, Netgem's role has shifted slightly. Where it still makes the most sense is as a bundled TV solution for independent full-fibre broadband providers, giving them a credible alternative to Sky and Virgin Media in areas where cable or satellite coverage is limited.
Overall, Netgem TV is best viewed as a modern replacement for a basic TV setup rather than a direct rival to premium pay TV. For households that mainly watch free-to-air channels, FAST content and streaming apps - and don't rely heavily on recording or bundled sports - it can still be a cost-effective and straightforward option, particularly when included with broadband.
