Does Freely Work Abroad on Netgem Pleio?

 The Freely TV platform, available on devices like the Netgem Pleio, is designed primarily for use within the UK and relies on an internet connection to stream channels from broadcasters such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. However, using Freely outside the UK is not straightforward. Due to licensing restrictions, these services are geo-blocked, meaning they will not normally work when accessed from abroad.

While some users attempt workarounds such as VPNs or Smart DNS services, success can vary, as many broadcasters actively block known VPN connections. In most cases, a reliable solution requires a UK-based internet connection or residential IP setup. Overall, Freely is intended as a UK-only service, and accessing it overseas remains limited and technically challenging.

Further reading

Spain Orders VPNs to Block Pirate Streams

 Spain has taken a significant new step in its fight against online piracy, with a court ordering major VPN providers to block access to illegal football streaming sites. The ruling, driven by LaLiga and its broadcast partner Telefónica, specifically targets services such as NordVPN and Proton VPN.

The court determined that VPN companies act as “technological intermediaries,” meaning they can be required to help prevent copyright infringement on their networks. As a result, these providers must now block access to specific IP addresses linked to pirate streams, making them inaccessible from within Spain.

Further reading

Freely Netgem Pleio : Exploring the Freely TV Guide

 The Netgem Pleio is one of the first dedicated devices designed specifically to bring the Freely platform into the home, and at the centre of that experience sits the Freely TV Guide. While Freely itself is the streaming platform delivering live UK television over broadband, it’s the Pleio box that makes accessing that service simple and practical on almost any modern TV.

The Freely TV Guide on the Netgem Pleio acts as the main hub for live channel browsing. It replaces the need for a traditional aerial or satellite dish by streaming channels directly through your internet connection. For users familiar with Freeview or Freesat, the layout feels instantly recognisable. Channels are listed in a structured guide format, with scheduled programmes displayed in a clear timeline. However, the technology behind it is entirely broadband-based.

 

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👉 This video follows on from my Netgem Pleio unboxing video, where I explain what Freely is and what’s included in the box, and from my Netgem Pleio Set Up and Installation with Demo and First Thoughts video. 

Freely Netgem Pleio Unboxing

  The Freely Netgem Pleio is one of the first dedicated devices designed to bring the Freely TV platform into people’s homes, and this unboxing video offers an early look at what that experience begins to feel like.

Freely is a new free-to-air TV platform created by the UK’s public service broadcasters, built to deliver live television and on-demand content over the internet. The Netgem Pleio is the hardware that makes this possible on existing TVs, acting as a compact, broadband-connected TV box rather than relying on a satellite dish or traditional aerial.

This unboxing video focuses on first impressions of the Freely Netgem Pleio as a product, rather than setup or usage. It introduces the box as a physical device, how it’s positioned, and what it represents in the wider shift toward internet-delivered television. No spoilers are given about the contents or accessories — the aim is to set the scene and explain why this box matters.

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Viewers Complain about ITVs Six Nations In Game Ad Breaks

The 2026 Six Nations Championship kicked off with a bold and controversial change to its live television coverage: adverts shown during the match itself. For the first time, ITV — one of the UK’s key broadcasters of the tournament — has introduced split-screen advertising during live gameplay, a move that has ignited passionate reactions from fans, pundits, and the wider rugby community.

Traditionally, live sports broadcasts in the UK have kept commercials confined to halftime, pre-game, and post-game breaks. Rugby supporters in particular are accustomed to uninterrupted play on screen, valuing the rhythm and flow that reflects the sport’s physical drama. Yet, this year, ITV has opted to place two 20-second commercials in the heart of matches, specifically timed during natural stoppages in play just before scrums. While the left side of the screen continues to show live action with ambient stadium sound, the right side plays a standard advertisement with audio — a technique known as picture-in-picture advertising.

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£3m Pirate IPTV Network Shut Down in Raid

 Last week, UK law enforcement delivered a significant blow to a major pirate IPTV operation that was supplying millions of viewers across the country with unauthorised access to premium television content — including Premier League football — at a fraction of the legitimate cost. The operation culminated in multiple arrests, high-value seizures, and a stark warning to both operators and consumers: illegal streaming isn’t a victimless crime.

The raids, coordinated by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) of the City of London Police with support from industry partners like Sky, took place mainly in Bolton and Greater Manchester, with one suspect also arrested in Blackpool. Officers executed search warrants at locations thought to be central to the illicit streaming network’s infrastructure.

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A Nostalgic U-Turn from Sky sees Sky One Return

 For many TV watchers in the UK and Ireland, 24 February 2026 marks the triumphant return of one of television’s most recognisable brands: Sky One. After being retired in 2021 in favour of a rebrand that replaced it with Sky Showcase and Sky Max, Sky UK is bringing back Sky One as the central home of its entertainment and comedy programming.

When Sky announced it would retire Sky One in September 2021, many viewers were puzzled. The brand was replaced by Sky Showcase — a channel designed to highlight premium shows from across the Sky portfolio — and Sky Max, a new home for high-end dramas and entertainment.

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MTV Music, 80s & 90s Channels Close for Good

 On 31st December 2025 at 6:00 AM, across UK and European satellite and cable platforms, several of MTV’s dedicated 24-hour music channels officially signed off for the final time. With their closure, a major chapter in music television history came to an end — one that spanned decades of iconic music videos, cultural moments, and shared viewing experiences that helped define pop culture for multiple generations.

🎶 MTV Music Channels That Closed in the UK

• MTV Music — the flagship channel that showcased music videos from every era, blending current hits with modern classics.

• MTV 80s — a celebration of the unforgettable sounds, styles, and visuals of the 1980s.

• MTV 90s — dedicated to 90s pop, rock, dance, and alternative anthems.

• Club MTV — the home of dance, electronic, and club culture, reflecting nightlife and DJ-driven music.

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Sky Satellite TV Channel Changes: What’s New in January 2026

 Sky has begun 2026 with a wide-ranging update to its satellite TV platform, bringing channel closures, number changes and guide reshuffles across entertainment, factual, movies and sports. It’s one of the most noticeable Sky EPG updates in recent years and affects both long-standing viewers and casual users alike.

These changes will be rolled out this coming week, with updates arriving automatically via the satellite signal. Some viewers will notice channels missing, while others will find familiar channels sitting in new positions.

Channel Closures and Removals

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Paramount Channel : Why It Disappeared from TDT in Spain

 At the start of 2026, Spanish viewers switching on their televisions noticed a familiar name missing from the TDT lineup. Paramount Network, previously known as Paramount Channel, officially ended its free-to-air broadcasts in Spain, closing a chapter that had lasted more than a decade.

For many viewers — especially UK expats living in Spain — its disappearance marked the loss of one of the last easy-to-watch English-language channels available without a subscription.

So what exactly was Paramount Channel in Spain, and why did it disappear from TDT?

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