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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Subtle Change on Sky TV - Have You Noticed?

 If you use Sky HD, Sky+ HD, or Sky Q, you may have noticed something slightly… off recently. Not a fault. Not an error message. Just a subtle difference that appears after a restart, power cut, or software update.

There’s been no big announcement from Sky, no email to customers, and no on-screen warning. Yet for many viewers, the experience of turning their Sky box back on has quietly changed.

For years, Sky’s satellite boxes relied on a small number of behind-the-scenes system channels. Most viewers never tuned to them deliberately, but they played an important role in how Sky boxes behaved — especially during setup, reboots, or when the system didn’t yet know where to go.

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How to Watch Six Nations 2026 on UK TV and in Europe

 The Six Nations 2026: TV Coverage, Fixtures & Why It Still Matters

The 2026 Guinness Six Nations Championship is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing editions in recent memory. Strong squads, historic rivalries, and a major UK free-to-air TV deal all combine to keep the tournament front and centre for rugby fans across Europe.

Winter Olympics 2026: TV Coverage Explained

 Winter Olympics 2026: TV Coverage, Broadcasters & What’s Changed

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games, officially known as Milano–Cortina 2026, will take place from 6–22 February 2026, with events spread across northern Italy. While the setting promises spectacular scenery — from Alpine ski resorts to historic Italian cities — the biggest talking point for many viewers will be how and where the Games can be watched.

Historic Court Ruling Cracks Down on IPTV Piracy in Spain

 In a bold escalation of Spain’s fight against digital piracy, a Provincial Court in Málaga recently handed down prison sentences of up to three years to the operators of the Servicio-IPTV network — a large-scale pirate IPTV service that illegally distributed premium television channels, including access to Movistar+ and other pay-TV content.

The ruling is being widely described in Spanish and international media as historic because it marks one of the first times that the Spanish judiciary has imposed actual imprisonment — not just fines — for piracy involving unauthorized television streaming.

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Italy’s Pirate IPTV Crackdown: Operation Switch Off Hits Before Winter Olympics

 Italy has once again made international headlines with a major anti-piracy operation targeting illegal IPTV networks, just days before the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics begin. The coordinated action, dubbed Operation Switch Off, represents one of the most ambitious efforts yet to dismantle large-scale pirate streaming services that have proliferated around the world.

At its core, Operation Switch Off was a multinational law-enforcement initiative led by the District Prosecutor’s Office of Catania and the Italian Postal and Cybercrime Police, with support from Eurojust, Europol, and Interpol. Authorities conducted 29 raids in 11 Italian cities and 14 countries worldwide, targeting a structured criminal network accused of distributing pirated content on an industrial scale.

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Quick Fix for BBC iPlayer VPN Errors on Fire TV Stick

 If BBC iPlayer isn’t working on your Amazon Fire TV Stick while you’re using a VPN, this video shows a simple and effective fix that often resolves playback and location errors in just a few minutes.

Problems like “this content is not available in your location” or endless loading screens are common when using a VPN, but in many cases they can be solved without changing devices or reinstalling apps.

Quick Fix for BBC iPlayer VPN Errors on Fire TV Stick

How to Install NordVPN on Fire Stick for BBC iPlayer & ITVX

 In this video, I show you step by step how to install NordVPN on an Amazon Fire TV Stick and connect to a UK server, making it possible to access geo-restricted content such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and Channel 4 when you’re outside the UK. The guide is designed to be easy to follow, even if you’ve never used a VPN or changed network settings on a Fire TV device before.

Building on the previous video where I explained what a VPN is and how it works in simple terms, this video focuses on the practical side: getting everything set up and working on a real device. I walk through downloading the NordVPN app from the Amazon Appstore, signing in, choosing the correct server location, and checking that your connection is active before launching your streaming apps.

How to Install NordVPN on Fire Stick for BBC iPlayer & ITVX

Several MTV Music Channels Stop Broadcasting

 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.

Which MTV channels closed, and why?

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.

Details about this latest Sky EPG Channel number changes here

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?

FA Cup Fourth Round - TV Picks and Rosenior’s Return to Hull

 The FA Cup fourth round is shaping up to be another unmissable chapter in this season’s historic competition, packed with compelling narratives and classic cup intrigue.

UK TV Coverage of the fourth round of the FA Cup

2026 Australian Open Tennis: UK and Euro TV Coverage Details

 The 2026 Australian Open once again kicks off the tennis season in spectacular fashion, bringing two weeks of world-class action from Melbourne to audiences around the globe. The tournament takes place at Melbourne Park, running from Sunday 18 January to Sunday 1 February 2026, with qualifying beginning the week before.

UK and European TV Coverage here

What Is a VPN? Simple Explanation for Everyone

 In this video, I explain what a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is and how it works in clear, straightforward language — without drowning you in technical jargon or complicated networking terms.

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Trans World Sport: The End of a TV Sports Legend

 For nearly 40 years, Trans World Sport quietly did something no other sports programme bothered to try: it proved that sport didn’t have to involve billion-pound TV rights, endless pundit panels, or the same six football teams on repeat. Instead, it travelled the globe in search of competition wherever people felt the urge to race, wrestle, throw, slide, ride, or occasionally chase cheese down a hill.

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UK Targets Users of Illegal Sky & TNT Sports Streams

 In a major escalation of the fight against digital piracy, UK authorities have begun directly contacting individuals who have used illegal streaming services to watch premium sports content from Sky and TNT Sports without paying for legitimate subscriptions.

Further information here 

Why the UK’s 3pm Football Blackout Could Be Scrapped

 For decades, one of the most peculiar rules in world football has been the UK’s Saturday 3 pm live-TV blackout — an outage so entrenched it’s become part of the nation’s footballing culture. But now, for the first time in history, the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL) are holding talks that could see this rule scrapped as early as the next broadcast rights cycle.

Further information here 

Where to Watch the FA Cup Third Round on UK TV

 The draw for the FA Cup third round marks the moment when Premier League clubs enter the world’s most famous domestic cup competition, and with it comes the annual question: how can fans watch all the action on TV? For the 2025/26 season, UK viewers will see a noticeable shift in broadcast coverage compared with recent years.

Thanks to a rights partnership between the BBC and Discovery+ / TNT Sports, fans in the UK will still have free-to-air access to some key fixtures – but many matches will be behind a paywall on Discovery+ and TNT Sports channels.

More information here