The Netgem Pleio – the first standalone box that brings Freely streaming to any TV – has been flying off Amazon’s shelves since launching in November. But there’s something unusual about how you’re actually purchasing it.
When you hand over £99 for the Pleio, you might assume you’re buying a piece of hardware that immediately becomes yours, just like a Fire TV Stick or Roku.
You’re not. According to Netgem’s updated terms, what you’re buying is a 12-month subscription that includes hardware. The puck itself remains Netgem’s property for that entire first year.
This is quite unusual for consumer streaming hardware – though Netgem’s Managing Director tells Cord Busters it’s intentional, comparing it to how phone contracts work.
And here’s the important bit: the practical impact on most customers is small – but it does impose a few limitations.
What Changed, And When
The Pleio (see my full review) is a tiny streaming puck that delivers live TV through your broadband instead of an aerial (Check Pleio stock on Amazon).
You get BBC, ITV, Channel 4, 5, and around 55 other channels through Freely – Everyone TV’s streaming platform that launched in April 2024 as a replacement for traditional Freeview.
Until the Pleio arrived, Freely was only available on brand new smart TVs. The Pleio changes that, bringing Freely to any TV with an HDMI port.
It also runs Android TV with full Google Play Store access, plus 250+ cloud games with a wireless gamepad included.
When the Pleio launched in November, the setup was straightforward: you bought the hardware for £99, got a 3-month trial of gaming and extra channels, and the box was yours from day one.
By early December, Netgem extended that trial from 3 months to 12 months – a significant improvement that made the £99 price tag easier to justify.
But somewhere between then and now, the legal structure also changed. The current terms on Amazon and Netgem’s website now explicitly frame the…