Accessing Freely

Your remote has two buttons for direct access:

• Freely button: Opens the Browse section, showing what’s on now and on-demand picks from the UK’s major broadcasters.
• Guide button: Opens the TV Guide with all live channels, so you can see what’s on now and browse up to 7 days ahead.

The Four Tabs

Freely is organised into four tabs along the top of the screen:

• Browse: Live TV carousel, on-demand recommendations, and content organised by channel and genre. This is also where you’ll find My List.
• TV Guide: View what’s on now and browse the schedule up to 7 days ahead.
• Search: Find shows across all Freely content.
• Settings: Manage your Freely preferences, including accessibility options.

Use the left and right buttons on your remote to move between tabs.

Quick Navigation Tips

These shortcuts make it easy to get back to what you were watching:

• Press Back repeatedly to step back through menu levels one at a time.
• Hold Back briefly to exit any Freely menu and return straight to live TV.

These work from anywhere in Freely, so you’re never more than a moment away from your programme.

Opening the TV Guide

Press the Guide button on your remote to go straight to the TV Guide. You can also reach it from the TV Guide tab at the top of the Freely screen.

Browsing the Schedule

Use the arrow buttons on your remote to move around:

• Up/​Down: Move between channels
• Left/​Right: Move through time slots

The guide shows 7 days of upcoming programmes, so you can plan your viewing ahead of time.

Jumping to a Specific Date

To quickly jump to a different day:

1. Highlight today’s date at the top of the guide.
2. Press OK to open the date picker.
3. Select the day you want (up to 7 days back or 7 days ahead).

You can also press the Blue button on your remote to open the date picker directly from anywhere in the guide.

Getting More Programme Information

When you’ve highlighted a programme, press the Info button on your remote to see:

• A fuller description of the programme
• More episodes available on demand (handy if you’ve missed recent episodes)
• The option to add it to My List

My List

When you find something you’d like to watch later, you can add it to My List. This makes it easy to keep track of programmes you’re interested in.

To find My List, head to the Browse tab and scroll down – you’ll see your saved programmes waiting for you. Note that My List is separate from the TiVo Watchlist – items saved in Freely stay in My List, and items saved on the TiVo Home screen stay in the Watchlist.

The MiniGuide

While watching live TV, press OK or any direction on the D‑pad to open the MiniGuide. This handy overlay shows you:

• What’s on now and what’s coming up next
• Programme information and description
• More episodes available on demand
• Quick toggles for Subtitles (S) and Audio Description (AD)

The MiniGuide disappears after a few seconds, or you can press Back to close it.

Changing Channels

There are several ways to switch channels:

Using the channel buttons: Press P+ (channel up) or P- (channel down) to move through channels one at a time.

Entering a channel number: Use the number buttons on your remote to type a channel number directly. After a moment, your Aero will tune to that channel. This also works from the TiVo Home screen – so you don’t need to be watching live TV first.

From the MiniGuide: When the MiniGuide is open, press left or right to browse other channels, then press OK to switch.

Restarting Programmes

Some programmes can be restarted from the beginning, even if you’ve tuned in partway through. When this is available, you’ll see the option in the MiniGuide.

To restart a programme:

1. Press OK to open the MiniGuide.
2. Look for the restart option.
3. Select it to go back to the beginning.

Not all programmes support restart – it depends on the broadcaster making it available.

Finding Accessible Programmes

Look for these icons in the TV Guide and MiniGuide to identify programmes with accessibility features:

• S – Subtitled
• AD – Audio Described
• SL – Sign Language

These icons appear alongside programme information, making it easy to spot content that meets your needs.

Subtitles

Most programmes on Freely are subtitled. There are two ways to turn subtitles on or off:

Using the remote: Press the SUB button on your remote to toggle subtitles.

Using the MiniGuide: While watching live TV, press OK to open the MiniGuide, then look for the S symbol to turn subtitles on or off.

When using streaming apps like BBC iPlayer or ITVX, you’ll need to turn subtitles on within each app’s own player controls.

Changing the subtitle language: To switch the subtitle language (for example, to Welsh on S4C), go to Settings → Live TV → Subtitles → Primary Subtitle Language.

Subtitle size and font: These can’t currently be adjusted. Subtitle appearance on Freely channels is controlled by Freely at the platform level.

Audio Description

Audio description provides a spoken narration of what’s happening on screen during gaps in dialogue. It’s available on selected programmes.

Using the MiniGuide: Press OK to open the MiniGuide while watching, then look for the AD symbol to toggle audio description.

Using TiVo Settings: You can also turn audio description on or off via the TiVo Accessibility settings. See TiVo Accessibility for details.

The audio description setting is shared between Freely and TiVo, so changing it in one place updates it everywhere.

High Contrast Theme

The High Contrast theme makes Freely easier to navigate by using a bright yellow focus indicator and clear borders around tiles. This helps you track where you are on screen, regardless of background images.

To turn on High Contrast:

1. Press the Freely button on your remote.
2. Navigate right to the Settings tab (the gear icon).
3. Select Accessibility.
4. Navigate to High Contrast and press OK to turn it on.

The theme stays on until you turn it off, and works across all areas of Freely including Browse, TV Guide, MiniGuide, Search, and Settings.

The Accessible TV Guide

The Accessible TV Guide on Channel 555 is designed specifically for viewers with accessibility needs. It offers a simplified layout with optional text-to-speech and the ability to filter programmes by accessibility features.

Setting Up the Accessible TV Guide

1. Go to Channel 555 on your Aero.
2. On your first visit, you’ll be guided through setup options:
   • Text-to-speech: Choose your preferred voice and speed for spoken navigation.
   • Filter by Audio Description: Show only programmes with audio description.
   • Filter by Subtitles: Show only programmes with subtitles.
   • Filter by Sign Language: Show only programmes with sign language.
3. Press right on your remote to save your preferences.
4. You’ll then be asked about anonymous data collection. Press right to opt in, or down to opt out.

Using the Accessible TV Guide

Navigate the guide using your remote:

• Left/​Right on the top row: Move between days (up to 7 days ahead).
• Left/​Right on the channel row: Select different channels.
• Up/​Down: Move through the programme list.

If text-to-speech is enabled, you’ll hear information about your current selection and guidance on how to navigate.

Navigating the Home Screen

The Home screen is organised into rows of content. Use your remote to browse:

• Up/​Down: Move between rows
• Left/​Right: Scroll through items within a row

You’ll find rows for Live TV channels, personalised recommendations based on your viewing, and My Apps where your favourite streaming apps live.

The Sidebar Menu

Press left from the Home screen to open the sidebar menu. Here you’ll find:

• Search: Find content across your apps and live TV
• Watchlist: View programmes you’ve saved to watch later
• All Apps: Browse and open any app installed on your Aero
• Settings: Adjust your Aero’s settings, including display, sound, and accessibility

My Apps

The My Apps row gives you quick access to your most-used streaming apps. You can customise this row to put your favourites front and centre.

To add or rearrange apps, head to All Apps in the sidebar, find the app you want, and follow the on-screen options to add it to My Apps.

Personalising Your Experience

The Home screen learns from your viewing habits and improves its recommendations over time. You can help it get to know your tastes:

Rate content: When you see something you like (or don’t), use the Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down buttons on your remote. This helps TiVo understand what to recommend.

Use your Watchlist: When you spot something you’d like to watch later, add it to your Watchlist. You can access your saved items anytime from the sidebar menu. Note that this Watchlist is separate from Freely’s My List – items you save in one won’t appear in the other, as they cover different content.

The more you interact with the Home screen, the better it becomes at surfacing content you’ll enjoy.

Accessing Accessibility Settings

There are two ways to reach the accessibility options:

From the Settings menu: Press the Settings button on your remote, then select Accessibility.

Using the quick shortcut: Hold down the Mute button to open the Accessibility Shortcuts menu. This gives you fast access to toggle settings without navigating through menus.

Available Settings

Audio Description

Turns on spoken narration during programmes that support it, describing visual elements during gaps in dialogue. This setting syncs with Freely – if you turn it on here, it will also be on in Freely, and vice versa.

Audio Guidance

Provides spoken feedback as you navigate menus and screens on your Aero. This helps you move around the interface without relying on the display.

Note: Audio Guidance works on TiVo screens but does not currently work within Freely. For accessible navigation in Freely, see the Accessible TV Guide on Channel 555.

Power On/​Off Sound

A short sound plays when your Aero turns on or off, giving you audio confirmation that the device is responding. This is enabled by default but can be turned off if you prefer.

Settings Sync Between Freely and TiVo

The Audio Description setting is linked between Freely and TiVo. When you change it in one place, the change applies everywhere on your Aero. This means you only need to set your preference once, and it’ll be remembered across both environments.

Other settings like High Contrast in Freely and Audio Guidance in TiVo are independent, as they apply to different parts of the system.

Freely Live TV Channels

Freely delivers over 100 live TV and radio channels through your broadband connection — no aerial or dish needed. All channels are free with no subscription.

The number and selection of channels continues to grow as Freely expands. Channels include BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5, and many more across entertainment, news, sport, and children’s programming.

You’ll also receive your local and regional BBC and ITV stations (such as BBC Look North or ITV Calendar), determined by the postcode you enter during setup.

Freely has over 35 HD channels – significantly more than the 9 or so available on Freeview. Most don’t have ​‘HD’ in the channel name, so it can look like fewer than expected are in HD, but they are. Because channels are delivered over broadband, picture quality is typically as good as or better than a traditional aerial signal. Freely doesn’t currently broadcast in 4K, but the Aero’s hardware is 4K-ready, so when 4K streams arrive on the platform, you won’t need new equipment.

For a full channel list with channel numbers, visit the Freely channel list.

Freely Catch-Up & On Demand

Through Freely, you can access catch-up and on-demand content from all the major UK broadcasters:

• BBC iPlayer — catch-up and box sets, with 4K playback support
• ITVX — catch-up, box sets, and exclusive originals
• Channel 4 — catch-up and on-demand content. The app recognises existing ad-free subscriptions — sign in with the same account to get the ad-free experience
• My5 (Channel 5) — catch-up and on-demand
• STV Player — Scottish TV catch-up and originals
• S4C / Clic — Welsh-language programming
• GB News — news catch-up
• UKTV (U Stream Free) — Dave, Yesterday, Drama, and more
• WATCH FREE UK
• PBS America
• QVC+

Most programmes are available for a minimum of 30 days after broadcast, and often much longer. For example, ITVX has around 400 episodes of Coronation Street available.

TiVo+ Channels

In addition to Freely’s live channels, your Aero includes over 400 free TiVo+ channels. These are provided by content partners including Sony, Pluto TV, Tubi, Rakuten, and Plex.

Network and Broadcast-Style Channels

• Sony — Action Hits, Comedy Hits, Thriller TV, Dragons’ Den, Faves
• Pluto TV — Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Horror, Crime, Reality
• Rakuten — Movie channels across genres

Category Channels

• News — Bloomberg, CBS News, CNN International, Euronews, France 24, GB News
• Music — MTV, Stingray, Vevo
• Sports — UFC, FIFA+, World Poker Tour, Tennis+, Rugby Pass TV
• Kids — Pokemon, Sonic, Teletubbies, The Wiggles, Baby Shark TV

Themed and Show-Specific Channels

Hell’s Kitchen, CSI, Mr. Bean, MasterChef Australia, Unsolved Mysteries, Ice Road Truckers, plus classic series including JAG, MacGyver, Matlock, Hawaii Five‑O, Xena, and Farscape.

On-Demand Library

A large library of free movies and TV shows is available on demand through Rakuten, Tubi, and others.

There isn’t currently a dedicated TV guide for TiVo+ channels, but one is expected to be added later in 2026. In the meantime, some content providers have their own guides within their apps – for example, Pluto TV has a guide for its selection of channels, accessible through the Pluto TV app.

Video & Streaming Apps

Your Aero runs TiVo OS, which includes a growing range of streaming apps. All available apps are pre-loaded in the All Apps section — you can choose which ones appear in My Apps on the Home screen.

Major Streaming Services

• Netflix
• Disney+
• Prime Video
• YouTube — supports 4K playback
• Rakuten TV
• Hayu
• MUBI
• Crunchyroll
• Plex
• Pluto TV
• Tubi
• Curiosity Stream

Available as Prime Video Add-Ons

Some services that don’t have a dedicated TiVo OS app can be accessed by subscribing as an add-on through Prime Video:

• Apple TV+ — subscribe as a Prime Video add-on (existing standalone Apple TV+ subscriptions can’t be used this way)
• Discovery+ — available as a Prime Video add-on
• Paramount+ — available as a Prime Video add-on

Not Currently Available

• NOW TV — not currently available on TiVo OS. Expected to arrive later in 2026, but nothing is confirmed
• Sky News — not available as a Freely channel or dedicated app. The Sky News live stream is available via YouTube
• Emby — not available (Plex is available as an alternative)

New apps are being added to TiVo OS regularly as the platform grows in popularity on Smart TVs and set-top boxes.

Music & Radio

Your Aero has several options for listening to music and radio:

Apps

• BBC Sounds — live BBC radio stations, podcasts, and music mixes
• Radioline — carries most of the UK’s radio stations, including talkSPORT. A good option for accessing a wide range of stations
• Classic FM
• Heart
• Capital FM
• Stingray Music
• Nation Player
• Party Tyme Karaōke

Google Cast

Your Aero supports Google Cast, so you can cast audio from apps like Spotify on your phone directly to the Aero. This is useful when a native app isn’t available on TiVo OS — you get the audio through your TV or soundbar while controlling playback from your phone.

Sports

Your Aero includes several dedicated sports apps and channels:

Sports Apps

• DAZN — boxing, MMA, and more
• Premier Sports
• Red Bull TV — extreme sports, motorsport, and adventure
• NBA — basketball
• FITE by Triller — combat sports and wrestling

Sports Through TiVo+

The TiVo+ channels include free sports content:

• UFC — fight content
• FIFA+ — football highlights, documentaries, and classic matches
• World Poker Tour
• Tennis+
• Rugby Pass TV

Live Sport Through Freely

Live sport is available on Freely channels including BBC, ITV, and Channel 4, covering major events like Premier League football, Six Nations rugby, cricket, Formula 1, and the Olympics.

HDR

The Aero supports HDR10 and HDR10+. It does not support Dolby Vision.

HDR10+ provides dynamic metadata capabilities comparable to Dolby Vision, adjusting brightness and contrast on a scene-by-scene basis for the best possible picture.

Resolution

The Aero detects your TV’s maximum supported resolution and outputs at that resolution. It maintains this throughout playback – it doesn’t change resolution based on the content you’re watching.

Refresh Rate

The default refresh rate is 60Hz, which gives the best overall experience across Freely, Netflix, YouTube, and other apps.

If you mostly watch Freely live TV and notice occasional frame rate issues (such as slight judder on panning shots), you can switch to 50Hz in settings. This matches the native frame rate of UK broadcast content.

Auto Frame Rate

If your TV supports HDMI 2.1, the Aero already switches refresh rates dynamically to match the content – so you don’t need to choose between 50Hz and 60Hz.

An Auto Frame Rate update is coming in early April 2026 that will bring this same frame rate matching to all TVs, not just those with HDMI 2.1. All apps will support it, including Prime Video.

Dolby Atmos

The Aero supports Dolby Atmos passthrough. If you have an Atmos-capable soundbar or AV receiver, you’ll get full Dolby Atmos audio from compatible content – the Aero passes through the original audio bitstream without processing it.

Setting Up with a Soundbar or AV Receiver

For the best audio quality with a soundbar or AV receiver:

Set the Aero’s volume to 100 and leave it there. Adjust volume using your soundbar or TV remote instead.

If you turn the Aero’s volume down and then turn the soundbar up to compensate, you’re amplifying a reduced signal – this can make audio sound thinner or lower quality.

With Dolby Atmos content, the Aero’s own volume control has no effect because the audio is passed through untouched. Use your soundbar or TV remote to control the volume for Atmos content.

Why does Atmos content sound louder? Atmos content typically has higher dynamic range than live TV, so it can sound noticeably louder even when your overall setup is correct. This is normal – it’s a characteristic of the format, not a problem with your equipment.

Lip Sync Adjustment

If audio and video are slightly out of sync, you can adjust the lip sync delay:

1. Press the Settings button on the remote (bottom right)
2. Select the audio delay option

The adjustment overlays on top of whatever you’re watching, so you can fine-tune it in real time while viewing.

Bluetooth Headphones & Speakers

You can connect Bluetooth headphones or speakers to the Aero for private listening or wireless audio.

To connect: go to Devices → Bluetooth Accessories and follow the pairing instructions.

Troubleshooting: Audio Cutting Out Briefly

If you’re experiencing brief audio dropouts where the sound cuts out but the picture continues:

Try changing the audio format to PCM: Settings → Sound → Digital Audio Format → PCM

This uses a simpler audio format that can resolve compatibility issues with some TVs and audio equipment. If the issue persists after switching to PCM, contact support and let us know your TV make and model, what audio equipment you’re using, and how everything is connected.

HDMI-CEC

HDMI-CEC allows the Aero and your TV to communicate with each other over the HDMI cable. With CEC enabled, your Aero can:

• Turn your TV on and off when you press the power button on the Aero remote
• Switch your TV to the correct input automatically when the Aero wakes up
• Sleep and wake instantly – if you switch your TV to a different HDMI input, the Aero goes to sleep. Switch back and it wakes up immediately

Using Your TV Remote with the Aero

With HDMI-CEC, you can also use your TV remote’s directional pad to navigate the Aero – useful if the Aero remote isn’t to hand.

Note that your TV remote’s channel buttons (such as Programme Up/​Down or Guide) may switch your TV back to its own tuner rather than controlling the Aero. This is normal – those buttons typically tell the TV to use its built-in channels. Use the directional pad to navigate the Aero’s TV Guide instead, scroll to the channel you want, and press OK.

LG TVs: Home Button

On LG TVs, pressing the Home button will show LG’s own home menu rather than the Aero’s Home screen. If this happens, select the Aero’s HDMI input from the LG menu to return. The Aero remote’s Home button will always take you to the Aero’s Home screen.

Volume Control via CEC

HDMI-CEC volume control – allowing the Aero remote to control your TV or soundbar volume – is coming in early April 2026.

Google Cast

The Aero supports Google Cast, so you can cast content from your phone directly to the Aero. This is especially useful for apps that don’t have a dedicated TiVo OS app – for example, you can play Spotify on your phone and cast the audio to your TV or soundbar through the Aero.

Wi-Fi and Ethernet

The Aero supports both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections.

The Ethernet port runs at 100Mbps, which is more than sufficient for 4K streaming (which typically uses around 25Mbps at most). Any standard Ethernet cable (Cat5e, Cat6, or similar) will work. An Ethernet cable is not included in the box.

If you’re using Ethernet and want to disable Wi-Fi, go to Settings → Network → Wireless Network → Turn Off.

The benefit of Ethernet isn’t just raw speed – it eliminates concerns about Wi-Fi signal strength and avoids competition for wireless bandwidth from other devices on your network.

Public Wi-Fi Networks

The Aero cannot connect to public Wi-Fi networks that require a browser-based login page (known as captive portals) – the kind commonly found at hotels, campsites, and other public venues. The Aero doesn’t have a built-in web browser to complete these login pages.

If you need to use the Aero away from home, a mobile broadband router (using a SIM card) is a good solution – it creates its own Wi-Fi network that the Aero can connect to directly.

Bluetooth Accessories

You can connect Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and other accessories to the Aero.

To pair a new device: go to Devices → Bluetooth Accessories and follow the on-screen instructions.

Guide to the Aero Remote's Buttons

Learn what each button on your Aero remote does.

Things to Try

Search: ​“Show me action movies” or ​“Films like Paddington”

Refine searches: ​“Show me James Bond movies” then ​“Just the ones with Daniel Craig”

Navigate: ​“Go to Settings” or ​“Open iPlayer”

Control: ​“Volume up”, ​“Mute on”, or ​“Set volume to 50”

Playback: ​“Fast forward 5 minutes” or ​“Pause”

Pairing Your Remote

Your remote must be paired for voice to work. You’ll be prompted to pair during initial setup, or you can pair later by going to Settings → Devices → Remote Control.

Voice commands work best on the Home screen and currently have limited support in apps.