Cornwall’s Wildanet becomes first UK broadband firm with TV service

No aerial. No dish. No engineer knocking on the door. Wildanet, the full fibre provider built in Cornwall, has become the first broadband company in the UK to launch a Powered by TiVo Internet TV service, bundling live television, catch-up and streaming apps into a single box with one remote.

What the service does

The new service runs entirely over Wildanet’s own full fibre network. There’s no need for a TV aerial or a satellite dish, and no engineer has to come out to fit anything. It’s aimed squarely at households in Cornwall and Devon still relying on a roof aerial or dish, and it arrives ahead of government proposals to shift television away from traditional broadcasting and towards internet-based delivery.

TiVo’s platform sits at the heart of it, pulling together Freely’s free live and on-demand content with popular streaming apps in one simple interface. Customers get hundreds of live TV channels and streaming content, with recommendations and conversational voice search designed to make finding something to watch easier. All of it runs over a Wi-Fi connection, and there’s no need to buy a new smart television to get it working.

Why Wildanet is doing this

Simon Hughes, Chief Commercial Officer at Wildanet, said the idea came directly from what residents across the South West have been telling the company. “When we speak to residents across the South West, they tell us they don’t want more gadgets or complicated set-ups, they just want things that work,” he said. “The growing demand for Wi-Fi and TV in one place shows there is real demand for better, simpler services in rural areas powered by reliable, ultrafast full fibre broadband.”

Simon added that the move marks a shift in what Wildanet sees itself as offering. “Partnering with TiVo is an important step for us to offer our customers an innovative, easy-to-use and cost-effective TV service. We have moved beyond simply providing ultrafast broadband connections to offering plug-and-play services, powered by full fibre and shaped around the way people want to watch TV nowadays.”

Gabriel Cosgrave, General Manager, EMEA at TiVo, said the launch is a first for the company too. “Wildanet’s launch marks an exciting step for TiVo as we enter the UK’s alternative network market. By combining our intuitive entertainment platform with Wildanet’s full fibre connectivity, we are making it easier for customers to find, watch and enjoy live TV, catch-up and streaming services from one simple, seamless experience.” Gabriel said the partnership shows “how fibre providers can extend their offering beyond connectivity and create more value for their customers and themselves.”

Everyone TV, which runs Freely, welcomed the launch too. Jonathan Thompson, CEO at Everyone TV, said, “Free TV works best when it is simple for everyone to find and enjoy. It is great to see Freely included in Wildanet’s new Powered by TiVo offering, bringing free live and on demand content together, all in one place for households across Cornwall and Devon.” Jonathan added that “partnerships like this present an opportunity to bring the Freely experience to more viewers, ensuring the best of British TV remains available to everyone.”

A different kind of relationship with customers

For broadband providers more widely, Wildanet’s launch is being held up as an example of how a company can move beyond simply selling connectivity. Delivered through TiVo’s managed TV-as-a-Service model, the platform is designed to give providers a faster route to market for a branded entertainment service, built into their existing offering rather than bolted on. It’s part of a wider shift in how technology is changing the relationship between broadband firms and the households they connect.

Where the network reaches now, and what’s next

Wildanet’s full fibre network currently reaches around 62,000 homes and businesses across Cornwall and Devon, and the rollout is continuing into further rural communities. It’s backed by government investment through Project Gigabit alongside new build contracts.

Goonhavern, Polperro, Praze-an-Beeble, Crackington Haven and Calstock are among the areas next in line, with hundreds more homes and businesses expected to be connected by the end of 2026.

The TV service is now available to Wildanet customers in live network areas, with simple monthly pricing and no need to replace an existing television. Availability by postcode, along with further details, is at wildanet.com.