A new IP-focussed set top box being rolled out by Australia’s Foxtel sets subscribers free from the limitations of cable and satellite.

Chief executive Patrick Delaney says the “sleeker, simpler” iQ5 box ushers in a new era of streaming.

Subscribers can be streaming up to 50,000 hours of content within minutes without the need for cable or satellite installation.

Central to the new smaller box is a new ultra-fast chip designed for streaming 4K UHD, while a stacked and detachable 1TB hard drive allows users to record content. Increased personalisation and easier navigation includes recommendations based on viewing preferences and history.

Delaney says the launch is “another proof point” for Foxtel as the all-in-one place heart of the contemporary Australian home”, opening up the service to those who could not access cable or didn’t want satellite”.

Streaming apps include Vevo and Amazon Prime, as well as Netflix, YouTube, YouTube Kids, ABC iView and SBS OnDemand.