Sky has announced that its long-rumoured Sky Stream product, which is a plug-and-play streaming stick, will go on sale from October 18 in the U.K.
The standalone device is said to stream Sky TV services and a Sky Glass-like experience that includes playlists and voice controls. Because everything is delivered over WiFi, it means there’s no need to install a satellite dish to access Sky’s services anymore.
It has of course been possible to access Sky without a dish since last year by purchasing one of the company’s specialist Sky Glass TVs, but the launch of Sky Stream promises to make its services over WiFi much more accessible. After all, not everyone wants to spend extra cash on a new TV - and many people may well have a better TV. After all, the Sky Glass televisions are pretty run-of-the-mill LCD TVs that don’t match the picture quality of the very best, premium OLED and Mini-LED TVs sold by companies like LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics and Sony.
Sky said Sky Stream is not only the most accessible way to watch its content, but also the most affordable way to get Sky TV and Netflix together. That’s because its basic package starts at just £26 a month if you sign an 18-month contract, though the price rises to £29 per month for those who pay month-by-month.
It must be pointed out that Sky is also charging a £39.95 set-up fee too, which may seem a tad expensive to some given that the Sky Stream device can simply be plugged into any HDMI port. The good news is that this setup fee is reduced to £20 for those who sign up for 18 months.
The entry level package provides access to Sky Ultimate TV and Netflix Basic, but if you want additional content that will cost extra. Sky mentioned various packages and bundles that can be added to user’s subscriptions, including Sky Cinema, Sky Sports, BT Sport, Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos.
Nonetheless there is merit to Sky’s claim that Sky Stream is the cheapest way to access its own service and Netflix, as the basic package works out at just £1 a day, and provides access to over 120 channels, including hit shows such as House of the Dragon, Succession and Gangs of London.
Users will also be able to pay to access additional streaming services through Sky Stream, such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Disney+. What’s more, free services including BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, YouTube and more are also available through the device.
Everything is powered by the Smart Sky Glass UI, which brings all of user’s playlists across various services into one place, and also has clever features such as “Restart Live TV”. For those who want Sky Stream on more than one TV, they can pay an extra £12 a month for the Whole Home package that supports up to five televisions throughout the house.
“Sky’s always reinvented the TV experience and offered the best content – but it’s not always been accessible to everyone,” said Stephan van Rooyen, executive vice president and CEO of Sky UK and Europe. “There couldn’t be a better time to launch our latest innovation using the Sky Glass Platform – whether you want to stream House of the Dragon, Gangs of London or Stranger Things, Sky Stream has it all. It’s the most affordable and easiest way to get Sky TV and Netflix together, offering consumers the value they are seeking right now.”
With the launch of Sky Stream, there will inevitably be questions about the future of Sky’s satellite dish-based offerings, like Sky Q. Given the convenience of Sky Stream, it’s hard to see many people opting to have a satellite dish installed in the future. Recent reports suggest that Sky is indeed planning to stop new satellite installations in 2023, though the company moved quickly to deny them.
