Sky Q goes on sale in the UK
The new boxes can be ordered online or over the phone.
Sky TV's long overdue revamp has finally arrived. The new Sky Q service is available to order starting today, ushering in fresh hardware and a vastly improved UI. The basic box costs £42 per month and can record three shows simultaneously in 1080p -- you can watch a fourth one live -- on a 1TB hard drive. The Sky Q Silver box, meanwhile, is 4K ready and can capture up to four shows at once onto a 2TB drive, with the option to watch a fifth channel live. It costs £54 per month and supports up to four Sky Q Mini boxes, which cost £99 each, for multi-room viewing.
The upgraded boxes are welcome, but the real attraction here is the revamped software. The old Sky TV experience is terribly outdated -- moving around the guide is slow, clunky and often confusing. Sky Q is a much-needed refresh that changes almost every aspect of the navigation -- it no longer looks like a spreadsheet, with a vertical list for switching between sections and a heavy emphasis on bright, large images.
Sky Q can be bought online and over the phone right now. If you would rather walk into a store and talk to an expert, however, you'll have to wait until February 12th before making the all-important upgrade.
Here's what you can expect to pay for the new service:
Monthly cost
Basic charge | With Sky Movies | With Sky Sports | With both | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sky Q | £42 | £59 | £67.50 | £76.50 |
Sky Q Silver | £54 | £71 | £79.50 | £88.50 |
Total 18-month contract cost
Basic charge | With Sky Movies | With Sky Sports | With both | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sky Q | £756 | £1,062 | £1,215 | £1,377 |
Sky Q Silver | £972 | £1,278 | £1,431 | £1,593 |
Set-up charges
Installation fee (existing customers only) | No extras | With broadband, Sports or Movies | Extra Q Mini box | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sky Q bundle | £50 | £249 | £99 | N/A |
Sky Q bundle (w/ Silver box) | £50 | £299 | £149 | N/A |
Sky Q Silver bundle | £50 | £299 | £99 | £99 |
