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Sky Q review: The live TV box you don't use for live TV
It's more than a decade old, but Sky+HD remains one of the leading set-top boxes available to subscribers in the UK. YouView, TiVo and others all have their merits, but in terms of longevity, speed and ease of use, Sky's had it all sewn up for years. But while internet-connected boxes like Now TV are Sky's future, it needed a new piece of subscriber gear to get it through the next decade. The result is Sky Q, a family of devices that ensure you'll never think about cancelling Sky and going to Netflix ever again. But here's the gag: after years of development and a glitzy launch, Sky Q is a TV box that actively discourages you from watching TV. No, that's a good thing.
Sky will stream tomorrow's Soccer Saturday on Facebook and YouTube
When broadcasters put down billions of pounds to secure rights to the world's biggest sporting competitions, consumers who aren't able to afford or don't want pay-TV subscriptions often miss out. In the past, companies like Sky and BT have laid on a free day or weekend of access to show people what they're missing, but more recently, online video services have proved to be popular alternatives. With the Premier League season kicking off tomorrow, Sky has confirmed it will stream its Soccer Saturday show completely free of charge on Facebook and YouTube.
Sky and Amazon team up for Roman Empire drama 'Britannia'
There's no grand secret as to why Sky is the dominant pay-TV provider in the UK. The movie premieres, exclusive sports programming and biggest shows from major US cable networks are what subscribers shell out the big bucks for. And to make sure it keeps the A-grade content coming, Sky has taken to cavorting with an on-demand enemy for the first time. The broadcaster and Amazon today announced they are co-producing a new drama series called Britannia, written by Jez Butterworth of Spectre/Black Mass/Edge of Tomorrow fame, and starring various people who's names you won't know but who's faces you've probably seen in something before.
Fix Britain's Internet: ISPs campaign to tear BT and Openreach apart
After reviewing the tangled relationship between BT and its broadband infrastructure subsidiary Openreach for more than a year, Ofcom yesterday put forward its plan to create a greater distinction between the two businesses. Under the proposals, Openreach would become "a legally separate company," whilst remaining under the BT Group umbrella; a move Ofcom says is the most cost-effective and least disruptive way of giving Openreach greater independence. But -- surprise, surprise -- BT competitors, which are also Openreach customers, believe Ofcom hasn't gone far enough.
Sky Sports will share Premier League goals on Twitter as they happen
After spending a record £4.2 billion on securing the rights to 126 live games over the next next three Premier League seasons, Sky wants more people tuning into coverage regardless of where they are (as long as it's not on Vine). It's already announced that it will show highlights on-demand from this season -- including extended replays on TV, the web and mobile through Sky Go -- but the broadcaster confirmed today that it will soon push real-time video clips direct to Twitter for anyone to view.
Ofcom orders BT to make Openreach a 'legally separate company'
Ofcom has drawn up a plan to further distance BT and its subsidiary, Openreach, without breaking them up entirely. The UK regulator is now proposing that Openreach, which manages the bulk of the nation's broadband and telephone infrastructure, become "a legally separate company" within the BT Group, with its own board and directors. Most of these appointments would, under Ofcom's vision, be non-executives and "not affiliated to (the) BT Group in any way." They would, however, be selected and removed by BT, following consultation with Ofcom.
Sky Kids app lets you download shows for the open road
It's hot and you still have another few hours on the road. The kids are starting to fidget and have already grown tired of Minecraft: Pocket Edition on their iPads. What to do? Well, if you're a Sky subscriber, there's always Sky Kids. The child-centric streaming app launched in March and is getting a handy new feature today -- offline playback. So before you set off in the car, you can download a bunch of episodes (or seasons) to keep them entertained. The catch? You'll need a Sky Go Extra or Sky Multiscreen account. Otherwise, you're still reliant on Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G streaming.
Sky+ gains a Top Picks section and more binge-watching features
As the viewing habits of its customers change, Sky has overhauled its programme guide and planner to better serve shows that people want to watch. The company's new box, Sky Q, built on that by introducing Top Picks, a human-curated catalogue of programmes and movies that are too hot to miss. Now it's rolling out to more customers as part of a new Sky+ update that makes it even easier to go on a binge-watching spree.
Sky will begin 4K broadcasts on August 13th
When Sky launched its new Q service, blurring the lines between live TV and on-demand content, it also laid the groundwork to make the leap to 4K. However, while the top-end Sky Q Silver box has supported Ultra HD output from the get-go, we've only been given pretty vague assurances customers would be able to make full use of the hardware sometime this year. Turns out they won't have to wait much longer, as Sky announced today that Ultra HD broadcasts will begin airing on August 13th.
Sky's Now TV Combo packages go on sale
What began as a way for consumers to access Sky's premium TV content without signing a contract has now become a much wider ecosystem of subscription-free services. The Now TV Combo, announced just over a week ago, offers a mix-and-match approach to pay TV, broadband and phone landlines. And as of today, it's now available for public consumption. A new Now TV box developed by Roku, which adds support for linear Freeview channels, remains at the heart of the proposition and can be purchased outright for £40. On top of that, you can also buy Now TV passes to access Sky's entertainment, movies, sports and kids channels, as well as their on-demand libraries.
Sky's adult broadband filters now on by default for new customers
Over the past year and a half, Sky has slowly rolled out adult broadband filters in a bid to help families "protect" younger members of the household from inappropriate content. A number of existing customers were the first to be asked whether they'd like to enable the company's "Broadband Shield," but as promised, those protections are rolling out to all new subscribers. As of today, Broadband Shield will be "automatically switched on the moment a new customer activates their Sky Broadband."
Sky's Now TV Combo unites live TV, streaming, phone and broadband
It's been a busy six months for Sky. Between launching a new powerful set-top TV box, sinking billions of pounds into original shows and exclusive sporting rights, the company has quietly been developing a new Now TV product for consumers who like to dip in and out of its ecosystem without having to commit to a fixed-term contract. It's called the Now TV Combo and it pulls together Sky's TV, broadband and phone services into one simple package.
John Oliver's Brexit takedown won't air in the UK until after EU vote
As Britain gears up to vote in the EU referendum later this week, broadcasters are constantly working to ensure their coverage remains impartial. One such company is Sky, which has this week been forced to delay the latest instalment of John Oliver's Last Week Tonight HBO show. Why? Because it contains a 15-minute diatribe on why the UK should remain part of Europe. Instead of airing the programme after Game of Thrones on Sky Atlantic on Monday night, like it does usually, Sky has pushed it back until 10:10pm on Thursday, just after the polls close. Social media users are up in arms about the decision, but in reality, Sky appears to be playing everything by the book.
'No Man's Sky' developer ends 'legal nonsense' battle over name
There's no sign that it contributed to the delay, but Hello Games founder Sean Murray said today that after "3 years of secret stupid legal nonsense," his company's game can be called No Man's Sky. They had to settle with trademark owner Sky TV to use the name that it's very protective of -- remember when Microsoft had to rename SkyDrive as OneDrive for the same reason? According to Murray's tweets, he's learned a lot about trademark law, and might have a good idea about why Skynet never happened. Seriously though, the highly anticipated game should be on track for its rescheduled release date of August 9th, and we can't wait to see it procedurally generated universe unfold.
Sky Movies will become Sky Cinema next month
Sky isn't just a household name in the UK, but in several other European countries too. In those regions, however, Sky Movies as a brand doesn't exist. Instead, it's called Sky Cinema in those parts, and come July 8th, that's what it'll be known as in the UK as well. Big deal, right? Well, the new name isn't the only change. For starters, instead of debuting four new movies a week, a fresh film will be added to the roster every day. Sky Cinema will also devote more space to original content and foreign flicks in the future, with a new international release dropping on the service every Wednesday.
Sky's Now TV gets a kid-centric streaming pass
Every company with a video streaming service seems to be targeting Britain's youth at the moment. In the last six months, the UK has been introduced to the BBC's iPlayer Kids app, Sky Kids and YouTube Kids, to name just a few. Now it's the turn of Now TV, Sky's standalone streaming platform, to offer a service dedicated to children's TV. It's called the Now TV Kids Pass and will launch on June 21st for £2.99 per month.
Sky's deal with Sony paves the way for 4K movies
Sky has sewn up its first pan-European deal with Sony today, ensuring the studio's movies arrive promptly, and in 4K resolution, in every country where it operates. In the UK, the new agreement means that Sky will continue to get first dibs on Sony's latest flicks before any other subscription service. Sky says each movie will be available "only a few months" after it's been released in cinemas, and "over a year" ahead of other subscription services. (Think Netflix, Prime Video, or even BT TV.)
Sky Kids is a simple tablet app for junior streamers
Kids have never been better served by content providers than they are today. Between Netflix, YouTube, DisneyLife and others, competition for the attention of younger members of the household is fierce. Not one to be left behind, Sky grew its on-demand library of kids TV significantly last year, not long before it revealed it was working on a standalone app to put it all in one place. And nine months later, the Sky Kids app is now ready for your tyke's bumper-bound tablet.
Sky gets exclusive Formula 1 TV rights from 2019
The BBC's decision to abandon its Formula 1 coverage has paved the way for an exclusive TV deal with Sky. Starting in 2019, Sky Sports will be the only place where Brits can watch each championship race. If you're a motorsport fan, that means you'll need a subscription to watch every blistering lap and crash. As part of the new deal, however, Sky has promised to show the British Grand Prix and other race highlights on a free-to-access Sky Sports channel. It will likely operate in a similar manner to BT Sport Showcase, which BT uses for free-to-watch football fixtures.
Sky to offer Premier League matches on its basic TV packages
In its latest bid to stand out from broadcasting rival BT, Sky is launching a new sports channel that will be available to subscribers who don't pay for a Sky Sports bundle. It's called Sky Sports Mix and it'll feature live football, golf and international cricket, as well as more coverage from women's sporting competitions.
