Lengthy gone are the times when Sky was only a TV service which required strapping a satellite tv for pc dish to the aspect of your home. There are a variety of various choices for getting Sky TV in your home, a few of which could be setup and have you ever watching inside minutes.
Whereas Sky Q is the apparent alternative (that’s the set high field which wants the dish), Sky has a few satellite-free choices. You might go for Sky Glass, which is an precise tv with Sky built-in so all it’s essential to do is join it to the web.
In case you’ve received a TV and don’t desire a dish, then you need to use Sky Stream, a tiny little field much like an Apple TV which plugs into your TV so you’ll be able to stream content material with minimal trouble. The agency calls it ‘Sky TV over Wi-Fi’.
Lastly, there’s Now (beforehand referred to as Now TV) to stream every kind of content material on a variety of units in a lot the identical approach you’d with Netflix however with a distinct set of subscription or ‘membership’ choices.
That’s a quick overview of the 4 choices however we’ll undergo all of them in additional element that can assist you determine which one is true. Right here’s a desk outlining the important thing elements corresponding to costs, contract size and options.
| Sky Q | Sky Glass | Sky Stream | Now | |
| Beginning value | £26pm | £14 + £26pm | £26pm | £4.99pm |
| Lengthy-term contract required? | Y | Y | Elective – month-to-month rolling out there | No – month-to-month rolling |
| Min contract | 18 months | 18 months | 1 month | 1 month |
| Requires dish | Y | N | N | N |
| Bodily system | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Image high quality (max, might price additional) | 4K Extremely HD | 4K Extremely HD | 4K Extremely HD | Full HD |
| Netflix Fundamental (HD) included | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Sky Sports activities included | N | N | N | N |
| Gives recordings | Y | N | N | N |
| Distant management | Y | Y | Y | N |
Value & Contracts
How a lot Sky goes to price you relies on numerous various factors, corresponding to which TV channels you need after which additional options.
As a final analysis, Sky TV prices £26 per thirty days for the common Leisure & Netflix package deal. This consists of Sky Signature which consists of 300 channels together with Sky Atlantic, Sky, Max, Comedy Central, Quest, MTV and Gold. The Netflix plan included is the Fundamental choice in order that’s HD streaming on one system with no simultaneous streams – you’ll be able to see the variations in our comparability of the Netflix plans.
This package deal applies to Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream, with the extra price within the desk above for Glass regarding the TV itself. It is available in three sizes – 43-, 55- and 65in – and you’ll both pay for it outright beginning at £699 or month-to-month funds from £14pm after a £10 upfront price.
Past the essential package deal, you’ll wish to determine whether or not so as to add numerous issues on corresponding to Sky Sports activities, Extremely HD image high quality and Multiscreen (which I’ll clarify intimately later). Right here’s a breakdown of the most typical ones. Notice these are the RRP figures however Sky nearly all the time has them lowered.
Sky Q costs per thirty days
- Sky Sports activities – £32
- Sky Cinema – £19
- BT Sport – £28
- Sky Youngsters – £6 rolling
- Disney+ – £7.99 rolling
- Paramount+ – Free with Sky Cinema
- HD – £8 rolling
- Extremely HD + HD – £12 rolling
- Multiscreen – £15 rolling
- Setup price – £20 (one-off)
Glass/Stream costs per thirty days (18 month/31 day rolling)
- Sky Sports activities – £25/27
- Sky Cinema – £11/13
- BT Sport – £30 rolling
- Sky Youngsters – £6 rolling
- Paramount+ – Free with Sky Cinema
- Extremely HD & Dolby Atmos – £6 rolling
- Advert skipping – £5 rolling
- Netflix Commonplace – £4 rolling
- Netflix Premium – £8 rolling
- Entire House – £12 with first puck free
- Entire House setup – £39.95 (one-off)
As you’ll be able to see above, issues can get fairly dear when you’ve added a number of issues to the essential Sky Signature package deal. Even including Sky Sports activities and Extremely HD will set you again an extra £44 every month. The excellent news is that it’s very versatile so you’ll be able to actually tailor the expertise to what you need.
Sky
If this places you off, then that is the place Now involves the fore. That is Sky’s correct streaming service which requires none of its personal {hardware}. Identical to Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, you’ll be able to watch on a wide range of units corresponding to smartphones, video games consoles and sensible TVs.
It might add up if you’d like entry to all of the completely different areas however should you simply need Sky Sports activities, for instance, it’s far cheaper in comparison with Q or Glass. There are completely different Memberships to select from as follows:
- Leisure – £9.99pm
- Cinema – £9.99pm
- Leisure + Cinema – £12.99pm (6 months)
- Sports activities – £11.98 (24 hours)
- Sports activities – £34.99pm (from 28 Feb)
- Hayu – £4.99pm
- Enhance – £6pm (from 28 Feb)
Many of the above packages are self-explanatory, offering you with Sky channels for his or her respective classes. Hayu is particularly for US actuality exhibits corresponding to Actual Housewives, Million Greenback Itemizing and Under Deck.
Enhance isn’t a channel package deal, however an add-on you’ll want if you wish to watch in Full HD high quality, eliminate adverts, get pleasure from Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, stream on three units concurrently and get Sky Sports activities in 50fps. Notice that a few of these have {hardware} necessities.
Now additionally provides offers and bundles all year long, significantly round sale seasons corresponding to Black Friday. In case you join Now and cancel, then the streaming platform may give you a reduction as an incentive to enroll once more.
Sky
In conclusion, Sky Q is the most costly and locks you into an 18-month contract however has advantages that the others don’t have; primarily that you simply’re utilizing a satellite tv for pc dish so don’t require good broadband and it has a tough drive for recordings.
Now could be the most cost effective, easiest and most versatile choice however the expertise will rely on what system you’re utilizing it on. Additionally it is the one Sky product to not provide 4K, so if that’s a precedence, think about one of many different choices.
Sky Glass and Stream present a contented center floor the place you get a really comparable expertise to Sky Q however at cheaper costs and extra versatile rolling contracts on the content material. Additionally they present the selection of an precise TV or a tiny streaming field, which leads us properly onto the {hardware}.
{Hardware}
We will go away Now out of this part as a result of it’s purely an internet streaming service. You need to present the {hardware} your self. The opposite Sky merchandise are all fairly completely different although so listed below are the important thing variations.
Sky Q is your conventional set-top field. It plugs into your TV and to the satellite tv for pc dish so you’ll be able to watch TV with out relying in your broadband and Wi-Fi. It additionally has the advantage of a tough drive so you’ll be able to report broadcast tv and hold it saved.
The Sky Q mini is an non-compulsory additional particularly made for Multiscreen (see beneath) and in addition acts as a Wi-Fi community extender should you’re utilizing Sky Wi-Fi.
Sky
Sky Glass is a tv with Sky built-in so all it’s essential to do is plug it in and join it to your Wi-Fi community to get going. The person interface is somewhat completely different to Sky Q as a result of it’s extra of a streaming based mostly system.
You don’t want a dish strapped to the aspect of your home, however you will want first rate broadband to keep away from buffering and the like. Sky advocate 10Mbps for HD and 25Mbps for UHD however observe that each Glass and Stream have Ethernet ports, so that you don’t have to make use of a Wi-Fi connection. You may verify your Wi-Fi speeds right here.
Sky
Sky Stream is a palm-sized little field that for a lot of would be the most handy option to get Sky TV at residence. Very similar to an Amazon Fireplace TV system, it plugs into your current TV through HDMI after which connects to the Wi-Fi to stream content material.
It’s basically Sky Glass however with out the TV. Confusingly, Sky additionally refers to it as a Sky Stream puck when speaking concerning the Entire House multiscreen system. Extra on this beneath.
Recordings & Apps
As talked about already, it’s a must to get Sky Q with the intention to report TV and retailer it domestically. Sky provides a 1TB field as commonplace which is loads of area for lots of of hours of exhibits.
Sky Q is the one product with recordings, although the Sky Q mini can entry the recordings however doesn’t have its personal laborious drive. Sky Glass and Stream are absolutely on-line providers, however you’ll be able to ‘save’ issues to a Cloud DVR with the + icon inside the interface as a approach of holding your favorite exhibits and flicks collectively.
Sky
You continue to get Sky Go no matter which you select although. That is Sky’s on-the-go app the place you’ll be able to watch Sky on units like your laptop computer or pill. In case you’re at residence, you’ll be able to entry your Sky Q recordings and obtain chosen titles earlier than you head out.
Sly Go comes at no further price and should you’re a Sky Cell buyer then utilizing the app gained’t rely in the direction of your knowledge utilization.
Now could be its personal app and on-line service and, as talked about earlier, is on the market on a variety of units. It might’t be used through an internet browser however there’s app help for Home windows and Mac.
Multiscreen
For Now, multiscreen is straightforward. Subscribe to Enhance alongside together with your Membership and you’ll watch on three completely different units concurrently with the additional benefit of Full HD high quality.
Issues are extra sophisticated on Sky’s different merchandise.
Sky
On Sky Q, you’ll want so as to add Multiscreen to your package deal, which prices £15pm on a rolling contract and comes with one Sky Q mini field providing you with two screens. You may add extra mini packing containers later – these price a one-off price of £50 per field.
Multiscreen additionally offers you the power to look at Sky Go on 4 units concurrently.
For Sky Glass and Sky Stream, you’ll want the Entire House package deal. This prices £12pm together with your first puck (a Sky Stream). You may add as much as 4 on Glass and three on Stream, requiring a setup price of as much as £119.85.
Which Sky product is greatest for me?
With all of the above thought-about, right here’s a abstract of which Sky product to decide on relying in your wants.
Sky Q – For many who desire a conventional broadcast TV expertise with the power to report in addition to stream and who don’t thoughts having a satellite tv for pc dish.
Sky Glass – For many who don’t desire a satellite tv for pc dish and need Sky constructed right into a 4K sensible TV.
Sky Stream – For many who need Sky TV over Wi-Fi and simply wish to plug it into an current TV.
Now – For many who wish to stream Sky content material on a variety of units at an reasonably priced value with out the necessity for a long-term contract.
Sky TV alternate options
In case you’re not satisfied any of Sky’s merchandise are best for you then you definately do have plenty of different choices.
The primary one can be Virgin TV 360 which has similarities to Sky Q in that you’ve a tough drive for recordings and entry to a wealth of channels – together with Sky Sports activities – however works through cable fairly than satellite tv for pc.
Virgin Stream is a really shut rival to the Sky Stream. It’s a one-off price of £35 then you’ll be able to merely choose and select which content material you wish to entry at additional month-to-month price corresponding to Netflix, Important Leisure channels and Sky Sports activities.
Going additional afield, there are nearly countless trendy choices to look at TV and infrequently totally free. Many sensible TVs include Freeview Play and loads of apps to on-demand and catch-up TV. Once more, apps like ITVX and Channel 4 are free to make use of.
When you’ve got a fundamental TV, you’ll be able to select from a variety of streaming sticks and packing containers that are very low-cost. These plug into your TV and connect with your Wi-Fi very like the Sky Stream, providing you with entry to a great deal of apps. Makers embrace Amazon with its Fireplace TV vary, Roku, Google’s Chromecast vary and Apple TV units.