{"id":28681,"date":"2021-09-28T10:55:33","date_gmt":"2021-09-28T09:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/?p=28681"},"modified":"2021-09-28T11:22:08","modified_gmt":"2021-09-28T10:22:08","slug":"skys-broadband-ip-tv-service-to-launch-as-part-of-built-in-tv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/2021\/09\/skys-broadband-ip-tv-service-to-launch-as-part-of-built-in-tv.html","title":{"rendered":"Sky’s Broadband IP TV Service to Launch as Part of Built-In TV"},"content":{"rendered":"

More details are starting to leak our way as Sky UK (Sky Broadband<\/a>) get closer to taking the wraps off their future TV via internet connection (instead of a satellite<\/a> dish) service. We now understand that the Sky over IP (SoIP) service will launch as part of an integrated QLED TV product line (pictured), called Sky Glass<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At present anybody who wants access to all of Sky’s TV channels needs to get a satellite<\/a> dish installed, although some new build homes on full fibre (FTTP<\/a>) covered sites do supply this via a Fibre Integrated Reception System<\/strong> (FIRS) system, but that’s a different kettle of fish. Alternatively, Sky also runs the somewhat cut-down and Roku based NOW TV<\/a> spin-off platform.<\/p>\n

However, Sky have long been developing a full TV via broadband platform (here<\/a>), but so far they\u2019ve only launched such a solution in Italy<\/strong> (Sky via Fibre), Austria<\/strong> (Sky X<\/span><\/span>) and, most recently, Germany (Sky Q IP<\/a> Box<\/strong>). The latter requires a minimum broadband ISP download speed of 6Mbps<\/strong> (i.e. enough for basic HD streaming via a single viewing channel).<\/p>\n

Back in August 2021 we began reporting that such a product would soon be launched in the UK too (here<\/a>), and we recently learned that this seemed likely to be called Sky over IP<\/strong> (here<\/a>). Some other reports have also speculated that such a product could be unveiled at a big event on 7th October in London, which is promising to unveil “something magical<\/em>” (that’s usually a reference to movies and media content).<\/p>\n

Sources have now informed ISPreview.co.uk that the product being launched is to be called Sky Glass<\/a><\/strong>, which appears to be a sophisticated QLED Smart TV (leaked pictured above) – available in sizes including 43″, 55″ and 65″ – that will come with an integrated Dolby Atmos<\/strong> soundbar and the new SoIP<\/strong> service (as well as the usual 4K and HDR video support).<\/p>\n

Pricing remains unclear, but the 43″ set may cost around \u00a3650 and indications suggest that the monthly subscription fees are similar to the out-of-contract prices for Sky TV (expensive). The Sky Glass<\/a> TV sets will also be accompanied by a new device called a ‘Puck<\/strong>‘, which sounds as if it could be a TV streaming device that adopts the same User Interface<\/strong> (UI) as the main Sky Glass TV.<\/p>\n

As we understand it, customers can have a maximum of 3 Sky Glass systems and 6 Pucks in one home, all with the capability to run concurrently and with 4K and HDR support. But realistically, most people won’t need that many, and if you did, then you’d probably need one of Sky’s latest ultrafast broadband services to fully benefit. All of this sounds very much like a next generation Sky TV product, which goes beyond Sky Q<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We should add that you won’t be able to have the Sky Puck devices as standalone (i.e. you can only have them when taking a Sky Glass unit). The full details are due to be unveiled soon. We have asked Sky about all this and are awaiting their reply, but they’ve tended not to comment on such reports.<\/p>\n