Sky Glass. (or, Sky launch an actual TV).

icdg

First things first, this is U.K. only for now, but we’ll doubtless see it at some stage. Sky have launched a range of three TV sets with their new streaming service, Sky Stream, built in, along with UHD, HDR, and Dolby Atmos support. They’re also letting customers in the U.K. pay for them via an interest free loan. The steaming service won’t be available standalone yet. They do have a (U.K.) DTT tuner built in apparently and 3 HDMI ports.

https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/introducing-sky-glass-the-new-streaming-tv-from-sky

Delta2113

Watched some off the presentation earlier. Looks like a good spec. Tv. Of course the idea is to lock you in and you'll never move away from Sky.

lertsnim

Seemingly you cannot use Netflix or other non Sky streaming services on this television unless you subscribe to them through Sky. No thanks.

ohnonotgmail

did they say where they sourced the panel?

peteeeed

no recording facility is strange for a sky product

Oafley Jones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117987807#Comment_117987807

Given that it’s all streaming there’s no reason for a live recording facility.

Delta2113

"no reason for a live recording facility" - really. So if your out on a Saturday night you can't record say Casualty or Match of the Day or a good film on BBC2. Give me a break.

Oafley Jones

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117987980#Comment_117987980

Its ALL streaming. All content. What purpose does recording serve. You’re talking about either recording a stream, or just streaming it at another time.

peteeeed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117987867#Comment_117987867

live sport , bbc , rte

Delta2113

"What purpose does recording serve." - the facility to record any channel and watch back a show at any time in the future at your own convenience.

Be able to not rely on On demand (not every show is available) and skip ads and watch month's later.

icdg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117988021#Comment_117988021

There’s quite a number of channels on Sky with no on demand service - the BBC is the biggie (iPlayer not available in Ireland). But also Premier Sports, for example.

Even ones that have on-demand services often don’t have all the content - as any NFL fan will tell you, if you want to watch Sunday Night Football as live, and don’t want to stay up until 5am (the typical finish time) doing so, then recording is the only way. Yes highlights are available on demand but not the full match.

Champagne Sally

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117987807#Comment_117987807

Yes I'm a bit confused about this peteeeed, according to this article you can record. On another article here I read it's upto 1000 hours. I'd like to see it in action though. Did I not read somewhere that we are to get access to the ITV hub next year also on Sky? I may have dreamt it, I'll go check it out.

If we can record as normal though, it sounds good to me. I'll await further information.

Edit: No I obviously read an article wrong, ITV hub is coming to Sky Q but obviously only in the UK. Why can't we get ITV on Sky? I don't think I've ever heard a reasonable answer?

peteeeed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117988242#Comment_117988242

yeah pocketlints hand on early review reports no recording https://www.pocket-lint.com/tv/reviews/sky/158650-sky-glass-review-tv

icdg

1,000 hours cloud storage was widely reported before launch but Im reading through the press pack and there is no mention - though you can live pause rewind and fast forward.

indeed, what is clear is that the remote control has no record button.

L'prof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117987695#Comment_117987695

It has 3 HDMI ports, you can surely use a firestick on it too

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117988242#Comment_117988242

Maybe instead of recording you’ll be able to “catch-up” on any of the channels

Delta2113

You won't be able to "catch-up" on every channel and just like it's a problem with Eir it will be a problem with Sky.

Champagne Sally

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117988520#Comment_117988520

Yeah I see now what's going on. It will be a non flyer here in Ireland so, if we can't record BBC and the likes. I still don't know why they don't have ITV though.

greendom

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117988625#Comment_117988625

Is it not simply that Sky and ITV never came to an agreement for Sky to broadcast ITV in Ireland

greendom

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117988718#Comment_117988718

And I'm thinking that TV3 and now Virgin may have had an issue with it as they use much of ITVs content and didn't want viewers accessing the source channel with ease

ybcby

UK only? Maybe they know it won't sell here.

Delta2113

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117989106#Comment_117989106

It's out here in 2022.

icdg

They’ll be rolling out in other markets in 2022. Indeed FOXTEL in Australia has apparently also bought the tech.

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117987703#Comment_117987703

"Quantum dot" technology is a Samsung one afaik so presumably it's their panel.

Gonzo

Do Sky intend to completely ditch the satellite system in several years time and replace it with this internet based tv going forward? Will this contain all the channels that are currently broadcasting via satellite? If this is the case and it becomes available in Ireland during 2022 then that will mean goodbye to receiving ITV and Channel 5 etc as the signal just won't be accessible in the republic of Ireland.

Capt'n Midnight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117989415#Comment_117989415

UK FTA channels will still be on Freesat unless someone launches new satellites that produce specially shaped beams that stop at the border.

It'll be years before their rural customers here and in the UK will get decent broadband. So they'll keep renting space on satellites for a long while yet.

Red Silurian

One of the main benefits I've always felt sky had over virgin, VF and Eir was that their services could be accessed all over the island regardless of internet capabilities so I can't see this taking off

byte

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117987703#Comment_117987703

They haven't said yet, that I can see.

WSJ mentions that Comcast have been working with Hisense (who have QLED TV's in their range). I read that Hisense also manufacture their own panels, but I'm not sure if they manufacture QLED panels, they might buy them from Samsung?

https://www.wsj.com/articles/comcast-enters-smart-tv-market-with-launch-of-sky-glass-in-europe-11633613175

I guess we'll know for sure when they're released and people get a proper look at them.

Gonzo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117989811#Comment_117989811

It will probably be 2030 before everyone across Ireland and the UK will have access to proper fibre broadband so Sky will have to keep their satellite service going till at least then.

Red Silurian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117990691#Comment_117990691

I wonder why they wouldn't put sky box technology into a screen? Plug the satellite feed directly into the back of the telly and away you go

icdg

It wouldn’t be reinventing the wheel to be fair. Loads of TVs have satellite tuners, add the conditional access system and the fancy EPG and there you are.

Sky are moving towards streaming in all their markets. They seem to be trying different things in different markets - Sky X in Austria, Sky Q IP in Germany, Sky Glass/Stream in the UK. What all have in common is that Sky have ditched the dish and moved to steaming.

In Austria, where you have a similar situation to Ireland (wanting access to German TV), SkyX does offer German terrestrial channels. What Sky Stream, when it is offered here (and I have no doubt we will eventually see Sky Stream as a standalone service) it will certainly have the BBC and Channel 4 channels. It will be unlikely to have ITV and Channel 5 or anything that has to be manually tuned. Do most people really care though? I can only speak for myself but the last thing I watched via Other Channels was a Scotland match on STV during the Euros that was on the RTE News channel but I wanted to watch in HD, and before that it was Quiz which did eventually get an Irish airing. Out of sight out of mind really.

Technique

The display is made by TPV (Philips).

afatbollix

Whats the share price like? Must of skyrocketed.

The next generation of ads will be bespoke ads for each ad break.

Streaming will allow that. In fact, some IPTV systems are using ad brokers where just before an ad break they bid for each ad to the highest bidder even down to location. Want to send Merc car ad to everyone in Chelsea just bid more, Want everyone in Newcastle to see an ad for Larger, You bid for that area. This will allow this even more. (Sky at the moment only do it if you download a show)

Another reason is a lot of apartments can't get a satellite signal. The channels will be treated like Now TV, You can scroll through the EPG and watch old programs, I don't see them recording onto your box anymore. As all the TV channels will be going through Sky encoders they can control what is on the EPG and save all of it to the data centre and you don't need to record to your Sky TV anymore. They have said they will get rid of satellites in the future, Costs a fortune per year!

Then the other reason, You're locked in for 4 years, You will never send the TV back once you have it so your locked with Sky for longer.

Personally, I'd never get it.

cavan_man2021

Old man from Cavan here and I get sky TV. They cost way too much just for watching fair city and that sexy woman judge Judy. I pay 38 euros a month, bloody rip off. Don't even get free porn lol.

reboot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117990816#Comment_117990816

I wonder if the day is coming soon for those of us with an old sky HD box,who don't pay a subscription, but receive HD pics for free,having kept the old regional card in,will be switched off?.

Also Sky Glass may require higher broadband speeds than some parts of the country have. Thanks.

peteeeed

this looks like its an actual NOW TV

reboot

It's an interesting development,I wonder if other TV manufactures will follow Smasungs lead with there SamsuTVplus free service.?

I get 90 free Internet channels for free,some even watchable,movies and CNN.Already built into the Samsung Tele, all for €400.

andy1249

Had a look at the specs on the sky site ,

The first thing I saw .........

"Fast forward ads included free for 12 months, then £5 a month to keep or simply remove it."

I ditched sky years ago , no way would I pay for good hardware whose function is hobbled based on whether or not I have a subscription.

Unlike a simple box , a TV is too large of an item to have multiple versions of in your house , so I dont think there will be too many takers for this , people who have already switched to streaming are used to a certain degree of flexibility in terms of which devices can be used.

It would be a massive backward step to lock yourself down with this.

Also , Philips haven't done well historically with their TV reviews , they are adequate at best , so this thing could fall on its backside based on its review as a actual TV

Hurrache

Philips do make good TVs, have always done so, their range varies from adequate to excellent. I think the winner of the TV category in this years What HiFi awards was a Philips.

If you want to have a multiple Sky Glass installations in your house, you don't need multiple glass TVs, you can get pucks that hook up to existing TVs, like you currently do with Sky Q, but they provide the full Glass service such as 4K etc, unlike the mini Q boxes.

bk

I don't see this being successful at all.

I suspect it won't be long before they release a version of this that works via an existing TV using a streaming box/stick and maybe via an app.

I know that just sounds like NOW TV, but NOW TV lacks UHD, Dobly Vision, etc. and lacks all the extra channels of this service. I suspect they will move to this platform on Glass / Streaming box / apps for premium customers. Perhaps keeping NOW TV around for entry level or alternatively discontinue it.

Gerry Wicklow

Simple Q. What do you do when your internet goes down or is not fast enough? Dig out the monopoly set? 🤔

Atlantic Dawn

For live sport it's going to suffer from the 5-10 second delay that is there with NowTV over what is getting transmitted via Satellite or Terrrestrial so your neighbour may be heard shouting before you see a goal go in, other than that looks like a good idea for existing Sky subscribers. I can't see it getting to a level where it would make satellite redundant.

Capt'n Midnight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117990778#Comment_117990778

Control.

Every TV on the market has a CI Slot. But SKY haven't ever released a CI module for their subscription card so you have to watch through their device. It like the way their remote control can work your TV or that you can't watch recordings when that part of a subscription has lapsed or that the devices are easy to use. It's all to keep you using their services.

Freesat is similar and while you can setup "other channels" they are fiddly to setup and use.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117989415#Comment_117989415

Correct

That is the game plan but only if freesat goes down this road,which is very very likely

There will be smart dns workarounds of course but only for a minority that want to pay extra for a smart dns service

icdg

It may not happen quickly.

Freesat originally came about because of a BBC decision to stop paying Sky CAS licensing fees, but it has grown since then.

Replacement with an IP based system is based on a number of things, but key among them will be universal fast broadband to every home in the U.K. regardless of location. Even they aren’t there yet.

There will be other things that may delay it. At the moment Freesat is effectively just an EPG and a brand name for marketing An IP based system would require them or a successor company to become a carriage play, operating actual infrastructure needed to distribute the channels. That’s before you get into other issues like rights. And they need to do this on an economic model that involves charging their end users £0. In other words they need to make all their money off charging the broadcasters to distribute their product. And the broadcasters may ask why they would pay when they can just distribute their signal by IP themselves (and many do already. There are live streams of channels on the iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4. What this mooted platform would be doing is aggregating them in one place with an EPG and an easy way to get them on a TV).

It may or may not happen eventually. But it’s not happening tomorrow morning.

It won't happen quickly and the UK has good terrestrial coverage but its heading that way

If the UK main channels can deliver their services to sky via an Internet link,paying for satellite will have another reason to go

Ireland will be the loser in this

dublinman1990

There is one overall benefit that I can see about high speed broadband access here in Ireland. We do have a much higher percentage of homes & businesses that have access to high speed broadband.

Those waiting to get access for the NBP might consider using Sky Glass if it was available over here. But that is only if people in rural Ireland are able to see it as a viable proposition for their needs. However if these people don't see Sky Glass as being useful for their home's needs; they will be very likely to stick with SkyQ unless Sky makes plans here to make it mandatory for every one of their Irish customers.

The UK's high speed broadband infrastructure still has very low penetration for a country with a population of roughly 12 times higher than the Republic of Ireland.

I think Sky customers in the UK will really have to consider why this idea does have a lot of potential pitfalls around them when homeowners assess their own broadband situation in their own homes. That is the main reason why this service will have very low take up in the UK within the 1st 3 years at most.

I think if these people have to take up Sky broadband along with Sky Glass to get proper service from it; most people in the UK would probably consider that to be quite an expensive monthly bill if they are not able to afford it. This is especially true if people living in the UK have a very hard financial period while recovering from being out of work during Covid.

Gerry Wicklow

Funny that BBC Three is coming back to linear broadcasting. Their great plans for online only seems to have bombed. I'd love to know the full story behind all that.

bk

Yes, the future of live TV delivery is definitely IP delivery. However I think it is premature to talk about the death of satellite broadcast.

I've no doubt Sat broadcast will be shutdown eventually, but I think we are talking about decades before that happens, not years!

10 years from now I'm certain we will still have Sky Q (sat) / Freesat / FTA Sat, however 20 years from now it may start becoming questionable.

Though ironically people living in the most rural areas might be receiving their live IP broadcasts over Starlink Sats!

Interestingly though Sky will face though competition here, we are seeing TV makers like Samsung, LG, etc. launching thier own services built into their TV's like Samsung TV Plus, which stream hundreds of ad supported channels to the TV for free.

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117990863#Comment_117990863

Oh Dear!

I suppose at the prices quoted you wouldn't expect high quality TVs

dublinman1990

The England regions of BBC One HD have been added to Sky Glass in the UK from today.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/articles/2021/bbc-one-hd-rollout-england

icdg

Full list of channels available in the U.K. Note that Premier Sports and most standalone FTA channels that are not owned by BBC/ITV/C4/C5 aren’t available.

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/tv-channel-list-sky-glass

Also it appears the Playlist feature, which is replacing recording, is wrecking peoples heads, it basically sends you to the player app that houses the content - if there is one.