Sky Glass launching in Ireland on August 25th

icdg

Was mentioned in the BBC thread over in Broadcasting but worth its own discussion here.

https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/sky-glass-to-launch-in-ireland-this-august

Not cheap at €755 for the 43”, €999 for the 55” and €1,299 for the €65”

no Sky Stream pricing for Ireland yet other than multiroom will be €19pm

Same recording limitations but there’ll be some sort of access to a version of BBC iPlayer to make up.

lertsnim

Can't see this selling well at those prices.

muffler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119394183#Comment_119394183

You might be surprised. The novelty of it alone will spark a bit of interest I'd imagine.

The 43" TV for example is competitively priced in comparison to the same set in the UK which is £649 or about E775 at current exchange rates

Gusser09

That's some money to be fair. With the amount of cheap alternatives out on the market I think Sky are codding themselves. Really they need a fair priced pure streaming alternative and NOW TV isn't it.

I see they are doing a monthly payment plan. They are hardly giving the 65inch at €26 per month ? That's a 4 year contract?

SteM

I guess either uptake has been so good in the UK that they've decided to roll it out here or uptake has been so bad there they've decided to offload stock here.

DJIMI TRARORE

Another rip off pile of over hyped sh1te,that all the cool people can talk about to each other about

NIMAN

The impending recession, should it happen, might make folk think about TV subscriptions and what they can cut back on.

Lot of outlay to watch TV content these days.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119394602#Comment_119394602

That's all available anyway. It's the over pricing that is driving people to illegitimate providers. You can buy a decent tv for a lot less than that.

icdg

I think there’s two main turn offs for me and that’s the lack of recording and the lack of manual tuning. I know there’s a lot out there who say lack of recording isn’t the be all or end all but it’s an essential in my household and having 30 day catch up isn’t sufficient for me. No manual tuning meanwhile means no ITV and while that’s not the loss it once was with VMTV covering most of their shows there’s still things every so often like the Charity Shield on Saturday that it’s handy to have for.

The price is a big disadvantage although it might be worth for some particularly with young families eliminating a lot of wiring by getting rid of the STB, satellite connection and potentially sound bar.

muffler

I'm sure Sky have their homework done long before the launch.

icdg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119394570#Comment_119394570

An awful lot of work just to “offload stock”. Solving the BBC recording problem has been a biggy. They’ve finally managed to persuade the BBC to let Irish viewers have at least some access to the iPlayer which can’t have been easy.

Delta2113

BBC playlist/watchlist or whatever it will be called are deleted after 30 days is what I'm hearing.

icdg

I think it will be the same for RTE. On one hand it’s an improvement on the seven day catch-up at present but on the other hand you are losing recording.

Sierra Oscar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119394595#Comment_119394595

I don't know, I've an interest in it on the basis that I live in an apartment complex where Sky isn't available due me being unable to have an individual satellite dish and the management company refusing to permit a shared dish to be installed for the development. I'm also moving to a new build where we are forbidden to erect satellite dishes as per the planning permission, which seems to be an increasingly common restriction being imposed in developments.

So I reckon there would be a sizeable target market there for them to begin with.

All the same I don't like the idea of essentially renting a TV. I just wish Sky would be made available over fibre broadband without any restrictions and need to buy a TV with it.

lenovo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119394751#Comment_119394751

The same could be said about any product launch by a big company.

They are trying to change behavior. Get people into the idea of a tv being part of their monthly plan. Perhaps updating more regularly like phones.

I think people will get over the non recording. Things have moved on from that. It's all about on demand.

They are going after the iphone demographic imo.

icdg

To be fair renting a tv used to be common. I’m old enough to remember RTV Rentals! And this is more like hire purchase than renting anyway.

Delta2113

"I think people will get over the non recording. Things have moved on from that. It's all about on demand."

But every show is never available on demand. You can't beat having your own recording facility.

callaway92

I can see it now 3 years down the line:

’Sky innovation where you can now record on your Sky Glass device, breaking technology boundaries’

Like video games that remove features and bring them back in years later acting as if they’re innovative

decor58

It will also tie folks into a 3/4 year contract, no hopping from one service supplier to another year after year. When out of contract how will the tv work with other providers.

timothydec77

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119395755#Comment_119395755

It has a Saorview tunnel and Hdmi.

I will stick to my Saorview and Free to Air dish.

lenovo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119395226#Comment_119395226

Would be interesting to see stats on recordings.

I feel like the majority are or else they are things people want to watch live.

I also imagine from a rights perspective they want to move away from recordings which you own regardless of subscription.

Spotify doesn't let you record.

icdg

At least in the U.K. version, the DTT tuner is there but only works if the internet is disconnected - Sky says it’s for backup only and not meant to be used day to day. There’s no satellite tuner.

callaway92

Ya I wonder with recordings is it a case of advertising rates having gone wayyyyy down because of the amount of people using it and advertisers moving away from it due to that

lertsnim

I wonder if sport will be blocked on the BBC like it is currently on both BBC 1 and 2 on Sky Go.

Loughc

Some pricing for the TVs. Apologies for the tiktok screen I haven’t seen Irish pricing for it anywhere else so far.

Capt'n Midnight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119394518#Comment_119394518

Now TV is something like €20 up front and half nothing a month if you coupon like crazy, if you are lazy just cancel and wait for the new deal email https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058086783/now-tv-latest-deal-codes#latest ,

Depending on what you watch it's a nice add on to FreeSat

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119397078#Comment_119397078

So I assume you are getting a sky sub with that those packages also. Seems like a good if so.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119420648#Comment_119420648

Ah yeh I know. I have availed of those deals before. I have an alternative provider now though.

icdg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119422545#Comment_119422545

No, at least in the U.K., the repayments on the TV are on top of the Sky Stream package price. Furthermore it seems Sky don’t do discounts for Glass customers, because well why would you when you’re effectively tied into a multi year contract.

icdg

So this might also be of interest, the Sky Glass channel list:

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

note that there’s effectively a separate EPG for Ireland here, at least in the entertainment category, whereas on satellite U.K. and Ireland tend to share channel numbers other than the national PSBs. Much greater prominence for the BBC channels than on the satellite EPG.

Cork2021

I signed up a few days ago, arriving on the 23rd, it’s after working cheaper for me. €23 cheaper and that includes all the sports channels, I removed kids and cinema but will be getting Netflix for free as part of the package, all in all my package with sky broadband, the puck for the 2nd tv and the €15 a month for 43” will be €140 a month for 12 months and they’ve given me €200 credit as I was one of the first 100 customers.

muffler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119465543#Comment_119465543

How long are you in contract for?

€15 a month for the TV is €180 for the year. I thought I read the TV itself was costing €750 so unless you have an option of paying a lump sum you will be in contract for 4 years unless Im reading your post incorrectly.

Cork2021

It’s spread over 4 years but I do have an option of paying it off. Only contract with sky for 12 months, so I could get of sky and just work off of saorview, Netflix etc and just keep paying the 15 a month then

awec

Does anyone know why Sky went with the approach of bundling this into a TV rather than selling it as a separate unit? I would have thought there was a decent market for a Sky Q like product that worked without a dish.

I assume this is not like NowTV with the reduced framerates etc?

JDxtra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119479863#Comment_119479863

It is expected that they will sell it as a separate unit in the future. My only guess is they want to market it as a premium product to differentiate it from the Now TV sticks and apps. Also more profit from shifting a whole TV rather than a puck device.

Virgin Media in the UK have already launched a puck device - https://www.virginmedia.com/tv/stream

icdg

It was to have been launched in the U.K. by now, but it’s been delayed apparently by technical difficulties.

feelings

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119479967#Comment_119479967

Wonder if it's as good their "horizon box" - which we all know was awesome! 🙄

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119480268#Comment_119480268

HATED the horizon box. Pure muck.

Their 360 box was much better.

JP Liz V1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119480214#Comment_119480214

That is not good

veloci

This has launched

https://www.sky.com/ie/glass

https://www.sky.com/ie/glass

theteal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119479863#Comment_119479863

From what I remember having scanned some of the usual AV review sites when launching in the UK, the TVs are low end LEDs so it looks like sky may be making a killing on them. A proper decent spec TV with a Now TV sub makes more sense to me than this.

icdg

So a few more titbits:

You can have one Stream Puck for free (if you take Whole Home, which is the Multiscreen equivialant) otherwise €60 to buy.

Basic package is €27pm (includes Netflix in SD) rising to €38pm after twelve months. This is on top of your HP repayment for the TV, if you’re buying it that way.

Premium packs are basically similar prices to Sky Q - discounts are available to new customers and Sky Cinema is for whatever reason slightly more pricey.

Remember you are giving up having a real satellite tuner with this, so no more ITV/Channel 5 if that’s an issue for you. You can keep your dish and buy a FTA receiver, but isn’t the selling point of Glass the all in one box?

Atlantic Dawn

Would there be much of a saving for Sky in making the satellite route redundant and have their service online only via Sky Glass and Now routes?

Cork2021

Have had sky glass for 3 days now. Look I had a 42” Samsung that’s about 10 years old, volume had to changed by doing it manually etc! Remote stopped working picture was getting a bit fuzzy but still very watchable. I don’t watch itv or channel 5.. not bothered about tuning channels.

the sky glass tv is a huge step up to what I had. The Dolby atmos speaker system is excellent picture quality is good but not top top quality. The playlist will take getting used to instead of recording but Is a good feature in theory.

I’m very happy so far, have had zero issues, and the main thing is I’ve saved €23 (including the new tv HP) off my bill and now have Netflix for free and that saves me another €15 a month, got €200 in credit from sky as well so overall it’s worth it in my view!

muffler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119519793#Comment_119519793

Didn't you say previously that you removed the cinema and children's channels? That being the case then you aren't "saving" as you would have got the same reduction on your old pack by removing those channels.

icdg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119519760#Comment_119519760

That is probably the end goal alright, might be a good few years down the road and the old problems for streaming to commercial premises may raise their head (but are not insurmountable).

Getting Sky Stream launched as a stand-alone service, independent of Sky Glass, will be the next move in that direction, if they can overcome whatever difficulties are delaying it. Now is a bit of a different proposition as it doesn’t carry terrestrial channels and really it’s a supplement to FTA satellite rather than a replacement for it.

Champagne Sally

Have to admit I'm completely confused about this Sky Glass package. I am in theory interested but I already have a Sky package costing €71 per month, that includes Sky Signature, HD, Multi-screen (1 extra box) and Sky Ultimate Add-on (netflix and boxsets, I believe).

I have a great 65" LG in the sitting room but am interested in the 43" Sky Glass for the bedroom so I'm as I say confused about how much it would cost me extra a month if I were to go with the 43". Can i use the puck on the 65"? Any help would be appreciated.

I would pay monthly not up front.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119519709#Comment_119519709

I'd say that Sky are aiming this at people who can't install a satellite dish vs trying to get people to convert from a dish. Give it a year or two and they will do a package that doesn't need a satellite dish or their TV

Champagne Sally

I sorted out the pricing and have placed an order for the 55" plus two pucks. It works out at only €12 per month extra for me and I get a TV and an extra connection for my daughter so I'm happy. On another note, Sky Glass does NOT carry the Talking Pictures and Great! Movies channels. This maybe a deal breaker for some. They are independent low budget broadcasters and they may be added in the future but of course that is not guaranteed.

Cork2021

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119519892#Comment_119519892

I did but but as a whole it saved me €38 a month with a new tv added into my bill. You get me now? That €15 for the tv was the cost of the kids and cinema. Kids was €6at the time and cinema €9

mackersdublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119519186#Comment_119519186

60Hz Refresh Rate on Glass TVs. 120Hz is needed for watching Sport and HDR content imo