topic Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish in Sky Stream

Sky Streaming Rubbish

Klop55 — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:53:15 GMT

I am hating the Streaming Box.
Record a movie on ITV4 for example. When i want to watch it days later i find its only available on Sky Cinema or another pay per view service.

Whats the idea behind that?

My streaming box crashes far too often. Audio sometimes goes off.

Netflix will not load at times.

I really do not like the fact that when "recording" motor racing on Quest for example then finding its onky availble on TNT days later.
I wish i had kept the Sky Q box.
I was talked into this rubbish by a Sky Engineer.
I do not recommend this box.

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

oj01 — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 07:40:38 GMT

@Klop55 wrote:
I am hating the Streaming Box.
Record a movie on ITV4 for example. When i want to watch it days later i find its only available on Sky Cinema

I wish i had kept the Sky Q box.
I was talked into this rubbish by a Sky Engineer.

That would be because ITV only have broadcast rights to the movie, not On Demand rights, which in this example Sky have.

It's really important to do your own research when making decisions like this and not be "talked into something" by a representative of the company (this applies to any company, not just Sky).

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

MarkGoldsmith — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 08:02:45 GMT

@Klop55 wrote:
I am hating the Streaming Box.
Record a movie on ITV4 for example. When i want to watch it days later i find its only available on Sky Cinema or another pay per view service.
Whats the idea behind that?
My streaming box crashes far too often. Audio sometimes goes off.
Netflix will not load at times.
I really do not like the fact that when "recording" motor racing on Quest for example then finding its onky availble on TNT days later.
I wish i had kept the Sky Q box.
I was talked into this rubbish by a Sky Engineer.
I do not recommend this box.

It about understanding that this is nothing liek the traditional Sky products and needs to be seen as a streaming platform rather than like an traditional TV broacast system.

The platform has always primarily been about amalgating streaming content from all the big providers in one place, to make it easier for customers to be able to find and watch shows without having to individually go into several separate streaming services. What is does mean, is that to get the most out of the platform you typically also need to have accounts with a couple of the major streaming apps, which is likely part of the reason that Sky continue to bundle the likes of Netflix and Paramount + into packages ( and also frequently provide 6 or 12 months free access to other streaming apps via Sky VIP rewards).

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

SeanC3 — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:45:20 GMT

Agreed, this is the worst "TV" product I have ever used. New to the UK and got this as a default. What are the alternatives - get a satelitte dish installed?

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

BenJoBanjo — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:56:50 GMT

@SeanC3 wrote:
Agreed, this is the worst "TV" product I have ever used. New to the UK and got this as a default. What are the alternatives - get a satelitte dish installed?

Sky Q is the more traditional satellite delivered platform, with a proper PVR and local recording.

If you want to stream then there are many options and alternatives.

Any Amazon FireTV, Android TV, Google TV or Apple TV device will allow you to install and stream live and on demand content from all the main UK broadcasters, including Sky. The NOW app gives you live streams of all the Sky channels in up to the same UHD/HDR quality that you get on a Sky Stream puck (including sport), as well as all the on demand content, except it's via an app on your own streaming device or smart TV.

Most of these streaming devices have a version of Sky Stream's playlist and continue watching so you can track your viewing easily.

Freely are releasing a puck-like device very soon with live streams of all the main free-to-air channels as well as all the catch-up apps.

The streaming age has opened up many, many more options to the customer. Sky's satellite service, whilst nearing the end of its life, is quite unique in that it doesn't have the same level of competition. Sky Q is pretty much unrivalled in terms of quantity of content available and useability. It does tend to cost a bit more though as Sky under Comcast would prefer people to be streaming.

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

Klop55 — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:31:29 GMT

I wish i had kept the Sky Q box and dish.

its very annoying thinking you are saving a programme to watch only to find it on a pay per view service. Terrible idea

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

Hunter2660 — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:09:05 GMT

@Klop55 wrote:
I wish i had kept the Sky Q box and dish.
its very annoying thinking you are saving a programme to watch only to find it on a pay per view service. Terrible idea

However much you dislike it, this will be how TV will be consumed in the future. You can still revert back to Q now if you wish, and cling on to the last years of PVR recording ability while you still can.

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

SeanC3 — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:30:25 GMT

I don't mind the promise of Sky Stream - its just that the product doesn't deliver it. Too many glitches when playing from the playlist, too many programs tagged to the Playlist never actually appear on the playlist......the frustration is in the delivery and a lack of any action on Sky's part to rectify the known isseus.

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

BenJoBanjo — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:07:43 GMT

@SeanC3 wrote:
I don't mind the promise of Sky Stream - its just that the product doesn't deliver it. Too many glitches when playing from the playlist, too many programs tagged to the Playlist never actually appear on the playlist......the frustration is in the delivery and a lack of any action on Sky's part to rectify the known isseus.

It's sort of the nature of the server-based platform Sky/Comcast have chosen to use.

It functions well, or well enough, for many, many customers. Is it amazing? No. Is it unique? No. The reliance on a server connection for the entire platform to function though is quite unique, but unfortunately it's the one thing that weakens the whole experience for many customers.

Unless your home network is rock solid and your ISP is on good terms with Sky's servers then it can function well. If it's not, then it can be too flaky and frustrating to work reliably.

There are simply too many variables in how every UK ISP operates and in how broadband is delivered and spread throughout customers homes that Sky cannot guarantee their streaming products will work well for everyone.

Had they gone down the route of only offering it to their own broadband customers like Virgin do, then they would have had a bit more control, but as it stands it's up to the customer to try and sort out their own broadband situation to make Sky Stream function well.

As I said, it can work well, or well enough, for many people. But with no engineer support, the onus is on the customer to try to improve their own broadband network.

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

SeanC3 — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:12:03 GMT

That's the Sky line - my broadband is very good - it's not a connection issue but feels more back end / Sky server related

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

BenJoBanjo — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:24:44 GMT

@SeanC3 wrote:
That's the Sky line - my broadband is very good - it's not a connection issue but feels more back end / Sky server related

Agreed. That's why I opted to switch to using the NOW app on my own hardware for Sky programming.

I've had zero streaming issues using NOW on non-Sky hardware. The Stream puck and SkyOS was just too slow and flaky for me.

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

Dave6871 — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:39:21 GMT

I have just switch from SkyQ to Sky stream due to house move and I feel like the service delivery has gone backwards. No longer able to record, when I pause a program anything longer then 10 mins the box turns off and lose it and yes I have checked power save and settings and it's not that. It also states about using all demand apps, which is fine but none are from Sky so I can get them all on my Smart tv for free. I subscribed to Movies as a deal and I'm watching same films on there from 2 years ago when I cancelled, what's all that about..The prices have increased overtime but the service has decreased, and customer service is not great either. Come on Sky get house in order otherwise you will lose a lot of customers going forward with a poor streaming service.

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

PA52 — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 05:38:34 GMT

Hi all. Looks like we all have to start to switch away from Q. Have been researching and aware of the stupid implementation of having to load different apps....just ridiculous. This is a sky chosen way of doing it and does not have to be like this. I have experience of both SlingTV and Fubo from the US. They both have 200÷ channels and are all integrated. You play the channel you want (let's say a premium sports channel or movies or something from different networks that would equate to a different app on sky) and they just play direct, you DO NOT have to load apps, it's all seamless, just like Q but it's streaming...and have full recording and playback. They CAN do it, why can't sky. Pretty sure YouTube TV is the same.

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

oj01 — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 07:43:46 GMT

@PA52 wrote:
Hi all. Looks like we all have to start to switch away from Q. Have been researching and aware of the stupid implementation of having to load different apps....just ridiculous. This is a sky chosen way of doing it and does not have to be like this. I have experience of both SlingTV and Fubo from the US. They both have 200÷ channels and are all integrated. You play the channel you want (let's say a premium sports channel or movies or something from different networks that would equate to a different app on sky) and they just play direct, you DO NOT have to load apps, it's all seamless, just like Q but it's streaming...and have full recording and playback. They CAN do it, why can't sky. Pretty sure YouTube TV is the same.

Broadcast and On Demand rights differ from country to country so it's pointless comparing what can and can't be done in the US.

Sky Q will still be around for another 4 years or so, so just stick with it for now.

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

PA52 — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 07:52:41 GMT

Ok, ignoring broadcast rights, I can play itv4 from sky q and it's instant, and I can record it and playback. When it's on streaming it has to be done via the app !! Why. The others I mention can integrate it all together, skyq integrates all via a satellite signal, those others integrate all streaming services together without the need to have 15 different apps. They should have started working with those companies over the past 5 years to sort it out, they pay itv for their services so work with them to seemlessly integrate for streaming.

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

TimmyBGood — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:55:05 GMT

@PA52 wrote:

When it's on streaming it has to be done via the app !! Why.

Live streaming on Sky hardware is not in an app: it lands in the Sky EPG.

For catch-up, on-demand and some 'recording' playback (actually on-demand viewing) an app owner wants that traffic in their app to justify the budget they put into development and maintenance of their own infrastructure, and to have absolute control of advertising, content promotion and subscription schemes.

You seem to be under the misapprehension that these things exist solely to benefit the customer: apart from the BBC they really do need to try and make money too.

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

PA52 — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:19:31 GMT

Yep all fair. I just lean towards how the major US providers can do it. Understand that itv or C4 have dev costs and traffic monitoring, advertising etc. But on the other hand all of that can still be provided seamlessly into the same delivery system like sling, fubo, etc. They have advertising within programming, also no doubt monitoring traffic and engagement. Guessing they (the network) simply receive revenue from sling (ultimately the customer subscription) for their services, so its simply one revenue stream. They all also have separate apps to deliver content outside of services like sling, just like itv do, which is another revenue stream. Point trying to make is, it's also on their epg but it doesn't load an itv or c4 front end app for the content...it's simply direct, just like sky Q. All on demand and live tv together. It's how streaming should be...and doesn't require awful hardware to deliver it.

Re: Sky Streaming Rubbish

Hunter2660 — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:54:55 GMT

The information you've been given is incorrect. Live TV on Glass/Stream works in the same way as Sling/Fubo, all TV channels are available via a comprehensive 7 day EPG, the same as Q, Sky+ and Freeview/Freely. The only difference is accessing your "recordings". Most direct you to the various broadcaster's apps (you don't need to physically open an app, the programme you've selected opens direct in the app to view). Some "recordings" do actually cloud record, same as Sling. This is usually, but not always, due to the lack of an app. Ch. 5 cloud records quite frequently. All "recordings" you select is added to your playlist waiting for you to view. It actually works quite well, overall I don't miss the old PVR type system at all.