topic Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms in What's On

Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

Paul4434 — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 19:52:21 GMT

As TPTV is our favourite station i am very disappointed that we cannot get this channel on Sky Stream, yet friends can get it on other Sky platforms. There seems little point in us having Sky by the looks of it 🤷‍♂️

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

xenon81 — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 16:20:52 GMT

Talking Pictures have previously said they would like to be available on Sky stream but Sky has to invite the channel to join the platform. It's not like the satellite platform where any channel can join.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

ozsat — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 15:42:58 GMT

This was posted by Talking Pictures today.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

d2h — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 19:35:50 GMT

@ozsat wrote:
This was posted by Talking Pictures today.

They seem to advise people of different reasons quite often. This latest one is not true, of course.

U&Drama, Comedy Central Extra, Animal Planet, ID, Discovery Turbo/History/Science, Challenge...

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

paul789 — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 02:23:56 GMT

Ha that was me that asked the question on fb. They said they have a special announcement coming soon so I just took a gamble and asked them if it was stream.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

ozsat — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 05:39:30 GMT

They launched their app this week making content available on Firesticks.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

paul789 — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 07:37:05 GMT

They also said they had another announcement coming soon after the app launch.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

lettice — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 07:47:05 GMT

The new TP encore service has been doing the rounds for a launch from Dec.

It is now live online and on FireTVs and fire sticks, so hopefully we will see it on other devices soon.

It will be a free service, but with an ad free plan that au think the previous online version had.

That is listed in the current TP encore T&Cs as

Subscription Plans: The Service is available with advertising (free) or through a subscription that removes ads ("Ad-Free"). Subscription plans are priced at £4.99 per month or £49 per year.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

CoffeeDrinker — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 23:50:24 GMT

@d2h wrote:
@ozsat wrote:
This was posted by Talking Pictures today.

They seem to advise people of different reasons quite often. This latest one is not true, of course.

U&Drama, Comedy Central Extra, Animal Planet, ID, Discovery Turbo/History/Science, Challenge...

Absolutely agree on the sub-HD bullpuckies. We routinely watch Star Trek Deep Space Nine & Voyager, both SD on Paramount+ and Tales of the Unexpected, SD on Sky's own Sky Arts HD channel. Whatever the issue is, carrying sub-HD content isn't it.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

ozsat — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 08:21:35 GMT

I was told by other channels too of the HD requirement for Sky Stream.

Just because a channel is not HD on Sky satellite does not mean they can't supply a HD feed to other platforms..

Animal Planet and U&Drama are HD on VirginMedia but not Sky satellite.

The NOW channels have provided a higher quality FAST stream for some time to different platforms.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

xenon81 — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 11:15:54 GMT

@ozsat wrote:
I was told by other channels too of the HD requirement for Sky Stream.
Just because a channel is not HD on Sky satellite does not mean they can't supply a HD feed to other platforms..
Animal Planet and U&Drama are HD on VirginMedia but not Sky satellite.
The NOW channels have provided a higher quality FAST stream for some time to different platforms.

But there are numerous non-HD channels on Sky Stream. The belief that all channels on Glass/Stream are HD appears to be a common myth.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 13:19:24 GMT

@d2h wrote:
@ozsat wrote:
This was posted by Talking Pictures today.

They seem to advise people of different reasons quite often. This latest one is not true, of course.

U&Drama, Comedy Central Extra, Animal Planet, ID, Discovery Turbo/History/Science, Challenge...

The channels mentioned are indeed in HD but broadcast in 720p. However, Sky seems to classify 720p HD as standard definition (SD). If one uses a third-party satellite receiver, as I do, it will display an "HD" icon when a channel is in HD. For example, Challenge SD and all Sky SD channels are marked with the HD icon on the information banner of the third-party receiver, even though Sky doesn’t label them as HD. It seems that Sky reserves the HD label exclusively for channels in 1080p or 1080i.

As for Talking Pictures, I believe it is broadcast in 576p SD.

One can often identify a 576p SD channel on a HD television because the picture may appear slightly blurry or pixelated.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

xenon81 — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 14:09:15 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@d2h wrote:
@ozsat wrote:
This was posted by Talking Pictures today.

They seem to advise people of different reasons quite often. This latest one is not true, of course.

U&Drama, Comedy Central Extra, Animal Planet, ID, Discovery Turbo/History/Science, Challenge...

The channels mentioned are indeed in HD but broadcast in 720p. However, Sky seems to classify 720p HD as standard definition (SD). If one uses a third-party satellite receiver, as I do, it will display an "HD" icon when a channel is in HD. For example, Challenge SD and all Sky SD channels are marked with the HD icon on the information banner of the third-party receiver, even though Sky doesn’t label them as HD. It seems that Sky reserves the HD label exclusively for channels in 1080p or 1080i.

As for Talking Pictures, I believe it is broadcast in 576p SD.

One can often identify a 576p SD channel on a HD television because the picture may appear slightly blurry or pixelated.

Non of those channels are HD. You may be looking at the resolution (720x576) and thinking the 720 must mean HD, but it would need to be 1280x720 to be classed as HD.

The satellite receiver you mention may believe that, now as Sky channels including Challenge are broadcast in MPEG4 they are HD, but SD can also be broadcast in MPEG4 and that's what Sky are now doing.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

TimmyBGood — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 14:13:43 GMT

@xenon81 wrote:

Non of those channels are HD. You may be looking at the resolution (720x576) and thinking the 720 must mean HD, but it would need to be 1280x720 to be classed as HD.

Doesn't that depend on who's doing the classification?

Every online source I can find says 720p is (the lowest) 'HD' resolution: it's just not 'Full HD'.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

xenon81 — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 14:45:03 GMT

@TimmyBGood wrote:
@xenon81 wrote:
Non of those channels are HD. You may be looking at the resolution (720x576) and thinking the 720 must mean HD, but it would need to be 1280x720 to be classed as HD.

Doesn't that depend on who's doing the classification?

Every online source I can find says 720p is (the lowest) 'HD' resolution: it's just not 'Full HD'.

720p is HD yes, however those channels aren't HD, they are 720x576 which is only SD. It's the last digits that matter, for example:

720x576 is SD, 576p

1280x720 is HD, 720p.

1920x1080 is full HD, 1080i/p.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

ozsat — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 18:02:36 GMT

I think only the stream has to be HD quality. The video doesn't have to be HD.

It could also be some channels got on before the ruling was applied.

@xenon81 wrote:
@ozsat wrote:
I was told by other channels too of the HD requirement for Sky Stream.
Just because a channel is not HD on Sky satellite does not mean they can't supply a HD feed to other platforms..
Animal Planet and U&Drama are HD on VirginMedia but not Sky satellite.
The NOW channels have provided a higher quality FAST stream for some time to different platforms.

But there are numerous non-HD channels on Sky Stream. The belief that all channels on Glass/Stream are HD appears to be a common myth.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 22:33:57 GMT

@xenon81 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@d2h wrote:
@ozsat wrote:
This was posted by Talking Pictures today.

They seem to advise people of different reasons quite often. This latest one is not true, of course.

U&Drama, Comedy Central Extra, Animal Planet, ID, Discovery Turbo/History/Science, Challenge...

The channels mentioned are indeed in HD but broadcast in 720p. However, Sky seems to classify 720p HD as standard definition (SD). If one uses a third-party satellite receiver, as I do, it will display an "HD" icon when a channel is in HD. For example, Challenge SD and all Sky SD channels are marked with the HD icon on the information banner of the third-party receiver, even though Sky doesn’t label them as HD. It seems that Sky reserves the HD label exclusively for channels in 1080p or 1080i.

As for Talking Pictures, I believe it is broadcast in 576p SD.

One can often identify a 576p SD channel on a HD television because the picture may appear slightly blurry or pixelated.
Non of those channels are HD. You may be looking at the resolution (720x576) and thinking the 720 must mean HD, but it would need to be 1280x720 to be classed as HD.

The satellite receiver you mention may believe that, now as Sky channels including Challenge are broadcast in MPEG4 they are HD, but SD can also be broadcast in MPEG4 and that's what Sky are now doing.

These are the definitions of HD TV:

720p (1280 × 720p): 921,600 pixels
1080i (1920 × 1080i) interlaced scan: 1,036,800 pixels (≈1.04 Mpx).
1080p (1920 × 1080p) progressive scan: 2,073,600 pixels (≈2.07 Mpx).

More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/720p and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-definition_television
(I know they're Wikipedia links, but they are pretty strict in edits)

However, Sky defines a channel in "HD" as broadcasting in 1080p or 1080i only. Even though 720p is in HD, on Sky it gets the "SD" label.

TL;DR: U&Drama, Comedy Central Extra, Animal Planet, ID, Discovery Turbo/History/Science, Challenge are all broadcasting in 720p. Sky only defines "HD" as being 1080p/1080i and calls 720p HD "SD".

As Sky only allows HD channels on Sky Glass and Sky Stream, it would be illogical if the "SD" channels are not in 720p HD.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

xenon81 — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:30:08 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@xenon81 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@d2h wrote:
@ozsat wrote:
This was posted by Talking Pictures today.

They seem to advise people of different reasons quite often. This latest one is not true, of course.

U&Drama, Comedy Central Extra, Animal Planet, ID, Discovery Turbo/History/Science, Challenge...

The channels mentioned are indeed in HD but broadcast in 720p. However, Sky seems to classify 720p HD as standard definition (SD). If one uses a third-party satellite receiver, as I do, it will display an "HD" icon when a channel is in HD. For example, Challenge SD and all Sky SD channels are marked with the HD icon on the information banner of the third-party receiver, even though Sky doesn’t label them as HD. It seems that Sky reserves the HD label exclusively for channels in 1080p or 1080i.

As for Talking Pictures, I believe it is broadcast in 576p SD.

One can often identify a 576p SD channel on a HD television because the picture may appear slightly blurry or pixelated.
Non of those channels are HD. You may be looking at the resolution (720x576) and thinking the 720 must mean HD, but it would need to be 1280x720 to be classed as HD.

The satellite receiver you mention may believe that, now as Sky channels including Challenge are broadcast in MPEG4 they are HD, but SD can also be broadcast in MPEG4 and that's what Sky are now doing.
These are the definitions of HD TV:
720p (1280 × 720p): 921,600 pixels
1080i (1920 × 1080i) interlaced scan: 1,036,800 pixels (≈1.04 Mpx).
1080p (1920 × 1080p) progressive scan: 2,073,600 pixels (≈2.07 Mpx).
More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/720p and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-definition_television
(I know they're Wikipedia links, but they are pretty strict in edits)

However, Sky defines a channel in "HD" as broadcasting in 1080p or 1080i only. Even though 720p is in HD, on Sky it gets the "SD" label.

TL;DR: U&Drama, Comedy Central Extra, Animal Planet, ID, Discovery Turbo/History/Science, Challenge are all broadcasting in 720p. Sky only defines "HD" as being 1080p/1080i and calls 720p HD "SD".

As Sky only allows HD channels on Sky Glass and Sky Stream, it would be illogical if the "SD" channels are not in 720p HD.

Are you talking about Sky Stream now? In the original post you mentioned a third party satellite receiver. The channels mentioned are 720x576 on satellite which is 576p SD. They would need to be 1280x720 to be 720p/HD.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

1Net — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 20:24:36 GMT

It's probably to do with marketing. Maybe TPTV doesn't appeal to Sky's target audience/subscribers. It could also be theother way arourd, maybe TPTV does not want to subscribe to having an HD Channel on other viewing platforms for fear that their majority audience maynot have the right equipment for HD Channels or other viewing platforms. I suspect the former to be more correct as Amazon Prime Video & Netflix is used to push Sky Sales.

I've just signed up with Sky, for the Sky Stream Package. Not only was I disappointed that there is no TPTV or Sky's equivalent to TPTV, I've also discovered that 95% of the Sky Stream Package is available on Freeview, So the Amazon Prime Video & Netflix thing Wins. My Sentiments were exactly the same. No TPTV No Sky TV. I Am within the grace period & shall Return my Sky device ... but not before I explore other avenues for getting TPTV.

Re: Why is Talking pictures TV not available on Sky Stream but is available on other sky platforms

toteman2012 — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 19:01:58 GMT

I messaged tptv on Facebook and they said they are awaiting an invite from Sky stream and are asking customers to lobby Sky stream