Recording sky stream on a stand alone device

[FAB44]

Sky stream online program playbacks are very hit and miss and difficult to locate when broadcasts are just finished. Is there an independent digital recording device I can attached to record programs onto a hard drive that I can playback?

[BenJoBanjo]

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@FAB44 wrote:

Sky stream online program playbacks are very hit and miss and difficult to locate when broadcasts are just finished. Is there an independent digital recording device I can attached to record programs onto a hard drive that I can playback?

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No. That would be illegal. The HDMI output of a Sky Stream puck has HDCP copy protection for a reason. 

[FAB44]

Thanks for the info.. Maybe Sky should make a legal one. The current system is a complete turn off. 

[Mark39]

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@FAB44 wrote:

Thanks for the info.. Maybe Sky should make a legal one. The current system is a complete turn off. 

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@FAB44 that would require the agreement of all the content owners - film studios etc., which isn't likely to be forthcoming. 

[FAB44]

How are they able to allow recording on Sky+ and SkyQ then? It cannot be beyond comprehension to have the same capability for Sky Stream. I've endured this for 2 years now and see no advantage. Even restarting unfinished programs if I miss say 10 mins at the start it frequently ends with it being cut when the live broadcast finishes. Pausing a program for a few minutes will almost always be cut off and be lost. Streaming may be good in theory but its a retrograde step. I think I'll go back to satellite.....much more reliable as well. 

[MarkGoldsmith]

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@FAB44 wrote:

How are they able to allow recording on Sky+ and SkyQ then? It cannot be beyond comprehension to have the same capability for Sky Stream. I've endured this for 2 years now and see no advantage. Even restarting unfinished programs if I miss say 10 mins at the start it frequently ends with it being cut when the live broadcast finishes. Pausing a program for a few minutes will almost always be cut off and be lost. Streaming may be good in theory but its a retrograde step. I think I'll go back to satellite.....much more reliable as well. 

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Because the broadcasting landscape has completely changed with the uptake of streaming services.

Quite simiply the content makers don't want people to be able to record "for free" broadcasted content anymore, as they miss out potential revenue. Systems like Sky + and Sky Q are legacy systems, like  which contain hard drives allowing for local recording. Since they were released cloud computing as a a result streaming services have taken off which provides additional revenue streams for the content makers. They would rather people continually subscribe to their own streaming service ( which is guranteed revenue) or go back to purchasing things like DVDs/Blu-rays or digital versions of the shows ( which again is some small additional revenue) if they want the option to permanently own a copy of the show/film. 

[Hunter2660]

It's also worth noting that on EETV's IP streaming service, ITV has put a block on F/W through ads on any recordings made on their Pro Box (regardless of any ITVX subscription). This is indeed now the future to look forward to with regard streaming services.

[BenJoBanjo]

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@Hunter2660 wrote:

It's also worth noting that on EETV's IP streaming service, ITV has put a block on F/W through ads on any recordings made on their Pro Box (regardless of any ITVX subscription). This is indeed now the future to look forward to with regard streaming services.

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If you watch a lot of programmes on ITV or Channel 4, I can heartily recommend buying an ITVX Premium and Channel 4+ subscription, and training yourself to not bother with live TV at all. 

Since doing this our household now just watches everything from those channels on demand, completely ad-free, so there's no fast forwarding or skipping necessary. 

[TimmyBGood]

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@FAB44 wrote:

How are they able to allow recording on Sky+ and SkyQ then?

Historically DVR recording has been covered in law by a limited exemption to copyright, and tolerated by the content rights owners as long as HDCP is maintained.

I think I'll go back to satellite.....much more reliable as well. 

Until subscription satellite television broadcasting to the UK & RoI ceases, which is likely to be around 2030.

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[Nigelb1972]

@Hunter2660 and apparently in IP mode, if you "record" from a BBC channel it creates a footprint on your drive but still pushes you to iPlayer for playback.

[Hunter2660]

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@Nigelb1972 wrote:

@Hunter2660 and apparently in IP mode, if you "record" from a BBC channel it creates a footprint on your drive but still pushes you to iPlayer for playback.

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Oh yes your right. That wasn't in place when I had BTTV, but a sure sign the timeshift landscape is changing.

[FAB44]

Paying more for less seems to be Sky's policy. The above responses paint a very disappointing picture for the future of their streaming service.  If Sky can't sort out this messy system, make it more reliable and easier to find and playback programs then they will decline in line with their value for money which is rapidly being devalued.

[Nigelb1972]

I don't see what is so difficult about using Stream. Last night I added F1 to my planner by pressing + on the required program on the EPG. This morning I woke up, made a coffee, pressed the standby button, went to My Planner and et voilà, there's a rail of all the F1 sessions for the 2025 season. I then pressed Play on the Qualifying tile and off we go. 

It's so easy to use.

[lettice]

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@Nigelb1972 wrote:

I don't see what is so difficult about using Stream. Last night I added F1 to my planner by pressing + on the required program on the EPG. This morning I woke up, made a coffee, pressed the standby button, went to My Planner and et voilà, there's a rail of all the F1 sessions for the 2025 season. I then pressed Play on the Qualifying tile and off we go. 

It's so easy to use.

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Did the same this morning without issue to watch the Qualy and Teds notebook.

Except, all my F1 series playlisted links carried over perfectly from last year and I made Myself a cup of tea with a croissant.

[MarkGoldsmith]

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@Nigelb1972 wrote:

I don't see what is so difficult about using Stream. Last night I added F1 to my planner by pressing + on the required program on the EPG. This morning I woke up, made a coffee, pressed the standby button, went to My Planner and et voilà, there's a rail of all the F1 sessions for the 2025 season. I then pressed Play on the Qualifying tile and off we go. 

It's so easy to use.

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I agree, yes the UI could be improved to prehaps make it easier to get into some of the sub menus, however in my opinion its still a better UI than some of the streaming apps and the workaround if you don't like the UI is to use the voice search, which in my experience tends to work quite well.