Sky OS

[AndrewF_UK]

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@adam+e wrote:

it says you can skip ads with one click instead of FFWD.  Watching ITVX i can't do that, but maybe it only works when watching through SKY rather than ITVX app?

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Yes it's for Sky on-demand programmes only.

[seandrews]

What are the 7 features?

It seems it would be more prudent for Sky to have 1 Sky OS.

Covering all of Sky Q, Sky Go, Sky Glass and Sky Stream

and maybe even NOW which really needs to be called Sky X.

if all the backend was harmonised then switching a user for to any would be easy and if there was a local and cloud backup option like on an iPhone for example the Cloud could store it all and local SSD's would store locally.

Ideally the below would happen 

Modified Apple TV 4K Sky Box with

Freeview from Sky via Aerial 

Freesat from Sky via Satellite and

Pay TV from Sky over satellite or internet

With a 2TB SSD (or HDD)

and a "Sky App"

also available on all platforms Roku/Amazon Fire/Google TV etc

would solve all problems especially as Profiles are here to sort "Recordings/Downloads"

[AndrewF_UK]

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@seandrews wrote:

What are the 7 features?

It seems it would be more prudent for Sky to have 1 Sky OS.

Covering all of Sky Q, Sky Go, Sky Glass and Sky Stream

and maybe even NOW which really needs to be called Sky X.

if all the backend was harmonised then switching a user for to any would be easy and if there was a local and cloud backup option like on an iPhone for example the Cloud could store it all and local SSD's would store locally.

Ideally the below would happen 

Modified Apple TV 4K Sky Box with

Freeview from Sky via Aerial 

Freesat from Sky via Satellite and

Pay TV from Sky over satellite or internet

With a 2TB SSD (or HDD)

and a "Sky App"

also available on all platforms Roku/Amazon Fire/Google TV etc

would solve all problems especially as Profiles are here to sort "Recordings/Downloads"

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I get what you're saying but it's not really realistic because it doesn't describe Sky's integrated hardware/software business or the realities of software development. 

NOW and Sky Go are different beasts, because they are apps not an operating system. There's maybe an argument for the two to share code but it probably isn't worth the investment at this point. Now is migrating away from their own code to use Peacock's from the USA. 

Sky Glass and Stream use Sky OS, so for the current main products there is just one OS. In fact Sky OS is a global platform used in the USA, Australia and maybe more too. 

Sky Q is older and not one of their main products for new customers anymore, and uses the older OS. SkyOS is for streaming and doesn't have anything for satellite and probably wouldn't run on that hardware. It makes sense to just let Sky Q sit there until all customers are off it.

Sky is in the business of integrated hardware and software and I can't see them ever not doing that. But they acknowledge some people want just a software provision so they have a separate Now business. 

[Chrisee]

@seandrews given the future of broadcasting is rapidly moving to streaming with satellite broadcasting in the UK only having a 4 or 5 year future and terrestrial broadcasting not having that much more Sky/Comcast are settling on 2 main products the hardware based Sky OS and the Now app based approach in their markets worldwide. You will never see local storage as that ship has sailed as content owners never liked the home recording option.

If you want to use your own hardware, like an Apple TV, then buy Now. If you want Sky's content integrated with other broadcasters and app owners offerings you need  Stream or Glass hardware. Legacy services like Sky Go and the sports apps run on a completly different platform than either Now or Sky OS use. Comcast built a new streaming system to support the Sky OS and Now is migrating to a second platform they own that delivers Peacock, Showtime and Comcasts other apps around the world.

Sky OS is designed for agregation of multiple sources be they owned by Comcast or third parties like Warner Discovery., Netflix etc the degree of integration depends on what those third parties allow. Netflix allows a lot while oddly some broadcasters like the BBC allow far less which is why, for example, launching material on iPlayer takes longer. 

Legacy systems like Sky+HD and Sky Q will continue to work while the satellites are around but while Sky say little publcly analysts expect sales of new Q systems to end quite soon and apparently 9 out if 10 new Sky customers already opt for Stream/Glass. Sky+HD was last sold in 2016. Sky's agreement with Astra the owner of the satellites runs out in 2029 which coincides roughly with the current satellites end of life. 

[Ellie_TV]

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@Chrisee wrote:

If you want to use your own hardware, like an Apple TV, then buy Now. If you want Sky's content integrated with other broadcasters and app owners offerings you need  Stream or Glass hardware. Legacy services like Sky Go and the sports apps run on a completly different platform than either Now or Sky OS use. 

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Worth noting that other hardware, like the Apple TV, does this too. So, you don't need Stream or Glass hardware if you want an integrated streaming service which combines Sky's content (via NOW) with other broadcasters' apps. 

The key thing that Sky Stream and Glass has which nobody else has is a full EPG with live streams on all channels. 

Apple's tvOS has very similar search functionality to SkyOS in that you can search across multiple broadcasters and streamers' apps, by text input or voice, add programmes to a watchlist, and the continue watching rail will track your progress on watching shows you add to it. You can even be alerted (on your phone or smart watch) when a new episode is available to stream.

Any Sky programmes, be they Entertainment, Sky Cinema or Sky Sports can be searched for and tracked in this way if you subscribe via the NOW app, as well as content from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, Discovery+, Paramount+ and others. Historically, Netflix has refused their content to be tracked on Apple devices (which was a bonus for Sky) but it's being reported today that they are seemingly introducing it to tvOS so this will bring it more in line with Sky.   

I think it's more a case of that if you watch a lot of live TV and want the ability to channel hop with ease and restart any currently running live programme, then Sky Stream or Sky Glass is the best service. 

If you don't watch live TV and want a streaming service that integrates and tracks lots of on demand content then you have the option of SkyOS on Sky hardware or tvOS on Apple hardware - both do essentially the same thing. 

The way we all watch TV is very different these days and I think it's very generous of Sky to give us the option of using their service fully via their OS or partly via their NOW app. 

[Chrisee]

@Ellie_TV dont disagree that the Apple's TVOS does decent job with on demand content or that other systems like Virgin Media come somewhere near.

What I find interesting is the dance the various content owners do to promote their own apps and different intefaces while recognising that the public want some consistency in the interface they use so use agregators. I know from briefings I have attended given by Sky's Entertainment/Sky OS team that a consistent interface is high on their wish list and their frustration where a "partner" wont play ball. They are far too professional to name names but for example Disney+ content doesnt show up on the continue watching rail when other apps do. BBC's insistance on their branding being front and centre even though it slows loading. The variation in allowing voice control etc etc.

That there is a genuine choice of systems in a good thing for consumers as without doubt with major players like Comcast and Apple both of whom have significant budgets for systems development (TVOS being something of a hobby OS for Apple) we should see some useful new features. Sky need to justify the not inconsiderable monthly  premium they charge for their system while Apple charge a lot for the hardware