Sky streaming

[Leefy]

Why do sky persist in making you use their equipment now that they've entered the streaming market. I have sky glass - it's ok, but there's better TVs out there in terms of picture quality. Why don't sky just have an "app" that you can download onto any smart TV, in the same way Apple, netflix, Amazon etc do. Would save a lot of hassle with equipment problems.

[TimmyBGood]

@Leefy 

Historically, Sky has always seen its branded hardware as a vital marketing tool.

There's also a potential serious issue with consumers who now think that about £15 a month is the 'right' price for a premium streaming service, when Sky need more like twice that as a minimum on its current business model.

[MarkGoldsmith]

That's essentially what NOW TV is.  A way of streaming Sky's own content.

the next phase of the traditional satellite product is Sky Glass and Sky Stream as Sky seem themselves as an aggregator of content and this can enter deals with other streaming platforms (like they do with Netflix, Discovery +, paramount plus) to offer free or subsidized subscriptions to Sky subscribers.

[mikealanr]

Hi @Leefy I guess because thats their business model.. they are making extra money with the activation fees etc. but given we are all fellow subscribers here we don't have a lot of insight into the working of Sky. Did you not consider Sky Stream rather than Glass? Then you could have had the best of both worlds...

An interesting question when satellite does close is what happens to Now. Will sky still need two propositions or could they offer a reduced pack on the streaming pucks as well as an app then?

Lots of food for thought.

MikeAlanR

[Jones_The_Cat]

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@Leefy wrote:

Why do sky persist in making you use their equipment now that they've entered the streaming market. I have sky glass - it's ok, but there's better TVs out there in terms of picture quality. Why don't sky just have an "app" that you can download onto any smart TV, in the same way Apple, netflix, Amazon etc do. Would save a lot of hassle with equipment problems.

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You don't have to use their equipment. 

Since quitting Sky Stream I've found 95% of the content I used to watch via Sky directly is available elsewhere, often cheaper and in better quality. Other  hardware manufacturers are making it easier to pay for and get access to the same content from other sources.

Sky is all about convenience though - that's partly what you pay for. Everything in one place, easy.

If you don't mind buying your own hardware, downloading a few apps and setting up a few subscriptions independently, then you can get much of the same content elsewhere.  

[TimmyBGood]

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@Leefy wrote:

 I have sky glass - it's ok, but there's better TVs out there in terms of picture quality.

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Absolutely, but as I've frequently observed, the current model is still a pandemic product launched in late 2001, and with a premium paid (unfortunately) for enclosure and speaker set rather than panel and processor.

[Leefy]

Yes, but Now TV, doesn't offer as comprehensive an offering as sky.

[Leefy]

Wifey doesn't like separate boxes and cables everywhere, we have multi room, which gives you the streaming puck on the TV in the bedroom, but it would be better if you didn't need it, or alternatively develop a conditional access module. Which most TVs have slots for.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Leefy wrote:

or alternatively develop a conditional access module. Which most TVs have slots for.

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I'd suggest very few current models have a CAM slot: that's a technology for which a substantial market never emerged.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Leefy wrote:

Yes, but Now TV, doesn't offer as comprehensive an offering as sky.

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Specifically to differentiate it from the Sky-branded hardware products.

[mikealanr]

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@TimmyBGood wrote:

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@Leefy wrote:

or alternatively develop a conditional access module. Which most TVs have slots for.

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I'd suggest very few current models have a CAM slot: that's a technology for which a substantial market never emerged.

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Ahh I remember having a TopUpTV CAM and viewing card many years ago! Not seen a CAM or CAM slot for a while now either