New sky product

[Dobber1234]

I have been reading online recently that sky TV are thinking of introducing a new product to the market in the next couple of weeks. Some people are speculating that it is going to be a new form of sky Q box. Does anyone know any thing about this, I really hope that it is another sky Q box And upgrade of the one we have Currently then I have read online that it is not this in fact that it is another form of smart television. I hope it's not the letter I myself have been a customer of sky since 2006 and I really enjoy their service however if what I have been reading online of late is true Then there will come a time when I will have to leave sky TV because I do not like the way the market is going which is to rely completely on broadband and Internet for TV access where I live here in County Claire the broadband is atrocious and it keeps breaking down I don't understand how they can justify changing over to a completely new system that relies totally on Internet for TV when not everyone has a reliable Internet connection I hope this new product that they launch is an upgrade of the sky Q box if not I should be very disappointed. If anyone knows anything can you let me know ASAP? Thank you Derek O’Brien sky customer since 2006.

[Fidel+59]

Yes I've read the same and I also hope it's a new Sky Q Box otherwise I'll be off also. 

[TimmyBGood]

@Dobber1234 @Fidel+59 

We'll find out soon enough.

As widely discussed in other threads, the fundamental issue is that the three satellites which serve UK/RoI reach the end of their operational life at around the turn of the decade, and their owner (SES in Luxembourg) has made no announcement about replacing them: broadcast satellites take years to plan, build and launch.

It's also important to understand that Q was the last product from Sky as an independent British company: since 2018 it's been an overseas division of a giant American cable corporation with no history in satellite television.

There's a reasonable summary in this article: 

https://rxtvinfo.com/2024/how-soon-is-satellite-tv-switch-off/ 

[Dexta22]

Perhaps it's just me but Sky Stream is NOT a good product.

Two friends have it.

It feels like a huge downgrade from SKY Q boxes with multiroom and no drain your wifi bandwidth.

The "record" function isn't really what it says it is. Can't record series etc.

My one mates bugs out and doesn't stream perfectly even with a good connection .

Live sports seem delayed.

SKY Q still feels to me like a premium product comparatively.

[stereohaven · Accepted solution]

Call me old fashioned, but Sky Q remains the best PVR on the market.

Sure the hardware is a bit long in the tooth and slow when using apps (or multiroom boxes), but it is still a solid choice, especially for those of us who do not have the benefit of full fibre broadband yet.

Personally I use it as a PVR only (as that is what it does best) and for live TV viewing, but use an Apple TV 4K for app viewing as it is a streaming powerhouse.

But, as has already been mentioned by @TimmyBGood, there is no way new satellite based hardware is going to be released. Sky Q is the end of the line with IP based hardware being the next evolution and where all the focus goes for future development.

[Dobber1234]

Personally, I don't think that you'll be allowed to happen. Unless everywhere has reliable Internet, it's no good. A lot of people will lose out.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Dobber1234 wrote:

Personally, I don't think that you'll be allowed to happen. 

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The point is there's no requirement in law for subscription satellite television to exist, and in the absence of broadcast satellites in orbit to carry a signal it simply can't...

The situation is rather more complicated for access to the public service channels, but the same physical limitation applies: without a very expensive bit of hardware in orbit to point at, the dish doesn't work very well.

[Dobber1234]

so what do we do? Just live without reliable TV because that's the way it's going to be as long as the Internet infrastructure doesn't exist in a proper capacity to allow for the switch over don't worry I'm all for progressing and moving with the times but you can't do that when the proper infrastructure is not in place I realise I'm probably fighting a losing battle on this but in my opinion it simply cannot happen not just for me but thousands of other TV users, including older people that wouldn't have access to Internet and broadband et cetera I appreciate what you're saying, and I know that you personally cannot do anything about it, but I'll just feel I had to tell someone thank you

[PandJ2020]

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@Dobber1234 wrote:

so what do we do? 

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Terrestrial TV via an aerial has got at least 5 more years.  Fibre will be rolled out much more by then too.

[nigea99]

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@Dobber1234 wrote:

so what do we do? Just live without reliable TV because that's the way it's going to be as long as the Internet infrastructure doesn't exist in a proper capacity to allow for the switch over don't worry I'm all for progressing and moving with the times but you can't do that when the proper infrastructure is not in place I realise I'm probably fighting a losing battle on this but in my opinion it simply cannot happen not just for me but thousands of other TV users, including older people that wouldn't have access to Internet and broadband et cetera I appreciate what you're saying, and I know that you personally cannot do anything about it, but I'll just feel I had to tell someone thank you

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@Dobber1234 

We do still have a few years left of Satellite TV - although the clock is ticking, so some of the gaps in reliable internet access should be closed  although I don't think anyone is expecting it to reach the coverage that Satellite can.

In terms of what can be done - probably just campaign with the politicians to ensure that Internet rollout really does happen and continue at spped to help plug the gaps.

[Tribalqueff]

It's  being announced tommrow at a big event will be all across socials by midday

. 

[rogon]

I have sky q ultra fibre 500, of if I needed to rely on that for my tv I would be stuffed it's so unreliable drops in and out continually. When Q goes I go. 

[Fidel+59]

I'll join you. 

[Chodley]

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@Dobber1234 wrote:

so what do we do? Just live without reliable TV because that's the way it's going to be as long as the Internet infrastructure doesn't exist in a proper capacity to allow for the switch over don't worry I'm all for progressing and moving with the times but you can't do that when the proper infrastructure is not in place I realise I'm probably fighting a losing battle on this but in my opinion it simply cannot happen not just for me but thousands of other TV users, including older people that wouldn't have access to Internet and broadband et cetera I appreciate what you're saying, and I know that you personally cannot do anything about it, but I'll just feel I had to tell someone thank you

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where does this assumption that older people don't have broadband come from? By the time this happens, 80 year olds will have been 45 when the internet became a common thing. While high speed fibre internet won't get everywhere, there's always mobile services or starlink.

[Chodley]

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@rogon wrote:

I have sky q ultra fibre 500, of if I needed to rely on that for my tv I would be stuffed it's so unreliable drops in and out continually. When Q goes I go. 

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I have community fibre 1Gb. It is rock solid. What makes yours drop out?