Can I change my Q to Stream while under contract

[ChrisOld]

I want to switch to Stream as I want to change my living room around and getting the dish cables across the room is a pain. Do Sky offer changing from Q to Stream if still under contract?

Thanks

Chris

[Tim+Adams · Accepted solution]

Hi @ChrisOld 

Sky do allow you to change to Stream but will put you into an 18 month contract.

To change you will have to call Sky as it can't be done online.

Thanks,

Tim

[ChrisOld]

Thanks @Tim+Adams are there any deal breakers switching over?

[TimmyBGood]

@ChrisOld 

Do your research: Stream is fundamentally different to Q

In particular, look at the channel availability and ponder the loss of local recording functionality.

[Tim+Adams]

No problem @ChrisOld 

Stream / Glass is very different from Sky Q. There is a reduction in channels available and obviously no traditional recording facilities like Sky Q.

Broadband speeds also matter. 

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/tv-channel-list-sky-glass 

Thanks,

Tim

[slaters]

We switched from Q to Glass while in contract had 6 months left i think.  I had the option to do it online. 

Simple switch but we did pay for both subscriptions in the first month (cause everyone charges upfront) and had to wait about 2.5 months for the bill credit from Q and had to contact Sky for it. They seemed to do them seperatley rather than using what credit you may have ? 

[SlenderRobert]

@ChrisOld 

As someone who switched from Q to Stream, the main thing which irritates me about Stream is the speed. It's impossible to smoothly fast forward or rewind anything compared to how you'd do it on Q - which is basically the difference between using a stream vs a physical recording. 

The third party apps, which have to be relied on a lot, are generally pretty slow too. It can take 25-30 seconds from selecting something to it starting to play, even with fast broadband connected via ethernet. 

If all you do is watch live TV and the odd on demand show then I'd happily recommend Stream - image quality can be excellent. For everything else, it's a no from me. 

[Tim+Adams]

Hi @slaters 

Glass is different in regards to contract and switching online. For Stream it's not possible.

The refund for Sky Q subscription can only be applied to a broadband account or refunded to the bank account. That's due to Glass / Stream being a different billing system and new account.

Thanks,

Tim

[martswain]

I moved from Sky+ to non-contract Stream with six months remaining on the Sky+ contract.

The UK agent assured me I could move without any penalaty for leaving Sky+ early and that is what has happened.

Due to the timing I paid an extra month on Sky+ but that and the other 2 weeks from the changeover date is currently being refunded to my bank as I do not have broadband with Sky.

I joined Stream on 17 Feb so I actually own the box which is perfect for me as I regularly spend time away from home and can dip in and out as I need.

I gave my 31 day notice to suspend just 14 days after starting the service so had to call and make sure they understoood I was NOT cancelling Stream within the cooling off period.

Everything was done through a UK call centre and was extremely efficient, emails arriving with updated details during the calls and everything reflected correctly in my online bills within minutes.

[TimmyBGood]

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@martswain wrote:

I moved from Sky+ to non-contract Stream with six months remaining on the Sky+ contract.

The UK agent assured me I could move without any penalaty for leaving Sky+ early and that is what has happened.

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That may be specific to Sky+ though, because Sky really wants people off that system.

[DuffMH]

But you can use your voice to skip forward and back any number of minutes or seconds 

[BCX9]

I just did mine.

moved from Q to stream. No penalty either.

Sky really want you away from the dish. 

My bill went up but only slightly. I then added on the ad-skip feature as well.

Sure I can't record but overall it's a newer interface, and while there are less channels, it will be ones that I don't watch anyway, the core channels are all there. apps also pass through dolby vision/atmos which works better for me.

the main reason I switched was due to the weekend. it rained very heavily, cused dish signal to drop very low and then the DCR froze in the attic of my block (live in a flat). lost signal completely. (it probably got wet).

lost the F1 race (of all races where max didn't win it) about halfway through, lost the recording as well. had to wait for catchup/second showing. 

[slaters]

@BCX9 
Yeah that was another reason why we changed to Glass as well we live in a flat with a communal satellite and if it was a problem with the dish or anything outside the flat we had to go through our landlord and it would be an external company not Sky that fixed it and it was a long annoying process. Then if it turned out it was the equipment in the flat then you had to go to Sky and  they wouldnt talk to each other ! 

We are very happy with Glass and dont miss Sky Q at all. 

[DuffMH]

I noticed this at first but it seems to have fixed itself now. Also you can use the mic to skip forward or back to any point using your voice