Is it possible to edit the home page of sky stream

[redin63]

Anybody know if it's possible to remove all the clutter from the sky stream home page? My elderly parents find it really complicated and confusing, particularly with all the channel and programming recommendations.

I know the favourite channels can be organised, but It would be great if the clutter could be removed leaving only the playlist and some "regular channels".  Is there a way to do that?

[TimmyBGood]

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@redin63 wrote:

Is there a way to do that?

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No.

Sky is remarkably protective of its interface and has never permitted customisation other than the high contrast and font size accessibility options.

A more comprehensible version, perhaps with only a channel list, has been suggested many times in these forums for both Q and Glass/Stream.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

No, the Home Screen of Sky is more like a website than your mobile phone Home Screen.

It's a mix of programme ads, editorially chosen programmes, and stuff just for you like continue watching. 

I don't think it would be the worst thing in the world for Sky to add a simplified menu option for accessibility reasons, like the iPhone assisted access feature, but this doesn't exist currently. 

[Stephen+Mourton]

@redin63 

I understand how some elderly struggle with anything technical my mother was the same when she had SkyQ.

what may simplify it for them is to just use the voice control or say "Playlist" or "TV" depending which service they require.

I hope that helps. 

[redin63]

Thanks for the help, I appreciate it. I've got them using voice control but it still confuses them, especially when it misunderstands the command and they end up lost in the menus. It's not easy for that age group (88) to manage new tech but I must admit they were fine with Sky Q and knew where all of their recordings were and how to use catch-up. The amount of clutter in the streaming service is awful and not easy to navigate at all. As mentioned the Assisted Access feature on iPhone or something similar would be so useful.  But as a starter,  maybe just expand the ability to choose your favourites, which you can do at the moment, to include a little more of those "tiles" we don't need?

[spannernick1]

Sky Stream should have a easier menu mode like on Samsung Galxay S phones to make it easier to use for older people.

[Fothergill1]

It's a shame we can't edit the home page but it was no different with Sky Q.  If I had my way most of the rails would be deleted altogether.

[Anonymous]

The Home Screen is definitely something I'd like to see improved in future. For example I find some of the promotional artwork a bit uncomfortable or inappropriate for my kid to see, and it would be nice if there was an option to only show family appropriate content for example. 

[Jporch316]

Stream is similar to other streaming devices in this regard. I would even say the home screen is a little more user friendly than either a firestick (which is a horrible mess) and Google tv (which is only slightly less messy than a firestick)

neither really give any customisation options of any note 

[BenJoBanjo]

Sky, Amazon and Google are basically platforms for advertising, hence the somewhat cluttered home screens on their TV operating systems. 

SkyOS, FireTV OS and Google TV are all content aggregators - they host apps from various different services, many of whom pay Sky, Amazon and Google to promote their content on the home screen. There's nothing you can do about this as it's simply part of the streaming service economics. 

There are a few less advertising driven operating systems - Roku OS and Apple's tvOS are both much less cluttered and rely much more on simple clickable thumbnails to launch apps, rather than bombarding users with recommendations on every screen. 

There are choices for everyone. Some like being served up options, others like to do their own searching.  

[Anonymous]

@BenJoBanjo  a good and fair analysis.

Just two points to add to that; it's worth pointing out that the default on tvOS is now to go to the Apple TV app which acts as a promotional screen, especially for Major Leage Soccer coverage and Apple TV+ shows. But that can be reverted to the standard app grid if preferred, which is nice.

Roku is getting far more into suggestions and advertising too, and some of their ad options they're launching are almost the anti-Roku of a few years ago.

[BenJoBanjo]

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@Anonymous wrote:

@BenJoBanjo  a good and fair analysis.

Just two points to add to that; it's worth pointing out that the default on tvOS is now to go to the Apple TV app which acts as a promotional screen, especially for Major Leage Soccer coverage and Apple TV+ shows. But that can be reverted to the standard app grid if preferred, which is nice.

Roku is getting far more into suggestions and advertising too, and some of their ad options they're launching are almost the anti-Roku of a few years ago.

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Indeed, I love the customisation capabilities of tvOS - I now have my Apple TV 4K box connected to my new OLED TV and I love the vastly simplified user experience compared to my old Sky Glass. The power button on the Siri remote turns the box, TV and amplifier on and opens on the app grid, ready for easy access to everything without a barrage of advertising. 

SkyOS is fine if you watch a lot of live TV and need lots of recommendations of what to watch, but that's really not for me any more.