Sky Essential TV - now on Stream & Glass for £15pm

[Ellie_TV]

This is an interesting addition to Sky's streaming platform, similar to the Sky Q Essentials package:

https://www.skygroup.sky/article/sky-launches-essential-tv-bringing-together-sky-netflix-and-discove... 

Not a bad deal if Netflix with ads and Discovery+ is of interest to you. A slightly strange mix of channels included though. Interesting to note that Sky Atlantic is included but Sky Max, Sky Comedy, Sky Documentaries, Sky Crime, Sky Showcase and Sky Witness are not. 

I wonder if this points to an end of the HBO relationship and the launch of Max as a seperate service/app in the UK next year? Sky Atlantic would become a lot less interesting without The Penguin, Dune Prophecy, White Lotus, The Last of Us, etc.

Manager note: updated thread title to reflect the name of the TV pack

[Fothergill1]

Hi @Ellie_TV As you say pretty good value and it is a good entry level into Sky in general.

From a personal point of view many of the channels we watch the majority of the time are missing and there are a lot of channels included which one could hardly describe as essential 🤣

[CoffeeDrinker]

Given the inclusion of SKy Atlantic in the base Essentials package, a cynic might think that this is a way to lock people in before the potential loss of HBO content on Sky Atlantic.

The glass half full side of me think that this is a way to potentially appeal to those who Sky might lose/have lost to NowTV and to provide a lower minimum cost of entry for those that can be upsold on Sky Sports (or Sky Cinema to a lesser extent). 

£35 introductory deal for the Sky Essentials including base tier Netflix plus Sky Sports is a pretty good deal (compared to Sky Stream or Sky Glass costs before now) for those just wanting their sports fix in HD on a single TV. My parents are Sky Q customers solely for football & golf, barely watching any other TV. If the costs are broadly similar for switching, they could well be convinced.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Ellie_TV wrote:

I wonder if this points to an end of the HBO relationship and the launch of Max as a seperate service/app in the UK next year? 

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I believe the current deal between Sky and HBO (Warner Bros Discovery Inc) runs through 2025, so if they kept to that, Max couldn't launch in Sky territories until 2026.

[Ellie_TV]

I agree with you both @Fothergill1 & @CoffeeDrinker  - it looks like it has potential for some people and not others, although I question it's value compared with the likes of the recent Black Friday deal for Ultimate TV which was only a few pounds more. 

My brother also currently pays just £15 per month for Ultimate TV after he left Sky Stream last year. He was called by the win back team and offered this deal on a rolling contract so he snapped it up. 

Just looking at Sky's homepage now and it's already got the choice of 'base pack' on there for all new Stream customers. 

It's another push towards everyone switching to streaming TV, just as Freely announces the introduction of more free channels to its lineup.  

[Ellie_TV]

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@TimmyBGood wrote:

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@Ellie_TV wrote:

I wonder if this points to an end of the HBO relationship and the launch of Max as a seperate service/app in the UK next year? 

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I believe the current deal between Sky and HBO (Warner Bros Discovery Inc) runs through 2025, so if they kept to that, Max couldn't launch in Sky territories until 2026.

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That's good to know. So anyone signing up to a 2 year contract on Essentials would be guaranteed at least a year of HBO programmes on Sky Atlantic.

[Timelord2018]

They are being careful about not using Sky Atlantic brand at all in Sky Stream Essentials adverts on TV , with Max launch now confirmed in early 2026 (presumably replacing Discovery+ in this bundle), you do have to wonder the future of the Sky Atlantic brand even with new seasons of some pre existing HBO shows as co premieres,

I get their investing in Sky UK Originals I personally think the channel should be called something else if not folded into Sky Showcase.

[mikealanr]

Hi @Timelord2018 

Sky have announced that Sly Atlantic will continue. Presumably they don't include it as they want people to upgrade.

Sky Say:

After Max launch, new deal means Sky and NOW customers benefit from more content at no extra cost through bundled access to the streaming service that will exclusively feature new HBO Original and Max Original shows and more 

Existing franchises and their future series will continue on Sky Atlantic for Sky customers, with pay 1 movies to be shown on Sky Cinema 

https://www.skygroup.sky/article/sky-uk-ireland-and-warner-bros-discovery-announce-new-distribution-...

MikeAlanR