Sky Streaming Rubbish

[Klop55]

I am hating the Streaming Box. 
Record a movie on ITV4 for example. When i want to watch it days later i find its only available on Sky Cinema or another pay per view service.

Whats the idea behind that?

My streaming box crashes far too often. Audio sometimes goes off.

Netflix will not load at times.

I really do not like the fact that when "recording" motor racing on Quest for example then finding its onky availble on TNT days later. 
I wish i had kept the Sky Q box. 
I was talked into this rubbish by a Sky Engineer. 
I do not recommend this box.

[oj01]

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@Klop55 wrote:

I am hating the Streaming Box. 
Record a movie on ITV4 for example. When i want to watch it days later i find its only available on Sky Cinema

I wish i had kept the Sky Q box. 
I was talked into this rubbish by a Sky Engineer. 

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That would be because ITV only have broadcast rights to the movie, not On Demand rights, which in this example Sky have.

It's really important to do your own research when making decisions like this and not be "talked into something" by a representative of the company (this applies to any company, not just Sky).

[MarkGoldsmith]

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@Klop55 wrote:

I am hating the Streaming Box. 
Record a movie on ITV4 for example. When i want to watch it days later i find its only available on Sky Cinema or another pay per view service.

Whats the idea behind that?

My streaming box crashes far too often. Audio sometimes goes off.

Netflix will not load at times.

I really do not like the fact that when "recording" motor racing on Quest for example then finding its onky availble on TNT days later. 
I wish i had kept the Sky Q box. 
I was talked into this rubbish by a Sky Engineer. 
I do not recommend this box.

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It about understanding that this is nothing liek the traditional Sky products and needs to be seen as a streaming platform rather than like an traditional TV broacast system.

The platform has always primarily been about amalgating streaming content from all the big providers in one place, to make it easier for customers to be able to find and watch shows without having to individually go into several separate streaming services. What is does mean, is that to get the most out of the platform you typically also need to have accounts with a couple of the major streaming apps, which is likely part of the reason that Sky continue to bundle the likes of Netflix and Paramount + into packages ( and also frequently provide 6 or 12 months free access to other streaming apps via Sky VIP rewards).

[SeanC3]

Agreed, this is the worst "TV" product I have ever used. New to the UK and got this as a default. What are the alternatives - get a satelitte dish installed?

[BenJoBanjo]

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@SeanC3 wrote:

Agreed, this is the worst "TV" product I have ever used. New to the UK and got this as a default. What are the alternatives - get a satelitte dish installed?

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Sky Q is the more traditional satellite delivered platform, with a proper PVR and local recording. 

If you want to stream then there are many options and alternatives.

Any Amazon FireTV, Android TV, Google TV or Apple TV device will allow you to install and stream live and on demand content from all the main UK broadcasters, including Sky. The NOW app gives you live streams of all the Sky channels in up to the same UHD/HDR quality that you get on a Sky Stream puck (including sport), as well as all the on demand content, except it's via an app on your own streaming device or smart TV. 

Most of these streaming devices have a version of Sky Stream's playlist and continue watching so you can track your viewing easily. 

Freely are releasing a puck-like device very soon with live streams of all the main free-to-air channels as well as all the catch-up apps. 

The streaming age has opened up many, many more options to the customer. Sky's satellite service, whilst nearing the end of its life, is quite unique in that it doesn't have the same level of competition. Sky Q is pretty much unrivalled in terms of quantity of content available and useability. It does tend to cost a bit more though as Sky under Comcast would prefer people to be streaming.   

[Klop55]

I wish i had kept the Sky Q box and dish.

its very annoying thinking you are saving a programme to watch only to find it on a pay per view service. Terrible idea

[Hunter2660]

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@Klop55 wrote:

I wish i had kept the Sky Q box and dish.

its very annoying thinking you are saving a programme to watch only to find it on a pay per view service. Terrible idea

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However much you dislike it, this will be how TV will be consumed in the future. You can still revert back to Q now if you wish, and cling on to the last years of PVR recording ability while you still can.

[SeanC3]

I don't mind the promise of Sky Stream - its just that the product doesn't deliver it. Too many glitches when playing from the playlist, too many programs tagged to the Playlist never actually appear on the playlist......the frustration is in the delivery and a lack of any action on Sky's part to rectify the known isseus.

[BenJoBanjo]

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@SeanC3 wrote:

I don't mind the promise of Sky Stream - its just that the product doesn't deliver it. Too many glitches when playing from the playlist, too many programs tagged to the Playlist never actually appear on the playlist......the frustration is in the delivery and a lack of any action on Sky's part to rectify the known isseus.

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It's sort of the nature of the server-based platform Sky/Comcast have chosen to use. 

It functions well, or well enough, for many, many customers. Is it amazing? No. Is it unique? No. The reliance on a server connection for the entire platform to function though is quite unique, but unfortunately it's the one thing that weakens the whole experience for many customers.

Unless your home network is rock solid and your ISP is on good terms with Sky's servers then it can function well. If it's not, then it can be too flaky and frustrating to work reliably. 

There are simply too many variables in how every UK ISP operates and in how broadband is delivered and spread throughout customers homes that Sky cannot guarantee their streaming products will work well for everyone. 

Had they gone down the route of only offering it to their own broadband customers like Virgin do, then they would have had a bit more control, but as it stands it's up to the customer to try and sort out their own broadband situation to make Sky Stream function well. 

As I said, it can work well, or well enough, for many people. But with no engineer support, the onus is on the customer to try to improve their own broadband network.  

[SeanC3]

That's the Sky line - my broadband is very good - it's not a connection issue but feels more back end / Sky server related

[BenJoBanjo]

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@SeanC3 wrote:

That's the Sky line - my broadband is very good - it's not a connection issue but feels more back end / Sky server related

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Agreed. That's why I opted to switch to using the NOW app on my own hardware for Sky programming. 

I've had zero streaming issues using NOW on non-Sky hardware. The Stream puck and SkyOS was just too slow and flaky for me.