Stream v Q - Picture Quality & Input Frame Rate

[1964+Shot]

The Sky Stream puck outputs at 50 frames per second if judder reduction is not selected.

However, what is the frame rate of the incoming signal to the Sky Stream box? Does this vary by channel? Are the answers the same for Sky Q? It would be better if the originally created frames were broadcast.

I am thinking of changing from Q to Stream and picture quality is a very important consideration. I compared the Masters Darts on ITV4 between the ITVX version on Apple TV and Q.  Q was far superior to ITVX but I think that's because ITVX is broadcast at 25fps whereas Q is at 50fps.

So basically I would like to know how Stream deals with this compared to Q before deciding to whether to change. Sound quality was better on ITVX by the way.

[Jones_The_Cat]

All live streamed channels on Stream are at 50Hz. Judder reduction only affects app output and will switch output to 60Hz. 
Playlisted content which isn't from a Sky channel will play back via the appropriate channel's third party app, so iPlayer for BBC shows, ITVX for ITV shows etc.

ITVX outputs at 1080P which can appear more juddery and less fluid than the native 1080i 50hz of the live stream (which is the same via a Q box).

There is no way of making a Stream puck output the same native frame rate or resolution of the initial broadcast. You are at the mercy of the apps I'm afraid. 

[trevforum]

Frame rate matching (or not) is a problem for Sky.   You will have to manually set the Judder reduction on(60 Hz)/off(50 Hz) for various content.   Most apps e.g. Netflix and Prime have  frame rates that vary betwwen 50hz and 60 Hz depending, largley,  if the content is US or UK originated.  Ironically the BBC iPlayer overrides the Judder reduction control and always outputs 50 Hz.

Even if you set Judder reduction(60Hz) properly your TV will have to be able to handle 2:3 pull down properly which processes 24p(23.976hz).  Even more complicated is that certain films on Netflix e.g Bird Cage (Sandra Bullock) streams at full 24fps which is usually only used for cinema.

At the momentthe only device I know of that can match all frame rates automatically is the App,e TV.

I forgot to add that the picture quality on Sky Stream is better than Sky Q since it uses 36 bit(12 bits  per colour) unlike Sky Q which uses 24 bit.

[1964+Shot]

So, if I am understanding this correctly if I watch an ITV channel live on Sky Stream then the puck receives a 1080i50 signal and outputs as per the Sky Stream output setting (e.g. 2160p) at 50Hz?

But if I watch an ITV show via my playlist the puck will receive a 1080p25 signal and also output as per the Sky Stream setting at 50Hz?

Does anyone know what signal the puck receives for BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5?

With Sky channels I assume the input signal would be the same as broadcast by the satellite to a Sky Q box?

[1964+Shot]

We watch a lot of recordings on our Q planner. So another way of asking the question is what frame rate and other differences are there between the signal recorded by Q and the signal the Stream Puck receives for playlist playback for an equivalent show?

[Jones_The_Cat · Accepted solution]

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@1964+Shot wrote:

We watch a lot of recordings on our Q planner. So another way of asking the question is what frame rate and other differences are there between the signal recorded by Q and the signal the Stream Puck receives for playlist playback for an equivalent show?

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Short answer - it varies. 

If you watch a lot of recordings at times which are convenient to you then sticking with Sky Q is probably going to be your best bet. 

The signal you record with Sky Q will be 1080i 50Hz (for HD content) or 2160P 50Hz for UHD. What you play back will be identical to the original broadcast. 

On Stream it's dependent on the third party apps and how well they have encoded the content for streaming. You'll only see the native 1080i 50Hz on live channel streams for most content.

If you don't watch live and instead watch via iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 or My5 then you're at the mercy of their encoding. BBC iPlayer for example will output 1080P very well but only in stereo. Many BBC dramas are broadbcast with 5.1 audio which you will get on the live channel stream, but not from iPlayer or via the Sky Stream playlist. None of the main UK channels' apps currently output anything other that stereo audio. 

Sky Q makes a physical recording of the native broadcast so you can play it back in the same quality whenever you like. Sky Stream is somewhat more random - you won't know quite what quality you will get or indeed if it will be available when you want to watch it... it is reliant on the broadcasters putting their content onto their streaming apps in a timely manner, and even then, they may only be there for a limited time. 

[1964+Shot]

@Jones_The_Cat 

Many thanks for this. I think sticking with Sky Q and using Apple TV for Netflix, Discovery Plus and You Tube etc. is my best bet then. I also get the advantage that live news and sport is as I understand it 30 seconds ahead of Sky Stream & I can still watch TV if my broadband goes down.

[Jones_The_Cat]

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@1964+Shot wrote:

@Jones_The_Cat 

Many thanks for this. I think sticking with Sky Q and using Apple TV for Netflix, Discovery Plus and You Tube etc. is my best bet then. I also get the advantage that live news and sport is as I understand it 30 seconds ahead of Sky Stream & I can still watch TV if my broadband goes down.

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No problem. 

Sticking with Sky Q does certainly seem to be the best idea and I heartily approve of the Apple TV box. I've recently cancelled Sky Stream as it was too problematic and have switched almost all our viewing to an Apple TV 4K box which has performed flawlessly in comparison. 

[F1Jon97]

Yes thats the best way and I do the same.  I use Sky Q for what its best at doing which is being a PVR and watching live TV and run all the apps such as netflix, prime etc on the Apple TV's as thats what it is best for.  I now just record things on FTA TV rather than using apps like ITVX so I dont have to pay for the ad skip.

I tried Stream and swiftly returned to Q when live sport i.e F1 wouldnt always show up in the playlist (sometimes it did after rebooting the box) and little things like Ted's Notebook would never get cloud recorded.

So its the best of the old with the best of the new.  I used to live in hope that they would make a 1080p quality version of Sky Go for Apple TV which could watch recordings from the Q box but after contacting developers via the tvOS trial they just return silence every time I ask about it so I have given up hope of that ever happening.

Maybe one day they will make a Sky Stream app for Apple TV and it will be good.  That's the day id consider giving up Sky Q.

[Jones_The_Cat]

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@F1Jon97 wrote:

Yes thats the best way and I do the same.  I use Sky Q for what its best at doing which is being a PVR and watching live TV and run all the apps such as netflix, prime etc on the Apple TV's as thats what it is best for.  I now just record things on FTA TV rather than using apps like ITVX so I dont have to pay for the ad skip.

I tried Stream and swiftly returned to Q when live sport i.e F1 wouldnt always show up in the playlist (sometimes it did after rebooting the box) and little things like Ted's Notebook would never get cloud recorded.

So its the best of the old with the best of the new.  I used to live in hope that they would make a 1080p quality version of Sky Go for Apple TV which could watch recordings from the Q box but after contacting developers via the tvOS trial they just return silence every time I ask about it so I have given up hope of that ever happening.

Maybe one day they will make a Sky Stream app for Apple TV and it will be good.  That's the day id consider giving up Sky Q.

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I doubt there'll ever be a Sky Stream app for Apple TV. Sky want customers to use their own Sky Stream puck hardware to access the service, not Apple's (vastly superior) TV 4K box. 

I've actually given up Q and more recently given up Sky Stream and have found that the NOW app on the Apple TV box gives me everything I need from Sky channels for much less money. All the content is completely ad-free too with the Boost subscription. The only thing it lacks is UHD, HDR & Atmos but frankly there's so little Sky exclusive content we want to see which has it, that it's no great loss.  

[F1Jon97]

I would use NOW instead as well but the lack of pausing live channels (it looks like it works then starts creeping forward after a few mins and fails after a few more) and the absolute age it takes for on demand sport to show up was a deal breaker for me.

It does work great for entertainment and cinema though.  I was quite impressed with it when I tried it for those and still use it for Sky Cinema if there are some films I want to watch and dont want an 18 month contract for Sky Q.

[mik021149]

And Roku streaming sticks for most apps if settings are right? I think Prime Video for example should be able to do 24fps for films on any suitable TV.

[Petruchio]

Does anyone know if Sky Stream offers Sky Cinema movies in 24fps? I appreciate the "live" channels won't be that, but are the on-demand films?

[Chrisee]

@Petruchio Sky output all movies at a 25/50Hz like most Euopean broadcasters rather than at the native 24fps. This does slightly alter the run time but I believe the audio is corrected in pitch