SKY bosses have assured satellite TV fans that the service will “be with us for a while” after launching yet another internet-based alternative.
Telly lovers were hoping this week’s big announcement would bring news of a new Sky Q box, nine years after the first version was announced.
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Instead, a new Sky Glass gen 2 was revealed, less than four years after bursting onto the scene paving the way for premium TV delivered via your broadband.
Sky Glass does away with the traditional satellite dish and box, instead packing everything into the TV itself and relying on an internet connection.
The newest version features an improved display and boosted built-in sound system.
And a cheaper, thinner version is set to follow later this year.
Fraser Stirling, Global Chief Product Officer for Comcast and Sky, told press at the launch of Sky Glass gen 2 that the firm is still committed to Sky Q.
But there was no word on whether any new satellite-based TV devices are in the works.
“It’s [Sky Q] still a great product,” he said.
“Customer satisfaction is really good still and the reason it’s good is because we’re still invested in it.
“We still update software on that – we don’t do it as often as we do on Stream and Glass for technical reasons as well as other reasons – but Sky Sports+ is on Sky Q, Max next year is coming to Sky Q.
“Sky Q is still a big focus for us and all the millions of people that use it and love it use it every single day.
“It’s going to be with us for a while so we want to make sure that it’s always investing in people.”
Sky recently updated Sky Q with the My5 app after years of waiting.
It means customers can now access the full streaming service from Channel 5 and the company’s sister channels.
The platform is set to receive a major overhaul soon as My5 simply becomes known as 5 and will gain more boxsets and streamed channels.
What to expect from the new 5 streaming service
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun
Channel 5 is owned by US media giant Paramount, which also owns free streaming service Pluto TV.
And I believe Pluto TV offers some hints of what we can expect from the new 5 app.
Given Paramount’s extensive family of brands, there’s a lot of good quality archive content to use.
My5 already does this with some shows like Geordie Shore but not others like Catfish, 16 and Pregnant, South Park and many more.
So I’m sure we can expect more of this.
And let’s not forget Paramount’s extensive back catalogue of movies, some of which may well make an appearance – though the lion’s share will no doubt remain paid on Paramount+.
