When Sky launched its Sky Glass all-in-one TV, it also revealed the Sky Stream puck – a small set-top-box that enables mutliroom viewing for Sky Glass customers.
The device can be plugged into a TV elsewhere in the home, offering the full Sky Glass interface and streaming properties on the additional set.
However, to date it has only been available for Sky Glass customers – needing the dedicated TV system to work. That’ll soon change.
Sky is also launching Sky Stream as a standalone device too, for those who do not want or cannot have the satellite-powered Sky Q service yet still want a full Sky TV experience on an existing television.
Here’s everything you need to know about it.
What is Sky Stream?
4K HDRDolby AtmosSky TV, Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub (to be ITVX soon), All 4, My5
The Sky Stream device is a relatively small, internet-connected box that you plug into your TV through HDMI and can currently be used as an extension of Sky Glass – the TV sold by Sky itself. It will soon be available as a standalone alternative to Sky Q and Sky Glass, too.
It can connect through wired or Wi-Fi broadband to your router and stream up to 4K HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio.
When paired with Sky Glass or used solo, up to six Sky Stream devices can be active in the same household.
The device comes with its own voice remote and the user interface is identical to that of Sky Glass.
That means you can watch live and on demand TV from Sky and many partners, including Netflix, Apple TV+ and Disney+. Content from partnering streaming services is integrated into Sky’s own programming on the homescreen and throughout the menus.
Sky Stream release date and availability
The Sky Stream device is available for existing and new Sky Glass customers now. It will also be available as a standalone device from 18 October 2022.
You will be able to order it from Sky.com or in a Sky retail store.
Sky Stream price
Currently, Sky charges £50 for each Sky Stream puck you add to a Sky Glass setup.
The Sky Stream service is priced differently. It is available on an 18-month contract or 31-day rolling plan, both of which include the device, a Sky Ultimate TV package and Netflix Basic.
The 18-month contract costs £26 per month with a £20 initial setup fee. The 31-day rolling plan starts at £29 per month with a £39.95 setup fee.
You can also add extra channel packs and/or streaming services for additional monthly fees, such as Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, BT Sport, UHD & Dolby Atmos, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.
Additional Sky Stream devices can be added to TVs around the home – you will need to subscribe to a Whole Home pack for £12 per month and then pay for each device’s setup fee.
Sky Stream measurements and connections
Size: 108 x 18 x 108mm
The Sky Stream device is fairly simple and designed to be easily set up by the user, rather than requiring a full installation. It will be sent to customers on a next-day delivery basis.
Here are its outputs:
1 x HDMI 2.1Ethernet portWi-Fi230V AC port
Sky Stream user interface
As explained above, Sky Stream has the same user interface as Sky Glass. That means it differs from Sky Q in that it opens to a homescreen rather than live TV. Sky Q, for example, opens to the homescreen but with a live TV box in the top left-hand corner – you don’t get that on the Sky Stream puck.
It also differs from Sky Q as it cannot record programmes. Instead, you get a Playlist bar on the homescreen to which you can pin current or future shows and films by hitting the Playlist button on the remote.
You can then watch the catch-up or on demand version of that show when available by clicking on it.
Voice control and search is also available on the Sky Stream device. You will need the remote for this, as it doesn’t feature the built-in microphone you get with Sky Glass.
Sky Stream minimum broadband speed
As Sky Stream requires an internet connection to work you will need to have at least a 10Mb/s broadband connection.
For the best connection – to watch 4K HDR movies or sport, for example – it is suggested that you need a minimum of 30Mb/s broadband.